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Energy metabolism used as a tool to model the transfer of 14C and 3H in animals
The transfer through the environment of 3 H and 14 C must be modelled differently than that of other radionuclides released from nuclear reactors because hydrogen and carbon enter straight into the life cycle. A solid understanding of the behaviour of 3 H and 14 C in the food chain is essential beca...
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Published in: | Radiation and environmental biophysics 2010-11, Vol.49 (4), p.657-672 |
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Main Authors: | , |
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Subjects: | |
Citations: | Items that this one cites Items that cite this one |
Online Access: | Get full text |
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Summary: | The transfer through the environment of
3
H and
14
C must be modelled differently than that of other radionuclides released from nuclear reactors because hydrogen and carbon enter straight into the life cycle. A solid understanding of the behaviour of
3
H and
14
C in the food chain is essential because
3
H may be released in large quantities from future thermonuclear reactors, and
14
C accumulates in the environment because of its long half-life. For the present study, the hypothesis that both
3
H and
14
C metabolism in mammals can be modelled based on the understanding of energy metabolism has been tested. Recently published results demonstrate that the loss rate of organically bound tritium and
14
C from tissues of laboratory and farm animals can be assessed based upon their specific metabolic rates and enthalpy of combustion; the same is true for human beings. The improved model presented here relates the dynamics of organically bound tritium and
14
C within organs to the whole body and has been expanded to account for the growth of ruminants. The improved model has been expanded and applied for
14
C transfer in wild mammals and has been modified to apply to birds. |
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ISSN: | 0301-634X 1432-2099 |
DOI: | 10.1007/s00411-010-0302-4 |