Actions for Cesium-137 whole-body content in a normal New Mexico population

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Cesium-137 whole-body content in a normal New Mexico population

Author
Thomas, R. G.
Published
United States : [publisher not identified], 1976.
[Oak Ridge, Tennessee] : [U.S. Atomic Energy Commission], 1976.
Physical Description
microfiche : negative ; 11 x 15 cm
Additional Creators
Anderson, E. C., Furchner, J. E., and Richmond, C. R.

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Summary
A fairly consistent population of normal New Mexicans has been whole body counted periodically, for almost 20 years. Availability of the same individuals has not always been possible but the size of any group over one counting period has rarely been below 40 individuals. Nanocuries of cesium-137 and grams of potassium have been the primary measurements, the latter determined through potassium-40 counting. The whole-body gamma ray counting has been performed using a large liquid scintillation detector, designed and built at the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory. The data are generally expressed in terms of picocuries of cesium-137 per gram of body potassium (pCi/gK). Following the peaks of high level atmospheric testing (early to mid-1960s) the levels rose, approaching 120 pCi/gK. For the five year period beginning in 1964 there was a steady decline. During the years of 1969 through 1973 the whole-body levels were essentially constant at approximately 20 pCi/gK. A gradual decline occurred over the next two years, reaching the current level of about 10 pCi/gK. A group of 100 individuals was counted during the summer of 1976 and these data are presented, showing that they follow a normal distribution.
Report Numbers
LA-UR-76-2097; CONF-761031-5
Other Subject(s)
Collection
U.S. Atomic Energy Commission depository collection.
Note
DOE contract number: W-7405-ENG-36
OSTI Identifier 7332002
Research organization: Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States).
View MARC record | catkey: 46147114