Radionuclides in grey seals

• Published in: Marine Pollution Bulletin
• Main Authors: Anderson, Sheila S., Livens, Francis R., Singleton, Diana L.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: unknown
• Published: 1990
• Subjects: Ecology and Environment; North East Atlantic
• Online Access: http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/21324/; https://doi.org/10.1016/0025-326X(90)90796-B

Milk from live female grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) and tissues from dead individuals were analysed for caesium isotopes and for plutonium and americium. The samples were collected at two sites, one in the North Sea and one in the north-east Atlantic. Levels of Cs137 in milk were low (mean value 2.9 Bq I−1) and were only slightly higher in tissues (range 6.4–27.5 Bq kg−1). Plutonium and americium levels were at or below detection limits in most samples. There were no differences between the results from the two locations. Radionuclide levels were similar to those in fish species commonly consumed by grey seals.