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Human uptake of 137Cs in mutton
R J Talbot1, D Newton, A J Warner
1Biomedical Research Department, AEA Environment and Energy, Harwell Laboratory, Oxon, UK.
Health Physics
|June 1, 1993
Summary
This study tracked radiocesium (137Cs) uptake in volunteers after eating contaminated mutton. Results show a long biological half-time, suggesting current intake limit assumptions may need revision.
Area of Science:
- Radiological Health
- Environmental Contamination
- Human Metabolism
Background:
- Chernobyl reactor accident fallout led to radiocesium contamination in food sources.
- Understanding radiocesium (137Cs) uptake and retention in humans is crucial for public health risk assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the uptake and biological half-time of radiocesium (137Cs) from contaminated mutton in healthy male volunteers.
- To evaluate the implications of the findings for current intake limit assumptions set by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP).
Main Methods:
- Eight healthy male volunteers consumed mutton containing 0.8 kBq of 137Cs over two days.
- Whole-body radioactivity measurements were taken before meals and up to 15 weeks post-consumption.
- Biological half-time and clearance fractions of 137Cs were calculated from the body burden data.
Main Results:
- The clearance of 137Cs between 1 and 15 weeks demonstrated a biological half-time of 102 ± 24 days.
- Approximately 80% of the 137Cs was cleared with this longer half-time.
- The estimated average uptake (f1) was 89%, potentially lower than the ICRP's assumed 100%.
Conclusions:
- The study indicates a longer biological half-time for radiocesium (137Cs) in humans than typically assumed for early excretion phases.
- Findings suggest that the ICRP's assumption of 100% uptake for intake limits might be an overestimation.
- Further research is needed to refine models for radiocesium uptake and excretion, particularly concerning early retention phases.