The Consequences of Ingestion by Man of Real and Simulated Fallout

Abstract

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ICRP Publication 137: Occupational Intakes of Radionuclides: Part 3

“… (286) Human volunteer studies using 137 Cs in soluble inorganic form have shown virtually complete absorption from the alimentary tract (Rosoff et al., 1963; Rundo et al., 1963; Naversten and Liden, 1964; LeRoy et al., 1966). Thus, for example, Rundo et al.…”

A Biokinetic Model for 137Cs

“…Soluble compounds of cesium are taken up rapidly and completely from the gastrointestinal tract in humans (LeRoy et al 1966;and Rundo 1964). Cesium follows the same qualitative behavior as potassium after uptake.…”

Derivation of Effective Resuspension Factors in Scenarios for Inhalation Exposure Involving Resuspension of Previously Deposited Fallout by Nuclear Detonations at Nevada Test Site

“…Another confounding factor in evaluating uncertainties in dose coefficients is that biokinetic models recommended by ICRP may be based on studies of chemical and physical forms of radionuclides that differ substantially from chemical and physical forms in fallout. For example, data in humans (LeRoy et al, 1966) indicate that the GI-tract absorption fraction of strontium and cesium in fallout particles is less than ICRP's recommended values, and animal studies also indicate that GI-tract absorption of many (but not all) radionuclides in fallout particles is unusually low. 48 However, there also are data which indicate that an appreciable fraction of cerium in fallout is more soluble than oxide forms (NCRP, 1978) and, thus, that absorption in the GI tract and lung may be higher than recommended by ICRP.…”

“…We assume that a possible bias in ICRP's dose coefficients is important for inhalation of larger, nonrespirable particles (i.e., ingestion) but is not important for inhalation of smaller, respirable particles. The latter assumption is based on data which indicate that the solubility of smaller fallout particles is substantially higher than the solubility of larger particles (Larson et al, 1966;LeRoy et al, 1966) and the consideration that absorption of beta and alpha radiation in fallout particles of diameter less than 10 μm should not be important. Biases in ICRP's dose coefficients for ingestion are considered below.…”

“…In developing these estimates, we ignored results for two subjects in which the activity absorbed in the GI tract was too low to be detected above a background count rate(LeRoy et al, 1966).…”