137Cs content and internal radiation doses of special population groupsAim of the studyChanges in internal radiation doses affecting the population and special population groups receiving more 137Cs from the diet than the population in general have been studied using in vivo measurements performed annually or at longer time intervals. The diet of these special population groups includes freshwater fish, wild mushrooms and wild berries from areas with high 137Cs deposition. In reindeer herding areas, the diet includes reindeer meat as well as other products from nature. Long-term follow-up studies are necessary in order to get representative dose estimates. In addition to the annual committed effective doses, the results also give information on the sources from which the Finns receive the highest radiation doses. ImplementationThe studies of the special diet groups have been carried out using the mobile whole-body counter. The members of the group from Central Finland have been measured annually. They represent a population consuming forest berries and mushrooms and especially a lot of freshwater fish caught in small lakes in a region with high Chernobyl fallout. The group of reindeer herders from Northern Lapland has been measured at three- to five-year intervals. Reindeer meat is the primary source of 137Cs for the group. The concentrations of 137Cs in the food products from nature consumed by the study populations have also been determined. In addition, a reference group representing people living in the Helsinki area has been measured regularly. Dissemination and exploitation of the resultsThe results are used to assess the internal doses for Finnish population and they will be published in peer-reviewed journals. TimetableContinuous follow-up project Responsible scientistMaarit Muikku Page updated 17/05/2009
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