PLUTONIUM CONCENTRATIONS IN DIETARY AND
INHALATION PATHWAYS AT BIKINI AND NEW YORK
Abstract
This report assesses the plutonium
_intake via inhalation and ingestion
and ingested plutonium do not account
for the absolute magnitude of the
for residents of New York and resi-
observed urine-sample concentrations.
dents of Bikini Atoll.
This discrepancy suggests inaccuracy
Based on in-
halation and ingestion intake, the
in either the plutonium concentra-
plutonium transferred to urine would
tions reported for urine samples or
be roughly seven times greater at
the models and transfer coefficients
Bikini than at New York.
presently accepted for the metabolism
This ratio
compares with data reported to the
of plutonium in the body.
The available urine data consist
authors showing urine samples from
Bikini residents had about ten times
of results from very few samples, and
the plutonium of urine samples from
more data is needed to completely
New York residents.
The comparison
' verify the assessments of this paper.
of these ratios indicates that dif-
It is felt that Bikini Atoll may be
ferences in the levels of intake in
the only global sources of data on
the New York and Bikini populations
humans where intake via ingestion is
can account for the relative differ-
thought to contribute the major frac-
ence between the plutonium concentra-
tion of the plutonium body burden,
tions observed in urine samples from
and therefore Bikini is possibly the
the two locations.
best source of data on transfer of
However,
transfer coefficients and
models presently accepted for inhaled
biologically incorporated plutonium
across the gut wall.
Introduction
Bikini Atoll was one of the two.
major locations for United States
nuclear tests from 1946 through 1958.
Rehabitation of the atoll began in
5010221
1969-70.
In 1970, analyses by the
HASL. ERDA Laboratory of pooled urine
*
Health and Safety Laboratory, New
York,
N.Y.