THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN I$sup 131$ CONCENTRATIONS IN VARIOUS ENVIRONMENTAL SAMPLES
A study was made of the relationship between I/sup 131/ concentrations in air, vegetation, milk, and cattle thyroids in the vicinity of Hanford during the period January 1961, through April, 1963. Some insight into mechanisms of I/ sup 131/ passage down the food chain to man is provided and the rate at which I/ sup 131/ concentrations decrease following relatively acute depositions of fallout materials is illustrated. The major source of the I/sup 131/ was fallout of debris from nuclear weapons tests. Concentrations noted during periods of testing were 10--100 times those found when no testing was in progress. Fresh milk constituted the principal mode of intake of I/sup 131/for persons residing in the Hanford environs. Concentrations in milk sample collected from 10cal dairy farms averaged about 50 pC I/sup 131//1 during 1961, and 40 pC/1 during 1962. The potential radiation dose received by a small child (with a 2 g thyroid) via milk consumption was estimated to be about 400 times that received via inhalation during the period under study. For an adult (with a 20 g thyroid) the ratio of thyroid exposure via milk to that via inhalation was estimated to be about 40 to 1. (auth)
- Research Organization:
- General Electric Co., Richland, Wash.
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- NSA Number:
- NSA-18-008069
- OSTI ID:
- 4133324
- Report Number(s):
- HW-SA-2887; 0017-9078
- Journal Information:
- Health Physics (England), Journal Name: Health Physics (England) Vol. Vol: 9; ISSN HLTPA
- Country of Publication:
- Country unknown/Code not available
- Language:
- English
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