Radioactivity in breast milk and placentas during the year after Chernobyl

Journal Article · Tue Nov 01 00:00:00 EST 1988 · Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0002-9378(88)90455-3· OSTI ID:6579680

Gori, G; Cama, G; Guerresi, E; Cocchi, G; Dalla Casa, P; Gattavecchia, E; Ghini, S; Tonelli, D

After the April 1986 nuclear reactor accident at Chernobyl in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, samples of human placenta and breast milk were tested for 1 year to determine the levels of radioactivity. The radionuclide iodine 131 was never beyond the detection limit of our gamma detector for both matrices. As to cesium isotopes 134 and 137, the highest levels detected in breast milk (6 Bq.L-1) and placenta (15.8 Bq.kg-1) were recorded in March 1987. Study data for breast milk and placenta are in agreement with the values calculated by means of double-compartment food-milk and food-placenta models. With regard to placental content, the cesium contribution to the average dose during the year after the Chernobyl accident was calculated to be 40 to 60 microSv.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Bologna (Italy)
• OSTI ID: 6579680
• Journal Information: Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol.; (United States), Vol. 159:5
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
CESIUM 134
UPTAKE
CESIUM 137
IODINE 131
MILK
RADIONUCLIDE KINETICS
PLACENTA
CHERNOBYLSK-4 REACTOR
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
PREGNANCY
RADIATION DOSES
REACTOR ACCIDENTS
USSR
ACCIDENTS
ALKALI METAL ISOTOPES
ASIA
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BODY FLUIDS
CESIUM ISOTOPES
DAYS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
DOSES
EASTERN EUROPE
ENRICHED URANIUM REACTORS
EUROPE
FETAL MEMBRANES
FOOD
GRAPHITE MODERATED REACTORS
HOURS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI
INTERNAL CONVERSION RADIOISOTOPES
IODINE ISOTOPES
ISOMERIC TRANSITION ISOTOPES
ISOTOPES
LWGR TYPE REACTORS
MATERIALS
MEMBRANES
NUCLEI
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
ODD-ODD NUCLEI
POWER REACTORS
RADIOISOTOPES
REACTORS
THERMAL REACTORS
WATER COOLED REACTORS
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
560161* - Radionuclide Effects
Kinetics
& Toxicology- Man