Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-v9fdk Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-18T09:16:11.423Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Transfer of elements to owls (Tyto Alba, Strix Aluco) determined using neutron activation and gamma analysis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 January 2012

J. Barescut ,
D. Lariviere ,
T. Stocki ,
C.L. Barnett ,
B.J. Howard ,
D.H. Oughton ,
C. Coutris ,
E.D. Potter ,
T. Franklin  and
L.A. Walker
...Show all authors
C.L. Barnett
Affiliation:
Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, Library Avenue, Bailrigg, Lancaster, LA1 4AP, UK
B.J. Howard
Affiliation:
Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, Library Avenue, Bailrigg, Lancaster, LA1 4AP, UK
D.H. Oughton
Affiliation:
Norwegian University of Life Sciences (UMB), P.O. Box 5003, NO-1432, Ås. Norway
C. Coutris
Affiliation:
Norwegian University of Life Sciences (UMB), P.O. Box 5003, NO-1432, Ås. Norway
E.D. Potter
Affiliation:
Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, Library Avenue, Bailrigg, Lancaster, LA1 4AP, UK
T. Franklin
Affiliation:
Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, Library Avenue, Bailrigg, Lancaster, LA1 4AP, UK
L.A. Walker
Affiliation:
Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, Library Avenue, Bailrigg, Lancaster, LA1 4AP, UK
C. Wells
Affiliation:
Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, Library Avenue, Bailrigg, Lancaster, LA1 4AP, UK
Get access

Abstract

The IAEA is currently preparing a new Technical Reports Series (TRS) Handbook on the Transfer of Radionuclides to Wildlife. Key deficiencies have been identified and one is the lack of data for birds. In this study we measured the transfer of a range of elements measured by neutron activation analysis (NAA) and gamma analysis in four Barn owls (Tyto alba) and one Tawny owl (Strix aluco) from archived samples available from the Predatory Bird Monitoring Scheme, http://pbms.ceh.ac.uk. Transfer was quantified as the whole organism concentration ratio (CRwo-soil) and values for Co, Fe, Rb, Sc, Zn and 137Cs are presented. The work demonstrates the potential for existing sample archives to be exploited for radioecological purposes. They represent a cost effective means to derive CRwo-media values for organism-radionuclide combinations relevant to radiological assessments without the requirement of field sampling.

Type
Research Article
Information
Radioprotection , Volume 46 , Issue 6: ICRER 2011 – International Conference on Radioecology & Environmental Radioactivity: Environment & Nuclear Renaissance , 2011 , pp. S79 - S84
Copyright
© Owned by the authors, published by EDP Sciences, 2011

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Howard, B.J., Beresford, N.A., Copplestone, D., Telleria, D., Proehl, G., Fesenko, S., Jeffree, R., Yankovich, T., Brown, J., Higley, K., Johansen, M., Mulye, H., Vandenhove, H., Gashchak, S., Wood, M., Takata, H., Anderson, P., Dale, P., Ryan, J., Bollhöfer, A., Doering, C., Barnett, C.L., Wells, C. (2011). A new IAEA Technical Report Series handbook on radionuclide transfer to wildlife. These proceedings.
Taylor, I. (1994). Barn Owls – Predator prey relationships and conservation. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
Oughton, D.H., Salbu, B. (1992). Stable caesium, rubidium and potassium distribution with reference to radiocaesium metabolism studies. Radiat. Prot. Dosim., 41, 217-222.
Furness, R.W. (1993). Birds as monitors of pollutants. In: Furness, R.W. and Greenwood, J.J.D. (Eds.). Birds as monitors of environmental change. Chapman and Hall, London, pp 86-143.
Hathcock, N., Hill, C.H., Matrone, G. (1964). Vanadium toxicity and distribution in chicks and rats. J. Nutr., 82, 106–110.
Brown, J., Alfonso, B., Avila, R., Beresford, N.A., Copplestone, D., Pröhl, G., Ulanovsky, A. (2008). The ERICA Tool. J. Environ. Radioact., 99, 1371-1383 Barraclough, D. (2007). UK Soil and Herbage Survey (UKSHS). Report no. 1. Introduction and summary. Environment Agency, Bristol.
Beresford, N.A., Barnett, C.L., Howard, B.J., Scott, W.A., Brown, J.E., Copplestone, D. (2008). Derivation of transfer parameters for use within the ERICA Tool and the default concentration ratios for terrestrial biota. J. Environ. Radioact., 99, 1393-1407.
Bastian, R.K., Jackson, W.B. (1975). Cs-137 and Co-60 in a terrestrial community at Enewatak Atoll. Proceedings of a symposium on radioecology and energy resources. C. E. J. Cushing. London, Academic. pp 313-320.
Tagami, K., Uchida, S. (2010). Can elemental composition data of crop leaves be used to estimate radionuclide transfer to tree leaves? Radiat. Environ. Biophys., 49, 4, 583-590.
Barraclough, D. (2007). UK Soil and Herbage Survey (UKSHS). Report no. 1. Introduction and summary. Environment Agency, Bristol.