THE RADIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF NP-237 IN THE ENVIRONMENT

Measurements have been made of the concentration of Np-237 in tissues taken from sheep, which have grazed on sea-washed marshland on the wes t Cumbrian coast. The concentrations of Pu-239 + Pu-240 and Am-241 wer e also determined in the same samples, to enable a comparison to be ma de of relative uptake of these radionuclides to livestock. Consequentl y, an assessment has been made of the relative radiological significan ce of these radionuclides, in terms of the dose received by the public from consuming sheep meat products. The concentrations of the same ra dionuclides were also measured in soil samples taken from the marsh on which the sheep grazed, to estimate the Np-237 available to the sheep , via plant uptake and soil ingestion.