Current state of 137Cs contamination of cow milk in the northern regions of Ukraine

Abstract

Analysis of the results of the selective monitoring of 137Cs in cow milk in settlements, where values of the milk contamination have not met requirements of the permissible levels since the Chernobyl accident, was performed. Monitoring network, which was created at the Institute, is covering the most critical settlements of Zhytomyr, Rivne and Volyn regions. The article presents data on radionuclide contamination of cow milk for the last 5 years (2011 - 2015), while observations are carried out since the 90-s of the last century. Long-term data show that the current dynamics of contamination of cow milk in these settlements is comparable to the decrease of 137Cs activity due to its physical decay.

Keywords

• Chernobyl accident
• radioactive contamination
• monitoring