Modeling of the exchanges of milk products with a view to the assessment of collective doses

The purpose of this study was to assess the dilution of radioactive contamination resulting from the exchanges, processing and distribution of milk products, from their production to their consumption, in the nine countries of the European Community. The data concerning the production, collection and distribution of milk products have been collected at the European level for some consecutive years. A merging of the products was indispensable, on account of their number and variety and also for the aim of this study. The utilization of milk was emphasized in every region, either as the fresh or processed product or as a product not designed for human consumption. Diagrams show the observed disparities. Tables showing the origin of the quantities of fresh products consumed in every region have been drawn up, according to the origin of the milk. They generally underline the prevalence of the utilization of the regional production for this category of products. The relative contribution of the various products (fresh or processed) to the contamination of consumers has been investigated according to the considered radionuclide. Finally, the consequences for the consumer of milk products, of various hypotheses of contamination of pasture areas were compared. (H.K.)