Radionuclides in mourning doves near a nuclear facility complex in southeastern Idaho

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The Idaho National Engineering Laboratory (INEL) Site in southeastern Idaho contains the world's largest concentration of nuclear reactors; to date some 52 reactors have been constructed and 17 reactors are still operable. In addition, the INEL contains a nuclear fuel reprocessing plant, terrestrial areas for the disposal of solid radioactive waste and leaching ponds for the disposal of contaminated liquid wastes. With the exception of uranium mining and fuel fabrication, the INEL activities include all of the nuclear fuel cycle. Mourning Doves (Zenaida macroura) are ubiquitous game birds in Idaho and are common on the INEL during the summer. They forage, obtain grit and/or drink water at or near these facilities. The potential exists for Mourning Doves at these facilities to ingest radionuclides. Since birds are the most mobile of the animals occurring near nuclear facilities and since doves are a popular game species, it is possible that radioactively-contaminated birds could be ingested by, and thus, provide a radiation dose to man. Other predators, such as raptors, could also ingest radionuclides by consuming doves. The purpose of this study was (1) to determine the concentrations of radionuclides in Mourning Dove tissues near various types of nuclear facilities, (2) to determine the consequent radiation dose to doves, (3) to determine the consequence of the transfer of radionuclides through the food chain and (4) to relate these concentrations to potential radiation doses to man.

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Reference Code: A82MAR02IDUS

Full Citation: Markham, O. D., and D. K. Halford. 1982. Radionuclides in mourning doves near a nuclear facility complex in southeastern Idaho. Wilson Bulletin 94(2): 185-197.

Location: ANIMAL EF: BIRDS