Measuring the external radiation exposure of Norwegian reindeer under field conditions

Norway was one of the European countries most affected by radioactive contamination from the 1986 Chernobyl accident. Oppland county is an area of Norway which received comparatively high levels of radiocaesium deposition in 1986 . Reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) have continuingly high levels of Chernobyl-derived Cs-137 in their tissues. However, despite studies on potential biological effects of the fallout on the reindeer, a total dose estimate for the reindeer has never been made and the external exposure measurements are lacking. In this paper we describe a study to estimate external dose rate of reindeer from a herd in Oppland county

A certified reference material for radionuclides in the water sample from Irish Sea (IAEA-443)

A new certified reference material (CRM) for radionuclides in sea water from the Irish sea (IAEA-443) is described and the results of the certification process are presented. Ten radionuclides (3H, 40K, 90Sr, 137Cs, 234U, 235U, 238U, 238Pu, 239?240Pu and 241Am) have been certified, and information values on massic activities with 95% confidence intervals are given for four radionuclides (230Th, 232Th, 239Pu and 240Pu). Results for less frequently reported radionuclides (99Tc, 228Th, 237Np and 241Pu) are also reported. The CRM can be used for quality assurance/quality control of the analysis of radionuclides in water samples, for the development and validation of analytical methods and for training purposes. The material is available in 5 L units from IAEA (http://nucleus.iaea.org/rpst/index.htm)