ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the gross patterns of radioactivity existing or being formed within arctic and alpine regions, environmental and biological factors associated with radionuclide deposition and movement, several terrestrial and aquatic food chains and the actual or potential radiation dose to man and other organisms will be considered. Investigations need to be continued to develop radioecological rules and principles particularly in regard to interactions between radiation and the many pollutants and variations of environmental conditions found not only in the marine environment, but also freshwater and terrestrial environments. The amounts of radioactive material allowed to be discharged to the marine environment has, in the past, emphasized safety to man. Two techniques used to predict radiosensitivity in animals are: modification of interphase chromosome volume technique; and chromosome analysis. Chromosome analysis was carried out on cultured peripheral leukocytes obtained from 21 male Alaskan Eskimos who were known to carry an excessive body burden of 137Cs.
