METABOLISM AND DOSIMETRY OF CESIUM-137 IN MALE SHEEP

Technical Report · Thu Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1962

OSTI ID:4786265

McClellan, R O; McKenney, J R; Bustad, L K

Nine male sheep were used to establish certain metabolic parameters and study the radiation dose from internally deposited Cs/sup 137/. Between 50 and 80% of the ingested radiocesium was absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. Following a single oral dose, the fecal and urinary excretion of Cs/sup 137/ were approximately equal. Urine contained concentrations of radiocesium approximately 25 times that of plasma. At equilibrium most of the soft tissues contained Cs/ sup 137/ concentrations 10 to 30 times that of plasma. Highest concentrations were found in voluntary muscle, myocardium, testicles, pituitary, bulbourethral glands, kidneys, pancreas, and liver. Cs/sup 137/ turnover rates of about 10% per day were estimated for voluntary muscle and blood cells. Turnover rates apparently exceeded 200% for heart muscle and most other soft tissues. After 5, 10, and 20 days of daily oral administration direct gamma radiation dose was measured in selected tissues. Beta radiation dose rates were calculated from tissue concentration data. The combined beta and gamma radiation dose rates to total body and testes were essentially the same. On this basis total body'' and testes appeared equally important as the critical organs. Approximately 20% of the radiation dose to the testes originated externally. (auth)

• Research Organization: General Electric Co. Hanford Atomic Products Operation, Richland, Wash.
• DOE Contract Number: AT(45-1)-1350
• NSA Number: NSA-16-017409
• OSTI ID: 4786265
• Report Number(s): HW-72511
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

ANIMALS
BETA DECAY
BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
BLOOD CELLS
BLOOD PLASMA
CESIUM 137
FECES
GAMMA RADIATION
GLANDS
GONADS
HEART
INTESTINE
KIDNEYS
LIVER
MEASURED VALUES
METABOLISM
MUSCLES
PANCREAS
PITUITARY GLAND
QUANTITY RATIO
RADIATION DOSES
SHEEP
STOMACH
TESTES
URINE