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Measurements of whole-body radioactivity in the UK population

Abstract

A national survey of whole-body radioactivity was undertaken. A mobile whole-body counter visited collaborating Medical Physics Departments and Hospitals in England and Wales. Data were also obtained from an installed whole-body counter at the West Cumberland Hospital, Whitehaven, and from a control site at Addenbrooke`s Hospital, Cambridge. 1657 volunteer members of the public were measured, including 162 children. 36% of volunteers had been measured in a similar survey 2 years earlier, and showed between a two and five fold reduction in body radiocaesium. No radiocaesium was detected in 54% of people measured. Measurements showed a progressive fall over the course of the study, reaching a baseline of 0.3 Bq{sup 137}Cs/gK. In 1989, the additional radiation dose incurred from radiocaesium varied from a maximum of 4.1 {mu}Sv in Cumbria to 1.5 {mu}Sv in the South East, compared with the average annual radiation dose of 2500 {mu}Sv due to all other causes. No other gamma-emitting radionuclides were found. Results are consistent with Chernobyl as the source of the radiocaesium detected. (author).
Authors:
Fenwick, J D; Boddy, K; McKenzie, A L; Oxby, C B [1] 
  1. Northern Regional Health Authority (United Kingdom). Regional Medical Physics Dept.
Publication Date:
Dec 31, 1992
Product Type:
Technical Report
Report Number:
DOE-RAS-92.002
Reference Number:
SCA: 560101; PA: AIX-24:044795; SN: 93000988792
Resource Relation:
Other Information: PBD: 1992
Subject:
61 RADIATION PROTECTION AND DOSIMETRY; UNITED KINGDOM; CHERNOBYLSK-4 REACTOR; WHOLE-BODY COUNTING; CESIUM 137; ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE PATHWAY; POPULATIONS; PUBLIC HEALTH; RADIATION DOSES; RADIATION MONITORING; WASTE DISPOSAL; 560101; DOSIMETRY AND MONITORING
OSTI ID:
10154238
Research Organizations:
Department of the Environment, London (United Kingdom). Radioactive Substances Div.
Country of Origin:
United Kingdom
Language:
English
Other Identifying Numbers:
Other: ON: DE93624587; CNN: Contract PECD-7/9/477; TRN: GB9300549044795
Availability:
OSTI; NTIS (US Sales Only); INIS
Submitting Site:
GBN
Size:
[74] p.
Announcement Date:
Jul 06, 2005

Citation Formats

Fenwick, J D, Boddy, K, McKenzie, A L, and Oxby, C B. Measurements of whole-body radioactivity in the UK population. United Kingdom: N. p., 1992. Web.
Fenwick, J D, Boddy, K, McKenzie, A L, & Oxby, C B. Measurements of whole-body radioactivity in the UK population. United Kingdom.
Fenwick, J D, Boddy, K, McKenzie, A L, and Oxby, C B. 1992. "Measurements of whole-body radioactivity in the UK population." United Kingdom.
@misc{etde_10154238,
title = {Measurements of whole-body radioactivity in the UK population}
author = {Fenwick, J D, Boddy, K, McKenzie, A L, and Oxby, C B}
abstractNote = {A national survey of whole-body radioactivity was undertaken. A mobile whole-body counter visited collaborating Medical Physics Departments and Hospitals in England and Wales. Data were also obtained from an installed whole-body counter at the West Cumberland Hospital, Whitehaven, and from a control site at Addenbrooke`s Hospital, Cambridge. 1657 volunteer members of the public were measured, including 162 children. 36% of volunteers had been measured in a similar survey 2 years earlier, and showed between a two and five fold reduction in body radiocaesium. No radiocaesium was detected in 54% of people measured. Measurements showed a progressive fall over the course of the study, reaching a baseline of 0.3 Bq{sup 137}Cs/gK. In 1989, the additional radiation dose incurred from radiocaesium varied from a maximum of 4.1 {mu}Sv in Cumbria to 1.5 {mu}Sv in the South East, compared with the average annual radiation dose of 2500 {mu}Sv due to all other causes. No other gamma-emitting radionuclides were found. Results are consistent with Chernobyl as the source of the radiocaesium detected. (author).}
place = {United Kingdom}
year = {1992}
month = {Dec}
}