Iodine-131 thyroid uptake results in travelers returning from Europe after the Chernobyl accident
Thyroid screening measurements for /sup 131/I were performed on 58 travelers returning from Eastern and Western Europe to Boston after the Chernobyl reactor accident on April 26, 1986. The travelers consisted of both Americans arriving home after business or vacation and European nationals visiting relatives in the Boston area. For purposes of dosimetry the population was divided into three subpopulations--adult (greater than 18 yr old), children (less than or equal to 18 yr old), and two individuals, 17 and 26 wk pregnant. Seventy-four percent of the population had detectable quantities of /sup 131/I thyroid burdens, ranging from 1 nCi (37 Bq) to 900 nCi (33,300 Bq). The highest adult radiation dose equivalent was 5.18 mrem (51.8 mSv). The children, however, had considerably higher dose equivalents with one infant receiving 37 rem (370 mSv). Several other children were above 1 rem (10 mSv). The fetal dose equivalents were less than 14 mrem (140 mu Sv). The presence of rain dominated those testing positive for /sup 131/I. Radioactive fallout from the Chernobyl accident contaminated a wide range of Europe and a large population subsequently ingested radioactivity. The children exhibited the highest thyroid radiation dose equivalents of the individuals monitored in the present study. The significance of this is presently unknown.
- Research Organization:
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston
- OSTI ID:
- 6497703
- Journal Information:
- J. Nucl. Med.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Nucl. Med.; (United States) Vol. 4; ISSN JNMEA
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ACCIDENTS
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
BODY
DAYS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
DOSE EQUIVALENTS
DOSES
ENDOCRINE GLANDS
ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE
FALLOUT
GLANDS
INJURIES
INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI
IODINE 131
IODINE ISOTOPES
ISOTOPES
NUCLEI
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
ORGANS
PREGNANCY
RADIATION DOSES
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATION INJURIES
RADIOISOTOPES
RADIONUCLIDE KINETICS
REACTOR ACCIDENTS
SCREENING
THYROID
TRAVEL
UPTAKE