Activity concentration of 238U, 226Ra and 40K were analyzed in samples of milk, meat, cow cheese and sheep cheese from the areas of three municipalities: Livno, Kakanj and Hadzici for the purpose of assessment of the annual effective dose by ingestion of animal products of ruminants. Burned samples of milk and meat from cow and sheep were measured by modified gamma spectrometry method. High resolution HPGe detector with additional electronic equipment had been used for that purpose. All results were calculated on the fresh weight basis. Obtained results for samples of cow milk were in ranges: 0.010 – 0,020 -1 for 238U; 0.014 – 0.060 Bq kg-1 for 226Ra and 37.2 – 67.5 Bq kg-1 for 40K. Sheep milk showed the following ranges of obtained results: 0,007 – 0.033 Bq kg-1 for 238U; 0.010 – 0.045 Bq kg-1 for 226Ra and 30.7 – 73.3 Bq kg-1 for 40K. Levels of observed radionuclides (38U, 226Ra and 40K) in samples of cow cheese were moving between 0.010 – 0.070, 0.01 – 0.10, and 27.3 – 58.9 Bq kg-1. Activity concentrations of 238U, 226Ra and 40K in samples of cow meat were: 0.010 – 0.023 Bq kg-1; 0.018 – 0.060 Bq kg-1 and 66.2 – 96.9 Bq kg-1, respectively. Levels of 238U, 226Ra and 40K in samples of sheep meat were: 0.010 – 0.024 Bq kg-1; 0.014 – 0.035 Bq kg-1 and 65.2 -99.5 Bq kg-1, respectively. Calculated annual effective doses by ingestion of observed samples were in range 0.055 – 0.064 mSv. Obtained results indicated acceptable levels of investigated natural radionuclides as well as correct radiation-hygienic status of animal products of ruminants from selected municipalities. Estimated annual effective doses for ingestion of animal products of ruminants were in the range of world average values. Key words: natural radionuclides, ruminants, effective dose.

The amounts of natural radionuclides in the hay and grass from the city areas of Livno, Kakanj and Hadžici and the mountain Vlasic, were investigated in the research paper. Activity concentration of natural radionuclides 238U, 232Th, 226Ra and 40K were calculated by gamma spectrometry with high resolution HPGe detector and additional equipment. Amounts of natural radionuclides (Bq kg−1 fresh weight) in the hay samples were ranging from 0.1–2.6 for 238U, 0.01–0.6 for 232Th, 0.2–3.8 for 226Ra, and 275–817 for 40K. The following ranges of activity levels (Bq kg−1 fresh weight) of 238U, 232Th 226Ra and 40K were recorded in the grass samples: 0.06–0.70, 0.01–0.1, 0.11–1.1, 101–170, respectively. Obtained results did not point out at significantly elevated amounts of natural radionuclides in the samples of roughage feed. Recorded activity concentration of natural radionuclides in the samples of roughage feed indicated the acceptable amounts of natural radioactivity in the diet of ruminants in the observed areas. Key words: natural radioactivity, roughage feed, ruminants

The present study examined the protective effect of radioprotector amifostine (aminopropil-aminoethil-tiophosphate) in lethally irradiated swine. Its application in a tolerant dose of 150 mg/kg i.m. 30 minutes prior to irradiation prevents the emergence of radiation-induced haemorrhagic diathesis. All the irradiated animals protected by amifostine have survived a 30-day experimental period. Patomorpohological and patohistological changes in the bone marrow, microcirculation and the small intestine were descibed both in the unprotected and the amifostine-protected swine. No pathological changes in the bone marrow or the microcirculation of protected animals were reported while only the signs of mild catarrhal inflammation in the intestine were noted following lethal irradiation of the unprotected animals. The dose of 150 mg/kg of amifostine causes profuse vomiting and the transient increase in the number of leucocytes and erytrocytes within 24 hours. Based on the results obtained in experiments and the references found in the relevant literature it can be concluded that amifostine is a very effective radioprotective agent even when applied in heavy- biomass animals. Key words: radiation, protection, swine, amifostine

CBPP Kakanj is one of the most important Coal Burning Power Plants in Bosnia and Herzegovina (producing power of 450 MW, waste storage site of 5 000 000 tons). Mapping of the measured gamma-dose rate has been performed with the goal of identifying the hot spots in the area of 3×3 km surrounding CBPP Kakanj, with special emphasis on the waste storage site (1×1 km). Maximum measured of the gamma-dose rate surrounding CBPP Kakanj was 140 nGy h-1 and in the area of waste storage site 210 nGy h-1 . Average levels of natural radionuclide in agricultural soil samples in vicinity of CBPP Kakanj are: for 238 U is 41 ± 4 Bq kg-1 , 232 Th is 32 ± 1 Bq kg-1 , 226 Ra is 27 ± 2 Bq kg-1 and 40 K is 486 ± 9 Bq kg-1 . Obtained results in soil-plant-animal products chain does not show significantly increased levels of natural radionuclides due to the fact that mentioned radionuclides, in general, have a low transfer factors in soil-plant-animal products chain.

Coal mine Tusnica is located in South-West part of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the municipality Livno. Coal mine Tusnica consists of two surface coal mines. The first one is brown coal surface deposit called Drage and second one is lignite deposit called Table. The brown coal deposit shows increased levels of natural radionuclides. The highest absorbed dose rate is recorded in the center of the surface coal mine Tusnica-Drage (500 nGy h-1 ) as result of the increased content of uranium and radium in coal (average specific activity of U-238 is 623 ± 23 Bq kg-1 and Ra-226 is 1191 ± 5 Bq kg-1 ). Levels of natural radionuclides in the vicinity of the surface deposit Drage in agricultural soil (about 3 km of the centre mine) are slightly increased due to the use of the coal ash and coal dust for fertilization of the land (U-238 is 142 ± 11 Bq kg-1 and Ra-226 is 197 ± 2 Bq kg-1 ). Obtained results in soil-plant-animal products chain does not show significantly increased levels of natural radionuclides due to the fact that mentioned radionuclides, in general, have a low transfer factors in soil-plant-animal products chain.

This paper deals with industrial tailings resulting from the use of radioactive coal and bauxite for assessing the impact on the population and the environment in the western Balkan countries (WBC). It considers the direct hazard resulting from the wastes for their immediate neighbourhood and the radionuclide dispersal in the environment through surface and groundwater. The selected test sites have been investigated by different methods assessing the presence and type of radionuclides in the primary and waste products, analyzing and identifying the pathways for dispersion of radionuclides in the waste surroundings, and defining the impact of the waste on the ecosystem. The process of leachability and fractionation of the different radionuclides has been studied, too. The transport of radionuclides in groundwater has been studied by 3D groundwater flow and solute transport modelling. The following parameters have been assessed (1) gamma dose-rate levels (2) radon in soil gas (3) radon exhalation (4) indoor and outdoor radon (5) radionuclide activity in soil and in waste material (6) radionuclides in surface water and groundwater (7) radionuclides in biota. Several case studies highlight the transfer of the radionuclides to plants and animal consumption products. The radionuclide concentrations in the waste and in the surroundings range over three orders of magnitude. Radionuclide concentrations in groundwater surrounding the waste are low and have a lower variability than in the wastes. Radon concentrations on the tailings are increased with respect to the surroundings. The transfer factors in the soil–plant–animal system indicate low bioavailability of investigated radionuclides. A preliminary dose assessment shows that the highest contribution to dose is from external and radon exposure. On the basis of the results obtained by using transport model simulation and considering the high Kd values and low concentration of radium, radionuclide transport in groundwater is slow and limited to a restricted area around the tailings sites.