90Sr, 210Po and 210Pb in lichen and reindeer in Norway

Concentrations of 90Sr, 210Po and 210Pb in lichen and reindeer were studied in central (Østre Namdal) and southern Norway (Vågå) during 2000–2003. The study focussed on potential differences in concentrations of these nuclides in reindeer of different ages. Concentrations of 90Sr in bones of 10 year old adult females were about 40% higher than those in calvesʹ antlers (90Sr concentrations in antlers and bones of calves are similar), while the available data from Vågå suggest that 90Sr concentrations in reindeer calves decreased with an effective ecological half-time of 9.03 ± 0.06 years during 1988–2002. Furthermore, 90Sr concentrations were 50–80% higher in bone of reindeer of a similar age from Vågå compared to those from Østre Namdal. Concentrations of 210Po and 210Pb in muscle and liver tissues were comparable to those reported for reindeer in other Nordic areas, with no significant difference in 210Po and 210Pb concentrations between adults and calves or between reindeer from the two different study areas.