1963/12/01 by W. E. Martin, William E. Martin
Environmental Science · Health Professions · #Radioactive contamination and transfer #Radioactivity and Radon Measurements #Isotope Analysis in Ecology
paper · doi:10.1097/00004032-196312000-00010
While the radioactive half life of I131 is 8.04 days, its “effective half life” on fallout-contaminated vegetation was found to be only 5.5 days. Experimental evidence indicated that the difference may have been due to the mechanical removal of particles from vegetation and/or to the vaporization of I131 from particles retained by vegetation. These findings imply that I131 and other radionuclides contained in fallout may be lost from the diets of herbivores at rates significantly greater than could be predicted on the basis of radioactive decay alone.