Determination of 210Po in hair of domestic animals from Poland and Norway

Radiolead210Pb and210Po/210Pb activity ratios in dogs' hair

“…Shedding could be an important factor that influences heavy metals concentrations. [14] But domestic animals change their coat very irregular and widely spread on time because of stable temperature conditions and heating seasons at owners' homes, [31] and the concentrations changes could not be noticeable during population comparisons.…”

“…However, there were no differences in 210 Po concentrations in dog hair samples collected in local groups of dogs; the analysis of fur samples collected from Polish and Norwegian dogs fed with food of different origin showed huge differences in 210 Po concentrations in their fur and reflected its concentration in their meals. [31] Possible similar accumulation pathways could be then checked for lead as well.…”

“…[11,[28][29][30][31] Before radiochemical analysis all hair samples were washed once in acetone, thrice in water and once in alcohol to separate them from fats and different forms of pollution, also 210 Pb adsorbed from the atmosphere. During washing, the samples were left at room temperature for 10 min; the supernatant liquid was then poured off and fresh solvent was added.…”

“…After mineralization (65% HNO 3 , and further 35% HCl with 30% hydrogen peroxide), firstly polonium was deposited on silver disc. [29][30][31] Activities of 210 Pb were measured indirectly via its daughter 210 Po knowing that these two radioisotopes should reach secular equilibrium after a sufficient period of time since the first 210 Po deposition. The hair samples after the first 210 Po deposition were stored for 6 months to allow for 210 Po on silver disc was repeated and the activities of ingrowing polonium isotopes ( 209 Po and 210 Po) were measured in alpha spectrometer (Alpha Analyst S470, Canberra-Packard).…”

Influence of natural radium contamination of barium chloride on the determination of radium isotopes in the water samples using α/β liquid scintillation spectrometry

“…Radium isotopes can easily migrate from one environmental system to the other and from soil into vegetables [1]. In hydrosphere, the heavy metals and radium isotopes often accumulate in fi shes and mussels, which are then soaked in human and animal bodies as food [2][3][4][5][6][7][8]. The industrial boilers used for a long time can be contaminated by a signifi cant amount of radium isotopes [9].…”