Environmental behaviour of radioactive particles: Transfer to animals

Field data on behaviour of artificial polydisperse radioactive silica particles in the components of the cattle food chain are presented. The model fused radioactive particles reproduced the spherical shape of particles in the local deposition during nuclear tests, including their specific gravity and polydispersity. It is shown that the composition of radioactive particles entering the body of animals differs from those initially deposited on the surface of pasture grass. The intake of particles into the body of animals decreased with increasing particle size. The intake for particles of 400–800 μm was about 10 times lower than that for fine particles sized 0–100 μm. It was found that the excretion rate of radioactive particles from the animal body also depends on particle size. The deposition of radioactive particles on the fundal surface of the wall of the ventral rumen sac and reticulum, as well as the long-term retention of radioactive particles of all sizes in the abomasum was noted. This can result in substantial damage in the GIT system, in particular, in these parts of the cattle digestive tract the focal ulcerative lesions of the mucous membrane can be formed by « hot » radioactive particles. •Behaviour of radioactive particles in cattle feed depends significantly on particle size.•Particles behaved differently in the GIT than fodder mass or radioactive solutions.•Radioactive particles were retained on wall of ventral rumen, reticulum and abomasum.•Possible explanation of radiation-ulcerative damage to mucous membrane of GIT.