Fab. 15, 1964
BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
tured
3417
SOURCES OF RADIOACTIVITY IN FOODS,
Altred Wo. Klement, dp. (Atemice Energy Commission,
Washington, D.C). Ohic Agr. Expt. Sta,, Spec, Rept,
Ser, No, tT, 4-896),
Various sources of environmental radinactivity that may
affect its accumulation in foods are discussed, Plant roota
are one of the most important entry routes of radioactive
wan
ture radium [8 usually the most important of the naturally-
* and
raic
wis
materials inte hinlogical systems, With respect to agricul-
Fem,
eecurring suclides, with Kit likely being the most abundant
ALi
natural radionuclide in agricuitural geile. Coamic partictea
reacting with stable cloments in the atmoaphere, and to &
ane!
netic
of leas than Voinegaton primarily contaminate the Troposphere and grodice tropespherie fallout, The principle
radionuclides cf interest ia Troposplierte fatiout are yyy
Sr pas tall) and art we Ipens With ylchds in exerss of
eneovepat mocontaniuinate beth fropesphe re and Strateepbore
dnorhe
case
et Stratespherio fallout, Lone redised
nuchides suchas 87 687) Cl and Put hooome iimportant. Darect-cvele atr-cooled reactors and reactor ftucl
processing plants are examples of industria] operations
that release some radioactive debris to the atmosphere,
lodine-132 contamination of milk resulting from the Windscale incident 18 discussed. Hasic methods of radicactive
woste disposal are revtewed, (HOM.G.)
3418
RADIOACTIVITY IN FOODS. POULTRY AND
ANIMALS EN GENERAL. Homer Patrick (West Virginia
niy., Motgarntoewn, W.Va. Ohio Agr Fapt. 5ta., Spec.
Rept. sor. Nol d, W2-fbgaap,
Faisston products toast comeawaly considered important
ieantimal feats are Se) Se Cat) Balt até? and 11,
The tye most probable sourees from which large amounts
of Se and 81 could he obtained are plant anc animal
products high in caloum. Radio-struntiam isotopes, con-
a)
a,
oe tee
Centiated in the bones and egg shells of meat animals, may
i-
the flour was about two-fifths that of the wheat. Specific
activity GwC Sr¥/mg Sr) measurements fn bran layer
tissues fram which flour is made. From the HASL. tri-city
diet study it was deduced that from 10 to 207, of the total
detonation are relittye to the yield of the explosion, Yields
o}.
to contain 10% of the Sr” in wheat. The Sr"*/Ca ratio in
nuclides produced in nuclear weapons tests, most are
short foe dand decay to unmensurable amounts within the
{frac few hours, Types of fallout generated by a nuclear
mo-
and 1958. Wheat and milling products from the 1954 crops
of nine additional states were obtained and analyzed for
Sr” and calcium, Previous ‘experiments showed that stronHumderived from the soil ta taken up relatively poorly by
the berry and tends to concentrate in the bran fraction,
Sr*/Ca ration in U. 5. wheat crops were determined for
each year between 1958 and 1961. Patent flour was found
fractions indicated that the mechanism of contamination
was hy direct deposition of the outermost Usaues of the
source of current concern with tegard te radioactivity in
foods fa detats from nuclear weapons teats, Of the radio-
fingt.
made by the Health and Safety Laboratories (HASI.). Samples were obtained from Minnesota crops of 1956, 1957,
tritium and C! ta the fond chain, Undoubtedly, the major
hegaer extent inthe sol], are responsible for addition of
au,
475
he removed prior ta sliughter of the animal via feeding
either a culetumiede ficient diet ora highly caleium-rich
thet
Due te continenvent of cadiostromtium: in food prod=
ucta prinmvarity to bene and egg shell, the consumption
haeard is small, However, cooking processes may result
in amigrition of these nuclides to edible portions, Cesium1a enters the foo ' chain via plant reat ahaorption, The
Cal ents ring a planteccupres the same moleculir posi-+
Hondas potassium fn the fiber structure but dows nat react
hrochemically ax a partef the enzyme system, Cesium
eon oabrates in the sqft tlesnes and mnuscles, Radirises
topes cf iodine are predominately concentrated m the
thread gland, soma as excreted in mulk, fodine- 129 and
Pore outa hazard Pn neat and eggs, Bayium b37—-140
berry and then aome translocations of the Sr" to the inner
Sr? was taken in at each of the cities. Sr""/Ca ratio in the
total diet was lower than that of wheat products, The
significance of this finding for dietary control of Sr* levels
is indicated. (H.M.G.}
3420
RADIOACTIVITY (IN GRAINS. Philip F.
Guatafson (Argonne National Lab., T.). Ohio Apr. Fxpt.
Sta, Spec. Rope, Ser, No. 1, 41-8(1 963),
Varinus types of grains were analyzed for Cs!" and K®
by emma spectrometry of bulk samples, Samples representing the major grain producing portions of the United
States were obtained from the United States Department of
Agriculture. The data presented show that the Cs!]? and
Sr" contents of grain are strongly dependent upon the fallout deposition occurring during the growing season and to a
lesser extent upon the accumulation of these radionuchdes
inthe soil, Newly deposited fallout products have a 10-fold
greater probahility of entering the plant and be ing in-
cerporated inte the grain, Hence the importance ot foliar
uptake or other modes of entry into the plant exclusive of
the reet uptake 15 apparent. [tis alse of interest to note
the relative low amounts of Cs!7 and Sr” present in corn
48 comtpared to other cereal products. (H.\E,G.)
3621
SURVEY OF RADIOAC IIVITY IN ERUITS AND
VEGF TABLES. Edwin P, Laug (Dept. of Health, Education, and Welfare, Washington, D. C.). Ohie Agr. Fxpt.
Stu., Spee. Rept. Ser, No. 1, 50-7(19634).
Data are presented on Sr? concentration per kilogram of
fruit and vegetable raw product. The ordinary mechanical
processes in the preparation of human food can be expected
te reduce the intake of Sr”? materially, Furthermore, the
concentrations per kilogram of any food must be evaluated
Interms of the average datly aaiount eaten, When this 1s
tlome The oyscntatlon offered by the Fedcral Radtation Coun
cH becomes very useful, (auth?
3622
CUMRENT RESEARCH ON RADIOACTIVE
CONTAMINATION GF SOLLS AND PLANTS. Alfred W,
Klement, Jv, (U') S. Atomic Energy Commission, Washington, DLO. Onle Agr. Fxpt. Sta,, Spec, Rept. Ser. No, 1.
54-ATLUAT,
mach epociiy absorbed clement and go highly completed
inthe gutthatrt probably wilt not became am great danger,
Cree dre dp aan tor radiasetis itv determinations in
Research dealing with the interrelations of soils ant
Plante that centeol the absorption of radioinucicies by plants
see atocteb sagas
pregrarics on radioactive contamination ot plants and sails,
1
1619
ey
ame haste recemmemfations
kd.
ue made for
ntti patios. 4b AP Gy
SOS TEAL MTN PS WHER AR AND Pb.
tts
apr
Bove tty Coeatartes sem Nak
cha
Spee Mept Ser Nala
is reviewed, Deseriptiona are given of
VP Cespons ore
GONE)
3623
GUIDELINES POR TOLER ANCY bri dsc
BRADTONTODLEDES IN SEAN
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Me atth Sensaee, Woesbioncton, Bo
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