In 2009, I've been studying the book Lichens of North America. Here is a quote from page 39:
MINERALS
.... In the days of atmospheric testing of atomic bombs, reindeer lichens proved to be efficient accumulators of radioactive nucleotides such as strontium 90. When caribou ate these lichens the radioactive material was concentrated further in their bones and tissues. This radioactivity, concentrated still more in people who ate contaminated caribou meat, caused increased incidence of bone cancer and leukemia. This same chain of events occurred again after the explosion of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine, neccessitating the large-scale destruction of reindeer herds in Lapland.
Back to Lichens of North America book links.
To send comments, click the three dots ( ... link) below:
lich...@wholeo.net
{Wholeo Online} ~ {Lookout} ~ {Deer Lichen} ~ {Perspectives} ~ {Identification} ~ {Emerald Coast} ~ {Book links}