From these measurements the standard deviation of a single measurement
for Potassium in adult humans is +11 grams.
The standard deviation in the
Cesium/Potassium ratio is +13 pyc cs)3! /gram K.
Part of the error is Potass-
jum measurement is due to difference in positioning, while this error tends to
cancel in the Cesium/Potassium ratio.
Compton degradiation of 1.46 Mev Potas-
sium gamma rays into the lower energy (Cesium) channel
increase the error in
the Cesium/Potassium ratio.
To check the absolute accuracy of our measurements, two subjects, (D.H.T.
and G.D.W.) were counted both in the Los Alamos Human Counter by E.C. Anderson
and in K-9 Bark II at the Radiobiology Laboratory.
Subject
Where Measured
Grams K
ywuc cs) 37 grams K
D.H.T.
Los Atamos
113
94
D.H.T.
K-9 Bark II
123
87
G.D.W.
Los Alamos
167
45
G.D.W.
K-9 Bark II
154
47
The agreement between measured values is excellent.
Lack of Radioelement Poisoning
The effect of Raeee, Rares or Tn228 in a person's body is to increase
both the apparent Cesium and Potassium burdens when measured by our counter.
Contamination is best detected in our method by comparing computed Potassium
levels with the average value expected for the person's
better yet, with a previous
weight
and
uncontaminated value of the person's
sex;
or
Potassium.
The large difference of Cesium in uncontaminated persons limits the usefulness
of abnormally high Cesium values as an index of radioelement contamination.