Cow’s milk contamination with 137Cs depending on quality and supply of pasturage

Abstract

The results of studies on transferring of 137Cs to cow’s milk during the grazing season on two pastures in Narodychi district, Zhytomyr region, which differ in 137Cs ground deposition and intensity accumulation of radionuclide by herbage. It has been proposed a specific methodical approach for interpreting the radiological consequences of the pastures use by grazing cows. This approach is that the contamination of cow’s milk should be linked to the quality and supply of pasture forage. Research has found that in most cases reducing the quality and supply of pasture grass the activity of 137Cs in milk decreases, although this fact is less obvious to hospitals with severe particle size and high 137Cs ground deposition. This can be explained by 137Cs of the soil origin on contamination of cow’s milk.