Cycling and Compartmentalizing of Radionuclides in Northern Alaskan Lichen Communities.

• Main Authors: Hanson, W. C., Eberhardt, L. L.
• Format: Report
• Language: English
• Published: Pacific Northwest Laboratory 1971
• Subjects: N28410* > Life Sciences > Health Physics & Safety > Radioactive Contamination & Decontamination; N28130 > Life Sciences > Biochemistry; Physiology; & Molecular Biology > Metabolism; Physiology & Toxicology; Lichens; Time; Quantity Ratio; Food Chain; Cesium Isotopes Cs-137/Transport Through Soil > Lichen > Caribou > Man Food Chains In Alaska During 1964 Through 1969; Alaska; Deer; Diet; Alaska/Cesium- 137 Transport Through Soil > Lichen > Caribou > Man Food Chains In; During 1964 Through 1969; Lichens/Cesium-137 Uptake From Soil By; Soils; Food Chains/Cesium-137 Transport Through Soil > Lichen > Caribou > Man; In Alaska; Variations Food Chains/Cesium-137 Transport Through Soil > Lichen > Caribou > Man; Cesium 137; Man; Meat; Arctic Regions; N28210 > Life Sciences > Ecology > Interrelation; Man/Cesium-137 Uptake By Eskimo; Effects Of Caribou Meat In Diet On; Arctic; eskimo*
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.2172/4036234; https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc866481/

Cycling of cesium-137 and other fallout radionuclides in natural lichen communities of Northern Alaska was studied by periodic sampling on a year-round basis during the period 1964-1969. Maximum concentrations usually occurred during summer months and minima during winter months. Vertical strata of lichens, humus and soil taken at those times showed pronounced seasonal shifting of radionuclides between community components. These data partially account for the sudden increase in cesium-137 body burdens of northern Alaskan caribou during spring months of each year and have important implications in the Eskimo populations dependent upon the caribou for basic food.