The Sami are an indigenous people living in Norway, Finland, Sweden and Russia. They are reindeer herders, who manage hundreds of thousands of reindeer in the frigid North.
Despite living approximately 1,100 miles from Chernobyl, their way of life and food that they relied on as their main source of nutrition was negatively affected by Cesium 137 contamination from the Chernobyl accident in 1986.
After the accident, the authorities told the Sami people that they would not be able to sell or eat the meat of their reindeer “for at least 40 years”.
According to Wikipedia; “Reindeer have major cultural and economic significance for indigenous peoples of the North. The human-ecological systems in the North, like reindeer pastoralism, are sensitive to change, perhaps more than in virtually any other region of the globe, due in part to the variability of the Arctic climate and ecosystem and the characteristic ways of life of indigenous Arctic peoples.[57]
The 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster caused nuclear fallout in the sensitive Arctic ecosystems and poisoned fish, meat and berries. Lichens and mosses are two of the main forms of vegetation in the Arctic and are highly susceptible to airborne pollutants and heavy metals. Since many do not have roots, they can absorb nutrients, and toxic compounds, through their leaves. The lichens accumulated airborne radiation, and 73,000 reindeer had to be destroyed as “unfit” for human consumption in Sweden alone. The government promised Sami indemnification, which was not acted upon by government.
Radioactive wastes and spent nuclear fuel have been stored in the waters off the Kola Peninsula, including locations that are only “two kilometers” from places where Sami live. There are a minimum of five nuclear waste “dumps” where spent nuclear fuel and other radioactive waste are being deposited in the Kola Peninsula, often with little concern for the surrounding environment or Sami population.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sami_people
The Swedish National Food Administration (SLV) converted the Swedish Radiation Protection Authority (SSI) recommendations into safe radiation limits for food. After the Chernobyl accident, the SLV set an initial trigger for unsafe radiation levels and destruction of the reindeer for any found to contain radiation above a ‘safe’ limit of 300 Bq per kilogram.
This meant that wild game, fish, berries or any other food above this limit was considered unfit for human consumption.
In Sweden, this ‘safe’ level was gradually raised from 300 to 1,500 and then finally to 10,000 Bq per kilogram over the next few years. Any reindeer now testing lower than 10,000 Bq/kg is now considered ‘safe’ to consume, sell or export.
This raising of ‘safe’ radiation levels in wild meat also had the effect of lowering the percentage of animals testing unsafe for consumption from 80% in 1986, to less than 1% today. In 1986, some of the reindeer meat tested with radiation levels as high as 40,000 Bq/kg.
Of course, this also reduced the amount of money that the government authorities had to pay to the Sami for these destroyed animals by a huge amount. Could this monetary incentive be part or possibly the only reason why radiation levels were raised from 300 to 10,000 Bq/kg?
Another problem with this fast implementation is that it was discovered that the fallout from nuclear testing had been subjecting the Sami peoples to doses of radiation over 3,000 Bq/kg for many years, without the health or nuclear radiation protection authorities doing anything about it, much less notifying people about the dangers or risks.
The Soviets were testing nuclear bombs in Novaya Zemlya during the 1950’s and 60’s, which produced radioactive Cesium levels in the reindeer at levels that reached 3,000 Bq/kg.
So the Sami people had a problem understanding why all of a sudden, 300 Bq/kg of radiation was considered unsafe and their animals had to be destroyed. Many of them lost faith in radiation protection authorities and started ignoring them completely. http://www.utexas.edu/courses/sami/dieda/socio/chernobyl.htm
In the UK, the trigger for contaminated animals such as sheep was 1000 Bq per kilogram, and in Germany, the trigger for animals such as deer and wild pig is still only 600 Bq per kilogram.
In Norway, right after the Chernobyl crisis in 1986, the reindeer meat radiation limit was set at 600 Bq/kg. This was then raised one year later to 6,000 Bq/kg. The authorities said it was still safe to eat even with this elevated radiation level, because this meat was considered a ‘luxury’ food item, not meant to be consumed daily.
It is also interesting to note, that the ‘safe’ standards of radiation in food or drink vary by orders of magnitude, depending on which country one lives in or visits. There is no international standard for ‘safe’ levels of radiation in milk, meat or water, so a person could be exposed to 10,000 Bq/kg of radiation in food or drink, and that food or drink could still be considered ‘safe’.
See the following articles for more information;
UK Established Animal Radiation ‘Controls’ Due To Cesium Contamination; via A Green Road Blog
Radioactive Boars And Deer Unfit To Eat 950 Miles From Chernobyl; via A Green Road Blog
One of the responses to the Chernobyl nuclear accident was the loss of fish, berries and other wild game that was often harvested by people living areas such as Norway, Sweden, Finland, etc. The governments of these countries set up reimbursement programs and compensated people for the loss of berries, fish, and wild game meat that was found to be radioactively contaminated.
One type of reimbursement was to pay reindeer herders to feed their deer uncontaminated feed brought in from other areas, not affected by radiation. Many berry farmers and fishermen received monetary compensation due to the radioactive contamination of these foodstuffs. http://www.utexas.edu/courses/sami/dieda/socio/chernobyl.htm
In Norway, some researchers developed a radiation binding pellet product that could be fed to the reindeer about six weeks before harvest, and they found that the radiation levels would be reduced as a result. These feed pellets contained Prussian blue pigment.
The effect of these pellets was to bind the Cesium 137 coming in with the contaminated lichen, and prevent it from being absorbed into the meat. The bonded particles would end up being too large to be absorbed in the gut and would thus be excreted rather than being absorbed. Researchers found that by using this technique they could reduce the Cesium 137 load in meat by 50% or more. In milk cows, this product could reduce the Cesium 137 in milk by 80%. Hoke, Franklin. “Seizing Cesium.” Environment. June 1991, Vol. 33, Issue 5: 21.
Scientific Research
“Within the most contaminated area the reindeer born in 1986 showed significantly more chromosome aberrations than those born both before and after 1986. This could suggest that the Chernobyl accident fallout created an effect particularly among calves, during the immediate post-accident period in the most exposed areas.”
Teachers Guide
A teachers guide is available from PBS, to help students understand more about radiation, these reindeer and how they were affected.
Norway, Sweden, Russia Animal Radiation Contamination Explored; via A Green Road Blog
http://agreenroad.blogspot.com/2012/04/norway-sweden-russia-reindeer-radiation.html
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LOW LEVEL NUCLEAR RADIATION IN FOOD AND WATER
Radiation dangers in food and water; via A Green Road Blog http://agreenroad.blogspot.com/2012/03/radiation-contamination-standards-for.html
Radioactive Bananas? Peeling The Mystery; via A Green Road Blogm http://agreenroad.blogspot.com/2012/03/radioactive-bananas-peeling-mystery.html
Radiation Safety Standards for Food: Comparing Chernobyl vs Fukushima; via A Green Road Blog
Chernobyl Heart Movie; How Children Are Affected; via A Green Road Blog
How Cesium And Strontium 90 Kills Children (German w English CC) via A Green Road Blog
http://agreenroad.blogspot.com/2012/04/german-how-cesium-and-strontium-90.html
http://agreenroad.blogspot.com/2012/04/german-how-cesium-and-strontium-90.html
How Dangerous Is 400-600 Pounds Of Plutonium Nano Particle Dust Liberated By Fukushima? Via A Green Road Blog http://agreenroad.blogspot.com/2012/03/how-dangerous-is-400-600-pounds-of.html
Dr. Chris Busby; Consequences of Burning Radioactive Waste In Japan; via A Green Road Blog
Nuclear Plants And Radioactive Water Contamination; via A Green Road Blog
Depleted Uranium Effects In The Human Body; via A Green Road Blog http://agreenroad.blogspot.com/2012/03/depleted-uranium-effects-in-human-body.html
Radium Girls & Radium Dials; Ottowa Illinois, Death City
Fukushima; Pacific Ocean Catastrophe Confirmed; via A Green Road Blog
Fukushima Leaking Radioactive Water Plume Into Ocean; via A Green Road Blog
Hot Particles (Fuel Fleas) From Fukushima Continue To Circulate Globally; via A Green Road Blog http://agreenroad.blogspot.com/2012/04/hot-particles-from-fukushima-continue.html
EFFECTS OF INTERNAL LOW LEVEL NUCLEAR RADIATION
Chernobyl Heart Movie; How Children Are Affected; via A Green Road Blog
How Cesium And Strontium 90 Kills Children (German w English CC) via A Green Road Blog
http://agreenroad.blogspot.com/2012/04/german-how-cesium-and-strontium-90.html
http://agreenroad.blogspot.com/2012/04/german-how-cesium-and-strontium-90.html
Depleted Uranium Effects In The Human Body; via A Green Road Blog http://agreenroad.blogspot.com/2012/03/depleted-uranium-effects-in-human-body.html
Radium Girls & Radium Dials; Ottowa Illinois, Death City
How Dangerous Is 400-600 Pounds Of Plutonium Nano Particle Dust Liberated By Fukushima? Via A Green Road Blog http://agreenroad.blogspot.com/2012/03/how-dangerous-is-400-600-pounds-of.html
Nuclear Plants And Radioactive Water Contamination; via A Green Road Blog
Fukushima; Pacific Ocean Catastrophe Confirmed; via A Green Road Blog
Fukushima Leaking Radioactive Water Into Ocean Plume; via A Green Road Blog
Japan Plans To Evacuate 40 Million Citizens; Russia Shocked; via A Green Road
Radon Dangers; Hormesis Explored; via A Green Road Blog http://agreenroad.blogspot.com/2012/04/radon-dangers-and-hormesis.html
ANIMALS AND RADIATION EFFECTS
Bird Radiation Studies; Chernobyl, TMI & Fukushima; Via A Green Road Blog http://agreenroad.blogspot.com/2012/03/bird-studies-and-chernobyl-tmi-and.html
Pets, Animals And Radioactive Contamination In Shelters Or Homes; via A Green Road Blog
Radium Girls & Radium Dials; Ottowa Illinois, Death City
Fukushima; Pacific Ocean Catastrophe Confirmed; via A Green Road Blog
Fukushima Animals Affected By Low Level Radiation; via A Green Road Blog
UK Established Animal Radiation ‘Controls’ Due To Cesium Contamination; via A Green Road Blog
http://agreenroad.blogspot.com/2012/04/uk-established-animal-radiation.html
http://agreenroad.blogspot.com/2012/04/uk-established-animal-radiation.html
Radioactive Boars And Deer Unfit To Eat 950 Miles From Chernobyl; via A Green Road Blog
Chernobyl; Animal Studies Show Radiation Is Still Harming Our Wild Companions; via A Green Road Blog
PBS; Radioactive Wolves In Chernobyl Exclusion Zone Movie Review
Fukushima: Hawaii & Arizona Dairy Milk Test Up To 800% Higher Than Safety Limits; via A Green Road Blog
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