from July 8 meas-

urement.)
t = 27 days (May19June 15)

Ay = 0.0866 day7!

Ao-= 0.0204 day'*

Thus
0.37 = feo fen'0.0868,27 gy itl.107)27
0.0204

Ro = 0.189 pe/gram/day.
Now we determine the infinity [')
dose using Eq. 2.

EXAMPLE: Human Inhalation
On May 19, 1953 the highest concentration of activity in the air due to
fallout that has ever been recorded in the U. S., outside the Nevada Test
Site, occurred at St. George, Utah. It amounted to about 1.3 yue/m?®
averaged over 24 hours. The total radiation dose to the thyroids of the
people at St. George from inhalation of the isotopes of I is estimated to be

0.302 rep as shown in the following tabular calculation.

Estimate of Radiation Doses to Thyroid of Humans From Inhalation

Din = K/XAe + Ap)

where: A = 55 Rofl = 58(0.189)(0.2)
= 2.08
Thus Di. = 224 reps is the infinity [!
dose.
To estimate the dose from shortlived isotopes of I enter Fig. 3 with
these parameters:
start of intake = 3.5 hr
duration of intake = infinity.
The graph indicates 2 ratio of approximately 0.45.
But this is uncorrected for biological

decay, 1.e., it is based on the assump-

tion that the biological decay constant
for the thyroid is significantly less
than the physical decay constant. It
is necessary to correct this ratio by

Time

Average

Fissionproduct

Fraction

after
defanahian
far}

fisstonproduct
activity
(uc; meter?)

activity
originally
retained
(ue)

of fission
product
that tg [131b
w%

F131 aetivity
reaching
thyroid
(malliuc)

Infinity I31
dose to
thyroid
(rep)

2-7
7-10
10-14
14-18
18-30

4.0
2.9
0.62
0.043
0.014

12.4
4.3
1.56
0.104
0.105

0.16
0.35
0.47
0:7
1.1

5.00
O.t7
1.80
0.19
0.29

0.0304
0.0230
0.0110
0.0012
0.0018

Added dose

fram shortlaved I
Total
tsolopest infinity dose
(rep)
(rep)

0.121
0.074
0.030
0.003
0.003

0.155
0.097
0.041
0.004
0.005

Tota 0.302 rep
* Based on 0.83-meter?/hr air intake and assuming that 75% of the activity will be
initially retained either in the lungs or find its way into the gastrointestinal tract.
» Based on assumption that 75% of initial intake of both Te precursors of I?#! will

remain within body until decayed to J™!.
© Assuming 25% of initial retention of I'%! (either in lungs or gastrointestinal traet)
reaches the thyroid.
@ Tnitial dose rate
(53) (0.2) (uc of I'! per gramof tissuc) in reps per day. Infinite
dose = Initial dose rates (A, + Aa).
é From Fig. 1.
Multiply these ratios by (A, -+ An} /Ay for [8! in man.

multiplying by the factort

(A, $ An) Ap = 1.24.
0.45 & 1.24 = 0.557
The infinity cose to the thyroid

from short-lived isotopes of iodine is
this fraction of the [! slose
224 & 0.557 = 125 rep.
Thus the total infinite dose is 22-4 —
125
350 rep.
This is not considered dangerous.
Experimental studies with sheep at

Hanford Atomie Products Operation

suggest that about 16.000 reps are required to produce minimal changes in
the thyroid cellular structure and
about 50,000 reps to produce definite
ceil damage and hypothyroidism.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
1. H. F. Hunter, N. E. Ballou, Necueonics 9,
No. 5, C-2 (1951)
2. J. B. Stanbury, et al. “Endemie Goiter.”
Harvard University Monograph in Medicine
and Public Health No. 12 (Harvard University
Press, 1954}
3. L. Van Middlesworth, NucLeonics 12, No. ©
(1954)

4. H. Kornberg, private communication (1953)

* Biological half-life in sheep thyroids is
about 34 days (4).

{+ See footnote 6 Table 2.

Vol. 14, No. 2 - February, 1956

TABLE 3—Sample Calculations for Figure 3
{

Periods of
antake

(hours after

delonation)

B

Cc

Relatire mean
(7) energy
intake X
Cumulative
haurs tn

pertud’

£13 energy

intake

D

Mean of
ratias of
enerqies

[Short Jisis

E

F

G

Relative
energy
[Short

Cumulative
[Short

Ratio of total energies
fFSeore 7131 for infinite
thyroid dose intake fram
ist hour to end of pervod

BX D)

intake

(Column F + Cy

(Columns

energies

indicated

1-11
11-21
21-31
31-41
41-51
31-61
61-71

160
158
150
146
140
135
130

160
318
168
614
jot
889
1,019

3.6
2.3
1.6
1.3
1.0
0,84
0.70

519
364
240
190
140
115
91

OTe
934
1,179
1,364
1,504
1,624
Lila

3.6
2.93
2.32
2.23
2.0
1.88
1.68

71-8]

125

1,144

0.55

69

1,784

1,56

81-91
“1-101
101-201

120
lla
920

1,264
1,879
2,209

Q.46
0,40
0.20

55
46
184

1,839
1,884
2,000

1,45
1.37
O.400

201-501
301 - 101

650
470

2.049
5,419

0.08
0.042

a2
14

2,121
2,140

O17 1S
0.626

601-801

280)

4,209

0.0005

3

2,155

0.500

401-601

$01 -1,001

600
140

4,019

4.489

0.02

0.005

12
1

2,152

2.13

0.980
0.484

‘ Based on Fig. 2.
>From Fig. 1.
¢ This is uncorrected for biological decay as described in footnote 4 Table 1. For
cases where biological decay in the thyroid is significant for 1°3', multiply last column
G by the factor (A, + A) /Ay.

41

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