Influence of different environments on Cs-137 body burdens of population after radioactive fallout

After atmospheric nuclear weapons tests Cs-137 was rather evenly deposited in Finland. In 1986 after the Chernobyl accident Cs-137 was deposited more unevenly. Two legions with low Cs-137 deposition were studied; Lapland and the Helsinki region. The environmental and cultural differencies resulted, however, in high body burdens for the Lapps compared to those found in the Helsinki region. The body burdens of male reindeer herders from Inari reached maximum values (mean 55 000 Bq) in 1965 with a lower maximum (15 000 Bq) in 1987. In the Helsinki region the corresponding maximum (3000 Bq) was found in 1987 and a smaller maximum (1000 Bq) in 1965. Body burdens and hence radiation doses due to fallout cannot be estimated on the basis of deposition data only.