CESIUM-137 BURDENS IN A DEFINED POPULATION SAMPLE
To assess the variations in Cs/sup 137/ burdens in the population of Nashville, Tennessee attributable to age, sex, race, individual and environmental differences, a subsample was randomly selected from a geographic and socio- economic stratified sample of occupied dwellings in 1959. One respondent, usually the mother, was interviewed in each household selected. Information obtained during the interview included length of residence in the area, occupation, age, sex, race, education, illnesses and operations, and daily milk contumption of household members. Appointments for measurements at the Vanderbilt Low Level Counting Facility were made for each member of the household over seven years of age. The Vanderbilt University Whole Body Counter is described, and equations are presented for calibration and whole-body burden calculations of cesium and potassium. There was good agreement in age and sex distributions of both races between a survey made in 1959 and 1960 census. Negroes of both sexes had significantiy higher body potassium than whites. The median cesium burden was significantly higher in the white race, white and Negro males having a higher burden than females. Cesium burdens were found to be related to occupation of the principal wage earner, even though no association between occupation and reported daily milk consumption was apparent. However, the reported consumption of milk was not associated with the magnitude of the cesium burden in either race. It is concluded that any effort to relate radiation effects to isotope burdens must take into account individual variations related to race, sex, age, and socio-economic factors, as well as geographic and climatic influences. The studies further indicate that averaging the burden for the population as a whole may be misleading even in a restricted geographical setting. (H.M.G.)
- Research Organization:
- Vanderbilt Univ., Nashville. School of Medicine
- DOE Contract Number:
- AT(40-1)-2401
- NSA Number:
- NSA-18-016232
- OSTI ID:
- 4075808
- Report Number(s):
- TID-18603
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Orig. Receipt Date: 31-DEC-64
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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