Evaluation of Permissible Level of Soluble I-131 Containing Fission Products for Design of Protective Measures in Livestock Industry
TLDR Cows can safely graze after a nuclear incident if iodine exposure is managed, as doses below 30 Gy don't harm them long-term.
The study evaluates the permissible levels of soluble I-131, a radioactive iodine isotope from uranium fission, to design protective measures for livestock, particularly dairy cattle, in contaminated areas. Iodine radioisotopes pose significant radiation hazards as they accumulate in the thyroid, potentially causing conditions like hypothyroidism and alopecia. The research found that a thyroid radiation dose of 100 Gy does not impair cows' reproductive traits, while doses below 30 Gy do not disturb hormonal status. A dose of 30 Gy caused temporary changes in thyroid hormone levels, but animals showed a recovery trend without changes in immunological reactivity or productivity. The study suggests that knowing the contribution of iodine radioisotopes to total fission product activity can help determine when it is safe to resume grazing after a nuclear incident.
