Abstract
Radioactivity was determined in samples of otter (Lutra lutra) faeces (scats) collected from various regions of Great Britain in 1986 and 1987, following the Chernobyl nuclear reactor accident, and compared with a sample of scats collected in 1985 from central Wales. Samples of scats were also collected from the seashore adjacent to the Dounreay nuclear power station, northern Scotland, and compared with a control site, 40 to 60 km distant. Samples collected in 1986 from central Wales, Galloway and northern Scotland all contained significantly higher amounts of radioactivity than the 1985 sample from central Wales, with Galloway (mean 13 000 Bq kg−1 dry weight) having significantly more radioactivity than other regions. A sample collected in central Wales in January 1987 had returned to the 1985 level of radioactivity, but a sample from Galloway in January 1987 remained high; this difference in response may be related to the acidic nature of Galloway rivers. No significant differences were found between samples collected from near Dounreay and the control site, though fallout from Chernobyl may have masked the effects of local discharges of radioactivity. The significance of the results to otter populations is discussed.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Camplin, W. C., Mitchell, N. T., Leonard, D. R. P., and Jefferies, D. F.: 1986, Radioactivity in Surface and Coastal Waters of the British Isles. Monitoring of Fallout from the Chernobyl Reactor Accident, Aquatic Environment Monitoring Report No. 15, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, London.
Fry, F. A., Clarke, R. H., and O'Riordan, M. C.: 1986, Nature 321, 193.
Haywood, S. M.: 1987, Revised Generalized Derived Limits for Radioisotopes of Strontium, Iodine, Caesium, Plutonium, Americium, and Curium, National Radiological Protection Board, DL 111.
Mason, C. F.: 1987, IUCN Otter Specialist Group Bull. 2, 50.
Mason, C. F. and Macdonald, S. M.: 1986a, Otters: Ecology and Conservation, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
Mason, C. F. and Macdonald, S. M.: 1986b, Sci. Total Environ. 53, 139.
Mason, C. F. and Macdonald, S. M.: 1987, Mammalia 51, 81.
Milne, R.: 1986, New Sci. 109, 55.
National Radiological Protection Board: 1986, Derived Emergency Reference Levels for the Introduction of Countermeasures in the Early to Intermediate Phases of Emergencies Involving the Release of Radioactive Materials to Atmosphere, HMSO, London for NRPB, Chilton, Didcot, NRPB-DL10.
Petersen, R.C., Landner, L., and Blanck, H.: 1986, Ambio 15, 327.
Preston, A., Jefferies, D. F., and Dutton, J. W. R.: 1968, Water Res. 1, 475.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Mason, C.F., Macdonald, S.M. Radioactivity in otter scats in Britain following the chernobyl reactor accident. Water Air Soil Pollut 37, 131–137 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00226485
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00226485