210Po and 210Pb in the Arctic Food Chain and the Natural Radiation Exposure of Lapps

Abstract

Measurements of 210Po and 210Pb concentrations in samples from Lapland and reference samples from southern Finland show that the arctic food chain, lichen-reindeer-man, maintains a high 210Po concentration in soft tissues of reindeer breeding Lapps (about 12 times higher than in southern Finns). For 210Pb the corresponding “excess” factor appears to be much lower (about 2.5). The results are discussed in the light of the parameters of the ICRP-tables. The dose rate delivered by the alpha-activity of 210Po to the Lapps is estimated.