$sup 137$Cs AND POTASSIUM IN PEOPLE AND DIET--A STUDY OF FINNISH LAPPS

Journal Article · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1963 · Ann. Acad. Sci. Fennicae, Ser. A II

OSTI ID:4717104

Miettinen, J K; Jokelainen, A; Roine, P; Liden, K; Naversten, Y

A field study of the contents of Cs/sup 137/ and potassium in the diets and bodies of 190 Lapps and other inhabitants of the Inari county in northern Finland was carried out in October, 1961. The human material was obtained from 8 main living areas of Lapps in different parts of this large county. The investigation included determination of the content of Cs/sup 137/ and potassium of samples of the most important constituents of the diet. The diet of each individual was investigated by means of the interview method. The intake of Cs/ sup 137/ and potassium through the food was calculated. During the winter (1960 to 1961) reindeer meat showed an average of 18.0 nc/kg fresh weight. In the autumn of 1961 lower values were found. In pike the Cs/sup 137/ content was found to be 2.8 nc/kg fresh weight and in milk up to 0.6 nc/kg. The amount of radiocesium in reindeer meat, fish and milk was found to contribute 98 to 99% of the total dietary intake of Cs/sup 137/. The highest body burden observed in a reindeer breeding Lapp was 790 nc Cs/sup 137/. On the average the male reindeer- breeding Lapps contained 245 nc Cs/sup 137/. Corresponding females and children had an average of 122 nc Cs/sup 137/ and 51 nc Cs/sup 137/, respectively. The body burdens are found to be mainly a function of the Cs/sup 137/ intake. Twice as high average body burdens as those mentioned are predicted to occur in April to May, 1962. From dietary data of the year preceding the date of measurement and the obtained body burden of Cs/sup 137/ an excretion rate corresponding a biological half-time of 65 days for adult Lapps was found; for children the figure was 44 days. The annual radiation dose from the body burden of Cs/sup 137/ has been estimated to 62 mrem for men, 26 mrem for women and 15 mrem for children, all of the reindeerbreeding group. The intake of potassium in the diet and the average body content of potassium in the different occupational groups were also determined. Finally a comparison between the Cs/sup 137/ content of Swedish and Finish Lapps is made. (auth)

• Research Organization: Univ. of Helsinki
• NSA Number: NSA-17-027023
• OSTI ID: 4717104
• Journal Information: Ann. Acad. Sci. Fennicae, Ser. A II, Journal Name: Ann. Acad. Sci. Fennicae, Ser. A II Vol. Vol: No. 120
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

AGE
ANIMALS
BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
CESIUM 137
DIET
ENVIRONMENT
MAN
MEAT
POPULATIONS
POTASSIUM
QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS
RADIATION DOSES
REINDEER
SEASONAL VARIATIONS
SEX
VARIATIONS