The oral intake associated with the maximum urinary output
would be 38 pCi/d of plutonium-239, or 76 pCi/d of the three transuranics
(plutoniua-239,-240; americium-241). It would seem impossible to eat
this much; the minimum quantity would be 5.6 kg of clams every day (Table
4.2 #2). The-30-year whole-body dose from 76 pCi/d would be 2.96 ren.
On the other hand, the median excretion of about 1 x 10-4 pCi/d
would require eating 1.2 pCi/d of all three transuranics. This would be
about 3 times the currently estimated oral input used by Livermore, based
on the community type B diet, and presumably would be possible. The
30-year whole-body dose would be .045 rem. It is curious and may be of
some significance that the median of such an extended distribution should
be within a factor of three of the diet method's single estimate.
Summary. In summarizing the Brookhaven results, two estimates have
been made to cover the uncertainties surrounding the transuranic
determinations, one based on the median, the other based on the range
from minimum to maximum.
Brookhaven
Source
30-year (1978-2008)* Adult doses
Whole-body**
Red marrow***
(rem)
(rem)
Cesium-137:
-560
- 560
Strontium-90:
015
079
Transuranics
~ median
- range
045
.005 - 2.96
External dose:
Total:
- range
*
sx
axe
xeke
59
1.17)
1.21
- 4.13%*%*8*
-068
.008 - 4,33
59
1.30
1.24 - 5.49
Not including inhalation
Committed effective dose equivalent
Committed dose equivalent.
The estimate falls below the 5 rem guide for 30 years, even when the
maximum transuranic estimate is used - one which would appear to be
dietetically impossible.
33