Radiological investigation of meat of game and dose estimation for hunters and members of their families

The paper describes dose estimation for hunters and members of their families due to radionuclides Sr-90 and Cs-137 in meat of game hunted in Lithuania during two hunting seasons: 2003-2004 and 2004-2005. Research in the Nordic countries showed higher activity concentrations of both radionuclides in meat of game and higher doses to public consuming this meat. The scope of this investigation is radiological measurements of meat samples of game and dose estimation for hunters and members of their families. Measurements show that activity concentrations of 90Sr in samples of meat of game are less than for (CS)-C-137. An average activity concentration of 90Sr in all the samples of meat of game analysed was 0,06 +/- 0.03 Bq/kg, for (CS)-C-137 - 7,8 +/- 4,6 Bq/kg. The highest activity concentration of (CS)-C-137 was measured in the sample of meat of moose from Matuiza forest near Varena district, and it was 30,8 2,0 Bq/kg. It was estimated that an annual effective dose due to 90Sr in meat of game was in the range from 5,6(.)10(-10) Sv to 3,6(.)10(-8) Sv, due to (CS)-C-137 - in the range from 5,2-10(-8) Sv to 3,3(.)10(-6) Sv. The total dose due to Sr-90 in meat of all the different kinds of game was 0,06 mu Sv, for (CS)-C-37 - 4,7 mu Sv. The results show that dose due to (CS)-C-137 in meat of game may be much higher than the total dose due to Sr-90 and (CS)-C-137 in the whole daily food (1,3 mu Sv). This dose value was estimated for the public of Lithuania in 2005 and based on the results of food radiological monitoring at Radiation Protection Centre. The main conclusion drawn during this study is that radiological monitoring of meat of game is needed, and dose estimation based on the results of measurements is necessary to protect the public of Lithuania from the harmful effects of ionizing radiation.