Radioecological Substantiation of Control Levels of 137Cs in Farm Animal Feeds.

A methodological approach to substantiating the control levels of ¹³⁷Cs in cattle feeds is presented based on the probabilistic nature of the parameters of transfer of ¹³⁷Cs to cattle feeds and cattle milk and meat. A comparative analysis of global and Russian data on the parameters of ¹³⁷Cs transfer from feed to livestock products has been made. It is shown that milk with ¹³⁷Cs remains safe when the concentration of this radionuclide in the feed is at the existing control levels; however, this does not guarantee compliance with the hygienic standards for the content of ¹³⁷Cs in meat. Based on the methodological approach, control levels are proposed for monitoring ¹³⁷Cs in the feeds of dairy and beef cattle in areas contaminated after the Chernobyl accident. The use of the proposed control levels makes it possible to optimize livestock breeding technologies in the Russian areas contaminated after the Chernobyl accident. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]