samples were analyzed for plutonium, calcium-45, strontium-89, ruthenium-103,
iodine-131, and barium-140.
The I-131 analyses of the pooled urine samples of the
servicemen and Marshallese provided the basis for thyroid dose estimates by Dr. Harris
and later researchers. Dr. Harris judged that I-13] analysis was the most accurate; it
also led to the highest doses to the servicemen (Reference 9).
The basic finding of the I-131 analysis of the pooled urine sample was the
determination that, for an average individual, the amount of I-13] excreted in urine
over a 24-hour period at the time of the urine sample collection (D+17 days) was 4.0
nanocuries. That result is used to determine the amount of 1-131 intake.
The amount of a radionuclide excreted in a 24-hour urine sample is related to the
amount of the radionuclide initially intaken (that is, inhaled and/or ingested) by
A) =Q)° fy * Y(t) Fy
where
A, @ =
the amount (yCi) of the radionuclide in a 24-hour urine sample taken
at time t,
QF
the amount (uCi) of the radionuclide intake,
fy =
the fractional amount of the radionuclide intake that is transferred
to the blood,
Y(t) =
the ratio of the amount (uCi) of the radionuclide excreted with a 24-
hour period to the amount (uCi) of the radionuclide uptaken by the
blood, and
F =
the fraction of the total daily excretion that is present in the urine.
18
Ae