THE RADIOECOLOGICAL CONSEQUENCES FOR LOWLAND PASTURES USED TO FATTEN UPLAND SHEEP CONTAMINATED WITH RADIOCESIUM

Current farming practice in upland areas of Cumbria, England, affected by Chernobyl fallout is to remove lambs to lowland pastures for fattening prior to slaughter. The radiocaesium (Cs-137 and Cs-134) burden of lambs is rapidly lost via excreta deposited on the pasture. This may increase the radiocaesium activities in vegetation of these pastures. Studies were performed to assess the radioecological consequences of this practice. Results obtained from experiments were used to calibrate a soil/vegetation model which was used to predict long-term radiocaesium behavior.