Hanford nuclear radiation doses assessed

Article Abstract:

High doses of nuclear radiation (more than 400,000 curies) were secretly released from the Hanford Nuclear Reservation, a nuclear weapon facility in southeastern Washington State, between 1944 and 1947. This was realized when the Department of Energy released secret documents in 1986. It is estimated that more than 13,000 people, approximately 5 percent of the 270,000 people living near the plant, may have received high doses of air-borne radiation. A 15 million dollar study is being conducted by the Department of Energy. It is thought that individuals may have received greater than 33 rads and that a small number of children many have accumulated up to 2,900 rads in their thyroid glands in the three-year period; this far exceeds the safety levels of 0.025 rads per year for individuals living near nuclear weapons plants, and 5 rads per year for total body exposure for those who work in nuclear facilities. A separate study by the Centers for Disease Control is being conducted to determine the incidence of thyroid disease in the people who were exposed to the radiation, and these results should be completed by 1993. The release of the radioactive substances occurred when the plant was reprocessing uranium to extract plutonium for use in nuclear weapons. This process continued for years, but with advances in technology and the use of filtration systems, emissions of such large magnitudes were not released after 1947. The most harmful substance released was radioactive iodine 131, which accumulates in the thyroid gland and leads to disease. Besides breathing the radioactive compound, the people would have also consumed it by drinking milk from cows who ate grass that was contaminated. The levels of radioactivity released from the cooling waters of the reactors into the Columbia River, and the levels of radioactivity that the people would have consumed from drinking the water and eating the fish from the contaminated waters was examined. These levels were lower than that received from airborne contamination. However, additional studies on the types of radioactivity released, and the levels of exposure, are being conducted. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Health aspects, Analysis, Causes of, Radiation, Washington, Nuclear power plants, United States. Department of Energy, Environmental health, Radioactivity, Thyroid diseases, Washington (State)

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Radiation doses from Ural region

Article Abstract:

Two methods used for the radiation dose reconstruction of the Ural region employ electron paramagnetic resonance to evaluate the tooth enamel of adult humans. One method assumes the enamel to be unchanging, highly mineralized tissue. The tissue does not metabolize 90Sr while dentine metabolizes it. The second method performs a comparative analysis of three selected groups of the Ural population. The data may help in the estimation of radiation exposure levels in the region.

Usage, Environmental aspects, Observations, Ural Mountains region, Electron paramagnetic resonance, Enamel, Dental, Dental enamel, Radiation dosimetry

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The man who knew doses

Article Abstract:

A description is presented of the lifestyle, career and discoveries of pharmacologist John Gaddum who was born in 1900. His belief in the multidisciplinary nature of pharmacology is discussed.

History, Behavior, Personalities, Pharmacology, Pharmacologists, Gaddum, John

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