Atmospheric nuclear weapon test history as characterized by the deposition of sup 14 C in human teeth

Journal Article · Wed Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1990 · Health Physics; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1097/00004032-199008000-00002· OSTI ID:6639557

Nishizawa, K; Togari, A; Matsumoto, S; Nagatsu, T ^[1]

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1. Nagoya Univ. (Japan)

The {sup 14}C concentration in the collagen of human teeth was retrospectively investigated to determine whether its incorporation was related to atmospheric testing of nuclear weapons. Teeth were extracted for dental therapy from July 1987 to February 1988 from patients who were residents in Japan. Tooth collagen was extracted with HCl and converted to amorphous C by heating in a vacuum line. Specimens for {sup 14}C analysis were prepared by mixing the amorphous C with silver powder. The {sup 14}C concentration was measured by mass spectrometer. The {sup 14}C concentration in tooth collagen rapidly increased in 1961 after the bomb tests, peaked around 1967-1968, and then gradually decreased. The collagen of human teeth maintains the {sup 14}C concentration at the age of root completion for life. The results of this study indicate that the history of environmental contamination from atmospheric nuclear weapon's tests has been characterized by deposition of {sup 14}C in the tooth collagen {sup 14}C of human beings.

• OSTI ID: 6639557
• Journal Information: Health Physics; (USA), Vol. 59:2; ISSN 0017-9078
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
CARBON 14 COMPOUNDS
UPTAKE
TEETH
RADIONUCLIDE KINETICS
AIR POLLUTION
COLLAGEN
FALLOUT
JAPAN
NUCLEAR WEAPONS
SOLVENT EXTRACTION
ASIA
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
EXTRACTION
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
ORAL CAVITY
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
PROTEINS
SCLEROPROTEINS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
WEAPONS
560161* - Radionuclide Effects
Kinetics
& Toxicology- Man