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Naturally Occurring Radionuclides in Tissue from Beef Fed Phosphatic Clay‐Grown Forages
Author(s) -
Stricker J. A.,
Hanlon E. A.,
West R. L.,
Shibles D. B.,
Sumner S. L.,
Umana R.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
journal of environmental quality
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.888
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1537-2537
pISSN - 0047-2425
DOI - 10.2134/jeq1994.00472425002300040007x
Subject(s) - pasture , silage , hay , medicago sativa , zoology , beef cattle , agronomy , biology , chemistry
This study was designed to determine if beef animals ( Bos taurus ) fed forages grown on reclaimed phosphate land accumulated selected radionuclides in muscle, kidney, or bone tissues. Sixty (60) beef steers (average weight 194.5 kg) were randomly assigned to one of four treatment groups: unmined pasture (control), reclaimed pasture, full feed of alfalfa ( Medicago sativa L.) hay, or full feed of corn ( Zea mays L.) silage both grown on reclaimed phosphatic clay. Animals remained on the study for approximately 14 mo and were then slaughtered. Radium 226 in muscle tissue from the reclaimed pasture treatment was 0.081 Bq kg −1 and higher ( P <0.05) than in muscle tissue from the other three treatments. Radium 226 levels in kidney tissue from the unmined and reclaimed pasture treatments were higher ( P <0.05) than from both corn silage and alfalfa hay treatments. Bone 226 Ra levels were higher than both muscle and kidney tissue ( P <0.05), but no statistically significant differences were observed in bone samples among the four treatment groups. Results of this study indicate no food safety problems from consuming products from beef animals fed forages grown on reclaimed phosphate land.