The Norwegian mountain lake, Øvre Heimdalsvatn, received major fallout from the Chernobyl accident in the spring of 1986. Activity concentrations of 137 Cs have been monitored annually in the brown trout (Salmo trutta) population of the lake over a 22-year period since 1986. The activity concentrations of 137 Cs in brown trout have declined over the period, although in recent years there has been little or no reduction in activity concentrations. Throughout the period, there has been considerable individual variation in 137 Cs activity concentrations. Within a single year, fish weight was the most significant factor affecting activity concentrations of 137 Cs in individual fish, although sex and ageÁweight were significant explanatory variables. The ''size effect'' was not significant during the initial period after fallout and in some recent years. During the first years after fallout, the ecological halflife of 137 Cs in brown trout was 3-4 years, but during the last decade this has increased significantly and has approached the physical half-life of 30 years for 137 Cs, suggesting a dynamic equilibrium between catchments inputs, possible remobilisation from lake sediments and lake outputs of 137 Cs.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.