The Ingestion of Radium 226 in Food and Water in Great Britain
Estimates were made of the average amounts of radium ingested daily in food by individuals belonging to different occupational categories or living in different regions of the country. The estimates show remarkably little variation, the average intake of Ra/sup 226/ being approximately 2-3 mu mu c per person per day. The daily intakes of radium from drinking water by individuals in different regions were compared and although the intakes can vary by factors of up to 250 to 1, the absolute amounts of Ra/sup 226/ are so small that in most areas of the country, the contribution made by water represents onIy 5 or 6% of that made by food. Only in the case of parts of Cornwall does it appear possible for an individuaI's daily intake of radium from water to exceed that from food. On the assumption that the body may retain approximately equal fractions of the radium ingested in food and water respectiveIy, the findings suggest that the radium burdens of the general population might not cover a wider range thin 3 or 4 to 1. Anomalous burdens, higher by an order of magnitude, might however result from long term ingestion of one particular food.
- Research Organization:
- Royal Cancer Hospital, London
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- NSA Number:
- NSA-16-027482
- OSTI ID:
- 4817042
- Journal Information:
- British Journal of Cancer, Journal Name: British Journal of Cancer Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 16; ISSN 0007-0920
- Country of Publication:
- Country unknown/Code not available
- Language:
- English
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