BIOPHYSICAL STUDIES OF POSSIBLE RADIATION INJURY IN MAN (in German)
Methods and apparatus for detection of gamma radiation from Ra/sup 226/ and related radionuclides incorporated by humans are discussed. Equipment characteristics of the Los Alamos whole-body counter and the walk-in human counter for detection of Ra/sup 226/, Cs/sup 137/, K/sup 40/ are presented. For Ra/sup 226/ and other radionuclides the detection limit for these counters is related to the body concentration of K/sup 40/. Effects of the time and mode of incorporation of radionuclides on the estimation of the radioactivity deposited by excreta are discussed. Results of whole-body measurements on 13 industrial radium workers showed that four exceeded the maximum permissible level (MPL) for Ra/sup 226/ and Ra/sup 228/ established by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP). In one case the gamma spectrum suggested the presence of an additional radionuclide, which was confirmed by urine measurements and identified as Cs/sup 137/. Eight months later the radium content of this patient's urine was unchanged. The Cs/sup 137/ deposited was judged to be reduced, so that the Cs/sup 137/ biologic half-value time could be estimated to be 144 days, in close agreement with the ICRP values of 140 days. Additional measurements in eight patients previously treated with Thorotrsst indicated Th/ sup 228/ depositions as much as 50-fold the permissible limit and as much ss 20- fold for Ra/sup 228/. Measurements of Po/sup 210/ in urine from a uranium miner exposed for four yr indicated a radon concentration 430 times greater than the MPL value established by the ICRP. These studies are continuing, and suggest that in some cases internally deposited radionuclides can be sources of possible radiation damage potentially far greater than external radiation may be. (BBB)
- Research Organization:
- Universitat des Saarlandes, Homburg, Ger.
- NSA Number:
- NSA-18-003630
- OSTI ID:
- 4125922
- Journal Information:
- Zentr. Arbeitsmed. Arbeitsschutz, Journal Name: Zentr. Arbeitsmed. Arbeitsschutz Vol. Vol: 12
- Country of Publication:
- Country unknown/Code not available
- Language:
- German
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Related Subjects
BODY
CESIUM 137
COLLOIDS
GAMMA DETECTION
GAMMA SPECTROMETERS
INDUSTRY
MAN
MEASURED VALUES
METABOLISM
MPL
PERSONNEL
POLONIUM 210
POTASSIUM 40
RADIATION DETECTORS
RADIATION INJURIES
RADIATION SOURCES
RADIOACTIVITY
RADIUM 226
RADON
STANDARDS
THORIUM 228
THORIUM OXIDES
THOROTRAST
URANIUM
URINE
WHOLE-BODY COUNTING