Radionuclide concentrations in nestling raptors near nuclear facilities

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Young raptors from nests near a nuclear reactor facility and a nuclear fuel reprocessing plant in Idaho (Idaho National Engineering Laboratory Site) were studied to determine the concentrations of gamma-emitting radionuclides in them. Young from nests close to the Test Reactor Area (TRA) showed the highest concentrations and largest variety of radionuclides of any birds studied. Since the same radionuclides were present in potential prey items collected near the radioactive leaching ponds and in samples of fecal material and prey remains from the nests, we concluded that the radionuclides originated at the radioactive leaching pond near TRA and were passed to the raptors through their prey. However, the concentration of radionuclides in raptors was much lower than in prey items from the TRA pond. Our data indicated that although radionuclides were transferred to higher trophic levels, the concentrations were diluted considerahly by consumption of uncontaminated rodents. Raptors which nested immediately downwind of or near the Idaho Chemical Processing Plant (ICPP) showed detectable concentrations of Cs-137. Since the soils around ICPP were contaminated with low levels of Cs-137 and ICPP released Cs-137 to the atmosphere, the concentrations in these nestlings probably was due to atmospheric release of radioactivity from this facility. We concluded from our data that the influences of ICPP and TRA on radionuclide concentrations in nestling raptors were limited to an area within 3.5 km of the facilities.

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Reference Code: A79CRA01IDUS

Full Citation: Craig, T. H., D. K. Halford, and O. D. Markham. 1979. Radionuclide concentrations in nestling raptors near nuclear facilities. Wilson Bulletin 91(1): 72-77.

Location: ANIMAL EF: BIRDS