the consumption of one liter of milk per day) would

rise

to

a

maximum

of

1.6

F,

where

F=atoms

(1-129) /m?, on the first day of contamination. The material available to me indicates that the limiting sensitivity of neutron activation analysis is 10"? gram of
iodine 129.73, This is equivalent to approximately 5x10°
atoms. Using the relationship between iodine 131 and
iodine 129 given by Dr. Mays, and the above factors,
the following conversions can be derived (assuming
one liter of milk consumed per day):
Infant Thyroids

3x 108 atoms (1-129)
gram of thyroid

Adult Thyroids
5x 10® atoms (1-129)
gram of thyroid

= 0.8 rad to children’s thyroids
from iodine 131;

= 8.0 rad to children’s thyroids
from iodine 131.

Data presented by Eisenbud‘ suggest that, on the
average, adults consume only one third as much milk
per day as children. This would suggest that 5x 10°
atoms (1-129)/gram of adult thyroid = 24 rad to childen’s thyroids from iodine 131. Following Shot Nancy
of the Upshot-Knothole Series we estimated that children received 30 rad. This would suggest that neutron
activation analysis is sufficiently sensitive, at least for
this test, even with small tissue specimens. Actually, by

pooling the tissue samples, it would be adequate for

many othertests. For example, 5x10*® atoms (I-129) /100
gram of adult thyroid=0.24 rad to children’s thyroids
from iodine 131 (assuming only one third liter of milk
consumed per day for adults).
REFERENCES
1. Tamplin, A. R. and H. L. Fisher. “Estimation of dosage to
thyroids of children in the U. S. from nuclear tests conducted in Nevada during 1952 through 1955.” University
of California Lawrence Radiation Laboratory (Livermore),
UCRL-14707, 1966.
2. Nuclear Science and Engineering Corporation. “Survey of
iodine-129 concentrations in thyroid tissues.” Progress report. Nuclear Science and Engineering Corporation, Pittsburgh, NSEC-88, 1963.
3. Studier, M. H., C. Postmus, Jr., J. Mech, R. R. Walters,
and E. N. Sloth. “A generalized procedure for the isolation of iodine without carrier~Its determination by neutron
activation using I'2% as an isotopic tracer.” Argonne National Laboratory, ANL-6577, 1962.
4. Eisenbud, M., B. Pasternack, G. Laurer, Y. Mochizuki,
M. E. Wrenn, L. Block, and R. Mowafy. “Estimation of
the distribution of thyroid doses in a population exposed
to 13! from weapons tests. ” In Fallout, Radiation Stand-

ards, and Countermeasures, Hearings before the subcom-

mittee on research, development, and radiation of the Joint
Committee on Atomic Energy, 88th Cong., Ist Sess., 1963.
Washington, D. C., U. S. Govt. Print. Off, 1963, Pt. 2,
pp. 1158-1172 or Health Phys. 9: 1281-1289, 1963.

REVIEW

NEW

RADIOIODI

ESTIMATION OF DOSAGE TO THYROIDS OF CHIL
DREN IN THE U.S. FROM NUCLEAR TESTS CON
DUCTED IN NEVADA DURING 1952 THROUGH 1955
By Arthur R. Tamplin and H. Leonard Fisher. Lawrence:
Radiation Laboratory, University of California, Livermore
Bio-Medical Research Divison, May 10, 1966. UCRL-14707

WO SCIENTISTS in the Bio-Medical Research Divi
sion of the University of California’s Lawrence:
Radiation Laboratory at Livermore have published a1
important piece of work estimating radiation dosag
to the thyroids of children exposed to iodine 131 fall
out in the early years of testing.
The report by Arthur R. Tamplin and H. Leonar:
Fisher represents a significant refinement of previou
estimates, and substantiates the earlier conclusion b

CNI, Charles Mays and Harold Knapp that man
children received doses ranging from a few rads up t
more than a hundred rads (S/C, August and Novembe
1963 and the Joint Committee on Atomic Energy Heai
ings of the same year). While previous studies focuse

ESTIMATED DOSES OF IODINE 131 to the thyroids «

children from nuclear testing at the Nevada Test Site, 195
1955. The numbers give estimated doses at various locatior
throughout the United States, and the shaded portions ind
cate areas where the dosage is estimated at 10 rads® or mor

SAMPLING STATIONS
Boise, Idaho
Pocatello, Idaho
Cheyenne, Wyoming
Rock Springs, Wyoming
St. George, Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah
Flagstaff, Arizona
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Roswell, New Mexico
Denver, Colorado
Grand Junction, Colorado
Scottsbluff, Nebraska
Concordia, Kansas

Goodland, Kansas
Amarillo, Texas
Dallas, Texas
Fort Smith, Arkansas
Des Moines, Iowa
Memphis, Tennessee
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Grand Rapids, Michigan

Cleveland, Ohio
Buffalo, New York
New York, New York
Boston, Massachusetts
New Haven, Connecticut

*A rad is the basic unit for measuring the absorbed dose of iomz
radiation per gram of matter. It is the amount of energy imparted
matter per unit mass of material.

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