<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The contamination of the environment, soil and meat of wild animals with radionuclides can negatively affect human health. The aim of our study was to analyse the risk arising from post-Chernobyl contamination of the meat of wild boars (<italic>Sus scrofa</italic>) originating from the district Levice, southern Slovakia, with the radioactive artificial element 137Cs. The level of natural radionuclide 40K was also determined. We examined altogether 45 samples obtained from 9 wild boars hunted in this area during the period of 2013—2015. From each animal we collected and analysed samples from the thigh, stomach contents, stomach muscles and skin. We also examined samples of soil from the locations where these animals were shot. The activity values of radioactive caesium 137Cs determined in this study were very low and therefore the consumption of wild boar meat originating from this location presents no risk to human health.</abstract>

The contamination of the environment, soil and meat of wild animals with radionuclides can negatively affect human health. The aim of our study was to analyse the risk arising from post-Chernobyl contamination of the meat of wild boars (Sus scrofa) originating from the district Levice, southern Slovakia, with the radioactive artificial element 137Cs. The level of natural radionuclide 40K was also determined. We examined altogether 45 samples obtained from 9 wild boars hunted in this area during the period of 2013—2015. From each animal we collected and analysed samples from the thigh, stomach contents, stomach muscles and skin. We also examined samples of soil from the locations where these animals were shot. The activity values of radioactive caesium 137Cs determined in this study were very low and therefore the consumption of wild boar meat originating from this location presents no risk to human health.

Monitoring of 137CS and 40K in the Levice District, Southern Slovakia

Department of Biology and Genetics, Institute of biology, zoology and radiobiology

University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy

Folia Veterinaria

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Monitoring of CS and K in the Levice District, Southern Slovakia

The contamination of the environment, soil and meat of wild animals with radionuclides can negatively affect human health. The aim of our study was to analyse...

Monitoring of ¹³⁷CS and ⁴⁰K in the Levice District, Southern Slovakia

Published Online: Apr 11, 2018

Page range: 38 - 43

Received: Oct 11, 2017

Accepted: Dec 14, 2017

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/fv-2018-0006

Keywords
contamination, Cs, K, radionuclides, soil, wild boar

© 2018 Kanta, M. et al., published by De Gruyter Open

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Monitoring of 137CS and 40K in the Levice District, Southern Slovakia

Published Online: Apr 11, 2018

Page range: 38 - 43

Received: Oct 11, 2017

Accepted: Dec 14, 2017

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/fv-2018-0006

Keywordscontamination, Cs, K, radionuclides, soil, wild boar

© 2018 Kanta, M. et al., published by De Gruyter Open

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Monitoring of ¹³⁷CS and ⁴⁰K in the Levice District, Southern Slovakia

Keywords
contamination, Cs, K, radionuclides, soil, wild boar