Aspects of the geographical variations of naturally occurring 210Pb/210Po in permanent teeth of juveniles in the UK

PURPOSE: To study geographical variations in the level of naturally occurring 210Pb-supported 210Po in permanent teeth of juveniles in the UK. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Permanent teeth extracted from 278 juveniles for orthodontic purposes were obtained from 48 counties in the UK. 210Po activity concentration was measured on the outer enamel surface using TASTRAK alpha-particle-sensitive plastic track detectors. RESULTS: Geometric mean +/- SE activity concentrations in teeth from urban, suburban and rural areas, excluding the high radon area of Devon, were 8.41 + 0.25/-0.24, 7.76 + 0.37/-0.35 and 7.20 +0.49/-0.46 Bq kg(-1), respectively. Overall, there was no significant association between alpha-activity on the outer enamel surface of permanent teeth and proximity to the major UK motorways. However, when the data were considered with respect to the prevailing south-westerly wind on the western side of the UK, a statistically significant association with respect to donors living downwind (on the easterly side) of the motorways was found. This effect was greater for sections of the M5 and M6 motorways that traverse urban areas. 210Po levels in teeth were also associated with domestic radon concentration. This effect was comparable with that from traffic and urban pollution. CONCLUSIONS: Higher levels of 210Pb-supported 210Po are seen in permanent teeth of juveniles near sources of increased exposure in the UK. Inhalation uptake is an important pathway of exposure, especially with respect to domestic radon exposure. The results might be important in assessing integrated exposure to 210Po in the skeleton and consequent high linear energy transfer dose to bone marrow.     

Morphological features of the microdistribution of naturally occurring 210Pb/210Po and 226Ra in the teeth of children and juveniles

Purpose: To examine the microdistribution of natural α‐radioactivity in deciduous teeth of children and the permanent teeth of juveniles extracted for orthodontic purpose from across the UK.

Materials and methods: The microdistribution of ²¹⁰Pb‐supported ²¹⁰Po and ²²⁶Ra in 708 deciduous and permanent teeth and 32 foetal teeth was measured on 1442 TASTRAK α‐particle track detectors.

Results: Of the various findings, a number are of special interest. Around half of the ²¹⁰Pb activity in the outer enamel of deciduous teeth appears to have been acquired in utero as a result of transplacental transfer. In deciduous and permanent teeth, ²²⁶Ra is concentrated mainly in the circumpulpal region, while the highest levels of ²¹⁰Po are on the highly calcified outer enamel surface. Furthermore, activity concentrations recorded on this surface were ln‐normally distributed.

Conclusions: ²¹⁰Pb‐supported ²¹⁰Po activity on the outer enamel surface of permanent teeth constitutes an assay of cumulative environmental exposure with which to assess exposure in bone, both in utero and in childhood. Such assessment can be used to study geographical variations in the α‐activity in teeth. More work is also required to determine the concentrations of both ²¹⁰Po and ²¹⁰Pb in the foetal skeleton.     

Spatial Distribution of Naturally Occurring 210Po and 226Ra in Children's Teeth

Deciduous and permanent teeth extracted from juveniles for orthodontic purposes have been analysed using α-sensitive plastic track detectors for the spatial distribution of total α-activity and naturally occurring ²¹⁰Pb-supported ²¹⁰Po and ²²⁶Ra. The distribution of these radionuclides is nonuniform, with ²¹⁰Po being primarily associated with outer enamel and ²²⁶Ra with the pulp. The observations suggest that ²¹⁰Pb/²¹⁰Po concentrates at the interface of enamel with saliva or blood, by means of unidirectional ionic exchange with calcium. In contrast, ²²⁶Ra concentrates in the predentine band at the interface with pulp and with systemic blood circulation, where its uptake is permitted by the incomplete calcification in this band. Activity concentration was measured in 900 teeth. Total concentration on the outer enamel surface of deciduous teeth, permanent teeth from children ?10 years and permanent teeth from children > 10 years give respective mean values of 8·63±0·26, 5·76±0.48 and 7·00±0·15 Bq kg^?1. ²²⁶Ra concentration on the corresponding longitudinal sections comprising pulp, dentine and annular enamel give respective mean values of 0·715±0·055, 0·418±0·083 and 0·514±0·029 Bq kg^?1. Mean activity concentration in 32 foetal teeth was 2·05±0·31 Bq kg^?1. The results form the basis of more detailed studies of (1) age-dependent uptake of α-radionuclides in teeth and their microdistribution, and (2) the geographical variation in activity concentration with respect to environmental factors such as domestic radon exposure.     

Morphological features of the microdistribution of naturally occurring 10Pb/2l0Po and 226Ra in the teeth of children and juveniles

PURPOSE: To examine the microdistribution of natural alpha-radioactivity in deciduous teeth of children and the permanent teeth of juveniles extracted for orthodontic purpose from across the UK. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The microdistribution of 210Pb-supported 210Po and 226Ra in 708 deciduous and permanent teeth and 32 foetal teeth was measured on 1442 TASTRAK alpha-particle track detectors. RESULTS: Of the various findings, a number are of special interest. Around half of the 210Pb activity in the outer enamel of deciduous teeth appears to have been acquired in utero as a result of transplacental transfer. In deciduous and permanent teeth, 226Ra is concentrated mainly in the circumpulpal region, while the highest levels of 210Po are on the highly calcified outer enamel surface. Furthermore, activity concentrations recorded on this surface were In-normally distributed. CONCLUSIONS: 210Pb-supported 210Po activity on the outer enamel surface of permanent teeth constitutes an assay of cumulative environmental exposure with which to assess exposure in bone, both in utero and in childhood. Such assessment can be used to study geographical variations in the alpha-activity in teeth. More work is also required to determine the concentrations of both 210Po and 210Pb in the foetal skeleton.     

Influence of heavy metals upon the retention and mobilization of polonium‐210 in rats

Purpose: To provide information about the tissue retention and mobilization of the alpha‐emitting radionuclide, polonium‐210 (²¹⁰Po), in rats under combined exposure to heavy metal ions and the chelating agent, 2, 3‐dimercaptopropane‐1‐sulfonate (DMPS).

Materials and methods: Rats were pre‐exposed intraperitoneally to either CdCl₂ or Pb(CH₃COO)₂. 9 or 15?h later they received ²¹⁰Po nitrate intravenously. The retention and excretion of ²¹⁰Po via the urine and faeces of pre‐exposed rats, as well as in pre‐exposed rats treated with DMPS, were followed. The radioactivity due to ²¹⁰Po in a broad spectrum of body tissues and excreta was measured by the liquid scintillation counting after sample digestion in a mixture of perchloric acid and hydrogen peroxide. The immunohistochemical localization of metallothioneins (MT) was studied using a mixture of murine monoclonal antibodies directed against MT I+II.

Results: The present study revealed different tissue distributions of polonium‐210 in the rats pre‐exposed to lead or cadmium ions when compared with that in ²¹⁰Po only controls. Under combined exposure to Pb or Cd, the spontaneous excretion of ²¹⁰Po was enhanced and could be further enhanced by treatment with DMPS. Treatment with this chelator was efficient even when its start was postponed until 24h after internal contamination of the body with ²¹⁰Po.

Conclusions: Polonium‐210 is bound in vivo to binding sites on various biomolecules, among them erythrocytic enzymes and MT. This phenomenon explains the different affinity and overall distribution of ²¹⁰Po in control body tissues. When the appropriate binding sites are occupied by lead or cadmium, enhanced natural excretion of polonium‐210 occurs.     

Dose estimates for the local inhabitants from 210Po ingestion via dietary sources at a proposed uranium mining site in India

Abstract

Purpose: To study the distribution of ²¹⁰Po activity in food in Bagjata in East Singhbhum, India.

Materials and methods: ²¹⁰Po were analyzed in the food samples of plant origin such as cereals, pulses, fruits, vegetables and food of animal origin such fish, chicken, egg, etc., in and around Bagjata uranium mining area as a part of baseline study after acid digestion. The intake and ingestion dose of the radionuclide was estimated.

Results: The general range of ²¹⁰Po activity in all the dietary components ranged widely from <0.2–36 Bqkg^-1_fresh. In the food of plant origin, the minimum activity of ²¹⁰Po was estimated in vegetables while maximum in pulses. In food of animal origin, the observed minimum activity of ²¹⁰Po was in eggs and the maximum observed was in chicken samples. The intake of ²¹⁰Po considering all dietary components was found to be 464 Bq.Y^-1 while the ingestion dose was calculated to be 557 μSv.Y^-1, respectively. The estimated doses are reflecting the natural background dose via the route of ingestion, which is much below the 1 mSv limit set in the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) recommendations.

Conclusion: The study confirms that current levels of ²¹⁰Po do not pose a significant radiological risk to the local inhabitants.     

Retrospective radon assessment by means of 210Po activity measurements.

A method for retrospectively assessing the average radon concentration in a dwelling, for a period as long as 40 years or more, is described. It is based on the free penetration of radon gas into bulky spongy materials called volume traps, and subsequent trapping of radon decay products inside them. This leads to a build-up of 210Pb, a radon decay product with a half life of 22.3 years, which reaches an equilibrium with the alpha emitter 210Po, indicative of the average radon concentration over the exposure period. The stuffing of mattresses, chairs, cushions, etc. can be considered a good volume trap. A chemical separation procedure is described, transforming the volume trap into a 210Po alpha source, whose activity is determined through alpha spectroscopy. The technique has been applied in over 300 samples, retrieved from dwellings in Serbia, Germany, Norway and Sweden. The technique has proven to be very robust and reproducible. In cases where radon data were available during the exposure period of the volume trap, a remarkable agreement was found. The best volume traps appeared to be polyester sponges found in many stuffings. The major drawback is the destructive nature of the method, its major advantage is the direct relationship between the radon gas and the 210Po signal. The technique can be useful in epidemiological studies of the lung cancer risk from indoor radon, for assessing the long term radon exposure.     

Determination of 210Pb and 210Po in water using the extractive scintillation cocktail Polex™

Method validation was performed to achieve the accreditation for our determination method of ²¹⁰Pb and ²¹⁰Po in water. A Pb(NO₃)₂ carrier is added to the sample and lead is precipitated with Na₂SxH₂O. ²¹⁰Po is co-precipitated and the extractive scintillation cocktail Polex^™ is used to determine ²¹⁰Po and ²¹⁰Pb. Uranium is also extracted by Polex^™. It can be removed by washing the precipitate with 1% HNO₃. The ingrowth of ²¹⁰Pb from ²²²Rn during transportation time must be calculated. It has to be subtracted from the original ²¹⁰Pb in the sample and taken into account for the calculation of the lower limit of detection.     

226Ra 228Ra 210Pb和210Po在水生生物及食物链中转移规律的探讨

目的 为了解天然放射性核素²²⁶Ra、²²⁸Ra、²¹⁰Pb与²¹⁰Po在水生物及食物链中转移和蓄积情况。方法 定点采集养殖水产品及栖息环境中水与底质沉积物, 按不同的实验需要, 每个鲜样分别剥取肉, 骨(壳),鳞片和胃肠。烹饪样品, 洗净、称重、清炖, 熟后分离出骨(壳),余为食物。样品分别测定²²⁶Ra、²²⁸Ra、²¹⁰Pb和²¹⁰Po含量。数据按统计学要求处理, 配对数据, 作了配对显着性检验。结果 ²²⁶Ra、²²⁸Ra和²¹⁰Pb主要沉积于骨(壳)中, 浓集系数为10²～10³,肉中为10⁰～10².²¹⁰Po主要蓄积在水生物胃肠中, 浓集系数在10²～10⁴,鱼类胃肠与贝类肉中可达10⁴.水产食品烹饪加工过程²²⁶Ra、²²⁸Ra和²¹⁰Pb在食物链中转移不明显, 经配对显着性检验, 差异无显着性(P0.05);然而210Po在淡水鱼类和虾类中转移是明显的, 肉配对检验有非常显着性差别(P<0.01).结论水生物对²²⁶Ra、²²⁸Ra、²¹⁰Pb和²¹⁰Po有很强浓集能力。     

On the variation of the 210Po half-life at low temperature

Experiments were performed to verify the possible influence of the temperature and source matrix on the half-life of ²¹⁰Po. Since the precise measurement of the activity of an α-emitting source at cryogenic temperature is far from trivial, a simpler approach was used: the activity of a ²¹⁰Po source was measured at ambient temperature, but in between the measurements, the source was cooled down during a few weeks in a liquid helium Dewar. A ²¹⁰Po solid source was prepared by electro-deposition on a silver plate. The activity of this source was first measured at room temperature, using the defined solid angle α measurement method. The source was then placed in a specific gastight container inside a liquid helium bath at 4 K during 28 days. Then the source was heated up and measured again using the same instrument in the same geometric conditions. The same experiment was repeated with the source coated with a thin layer of silver, in order to be sure that the radioactive material was fully embedded inside the metallic matrix. Our experiments showed no evidence of ²¹⁰Po half-life change at low temperature. A reduction of the half-life of ²¹⁰Po by 6.3% at low temperature, as claimed by Raiola et al. (2007), would have lead to a decay-corrected activity reduction of about 1% after 29 days, which would have been easily detectable.The paper describes the steps of this experiment and gives a detailed uncertainty budget for the measurements. The half-life of ²¹⁰Po obtained in each measurement is compared with the evaluated value of (138.3763±0.0017) d.     

Enrichment and vertical profiles of 210Po and 210Pb in monazite areas of coastal Karnataka

A study on radiation level and radionuclide distribution in the environment of coastal Karnataka has revealed the presence of low-level monazite deposit in the Ullal beach area. The paper presents systematic studies on the distribution, enrichment and vertical profiles of ²¹⁰Po and ²¹⁰Pb, important daughter products of ²³⁸U, in Ombattu Kere, Summer Sand and the Bhagavathi Temple region of the Ullal beach area of coastal Karnataka. Sand samples collected at different depths from these locations were analyzed for ²¹⁰Po and ²¹⁰Pb activities to understand the distribution, enrichment and vertical profiles of these radionuclides in monazite area. The activity of ²¹⁰Po in the Ullal region is found to vary from 1.7 to 43.2 Bq kg^?1 with a mean value of 11.2 Bq kg^?1 and that of ²¹⁰Pb varies from 1.0 to 66.7 Bq kg^?1 with a mean value of 19.1 Bq kg^?1. The mean ²¹⁰Po/²¹⁰Pb ratio was observed to be 0.6. The absorbed gamma dose rate in the region varies in the range 39–460 nGy h^?1 with a mean value of 193 nGy h^?1.     

Activity size distributions for long-lived radon decay products in aerosols collected in Barcelona (Spain)

The activity median aerodynamic diameters (AMADs) of long-lived radon decay product (²¹⁰Pb, ²¹⁰Po) in aerosols collected in the Barcelona area (Northeast Spain) during the period from April 2006 to February 2008 are presented. The ²¹⁰Po mean AMAD was 420 nm, while the ²¹⁰Pb mean AMAD was 500 nm. The temporal evolution of ²¹⁰Pb and ²¹⁰Po AMADs shows maxima in autumn and winter and minima in spring and summer. ²¹⁰Pb AMAD are being used to estimate the mean-residence time of atmospheric aerosols.     

食品中的铅-210

本文报道了30种常用食品²¹⁰Pb含量, 它们是在样品中²¹⁰Pb～²¹⁰Po接近放射性平衡后, 用银片自沉积法测定²¹⁰Po, 计算出²¹⁰Pb含量。粮食、蔬菜和肉类的²¹⁰Pb平均浓度分剐为0.14, 15.08和1.26×10^-14Ci/g。     

挥发法测定土壤中钋-21

本文描述了用挥发法测定土壤中²¹⁰Po并分析了部分土壤样品,结果和浸取法相符。本方法操作较为简便易行,全程回收率高达97.4±2.6%,重现性较好。同时在银片自沉积分离前,先进行固-气相预分离,在500℃温度下,大部分核素和常量元素都留在样品中,经过挥发和银片自沉积两次纯水,提高了样品纯度。本方法适用于土壤、江河湖海沉积物中²¹⁰Po的本底调查,以及²¹⁰Po放射性污染的监测。     

Calibration of the direct LSC method for radon in drinking water: Interference from 210Pb and its progenies accumulated in 226Ra standard solution

The standard ASTM method is the most commonly applied method for determining ²²²Rn in drinking water. The method is calibrated with a ²²⁶Ra standard solution that usually contains variable amounts of ²¹⁰Pb, ²¹⁰Bi and ²¹⁰Po if the standard has not recently been purified. Until now it has not been experimentally confirmed that these progenies do not interfere when the method is calibrated. In this study, interference was examined using three different organic cocktails and α/β liquid scintillation spectrometry to separately assess the effect of three radionuclides. The interference from ²¹⁰ Po was 4% for one of the cocktails if the ²²⁶Ra standard had been purified 5 years earlier. The interferences from ²¹⁰Pb and ²¹⁰Bi were negligible compared to that of ²¹⁰Po.     

Sequential determination of 210Po and uranium radioisotopes in drinking water by alpha-particle spectrometry

Procedures for the sequential determination of low level ²¹⁰Po and uranium radioisotopes in drinking water by alpha-particle spectrometry are presented. After addition of ²⁰⁸Po and ²³²U tracers, the radionuclides were preconcentrated from water samples by co-precipitation on Fe(OH)₃ or MnO₂ at pH 9 using ammonia solution. The ²¹⁰Po source was prepared by spontaneous deposition onto a copper disc either before or after uranium separation. The uranium source for alpha-particle counting was prepared by micro co-precipitation with CeF₃. The procedures were tested on mineral water and the results obtained are compared.     

Radon measurements—discussion of error estimates for selected methods

The main sources of uncertainties for grab sampling, short-term (charcoal canisters) and long term (track detectors) measurements are: systematic bias of reference equipment; random Poisson and non-Poisson errors during calibration; random Poisson and non-Poisson errors during measurements. The origins of non-Poisson random errors during calibration are different for different kinds of instrumental measurements.The main sources of uncertainties for retrospective measurements conducted by surface traps techniques can be divided in two groups: errors of surface ²¹⁰Pb (²¹⁰Po) activity measurements and uncertainties of transfer from ²¹⁰Pb surface activity in glass objects to average radon concentration during this object exposure. It's shown that total measurement error of surface trap retrospective technique can be decreased to 35%.     

Standardisation of 210Pb

The standardisation of ²¹⁰Pb is complicated by the presence of the daughters, ²¹⁰Bi and ²¹⁰Po. In addition, the low energies of the beta emissions from ²¹⁰Pb make it difficult to obtain high detection efficiencies in an atmospheric proportional counter and hence produce the need for large extrapolations with consequential large uncertainties when extrapolating to unit efficiency with the conventional 4π(PC)-γ-coincidence technique. In order to produce a reliable standardisation, it is necessary to remove the daughter products. A solution of ²¹⁰Pb was therefore chemically separated from its daughters and then standardised using the conventional 4π(LS)-γ-coincidence technique. The low energy (46 keV) and low emission probability (4%) of the associated photon emissions effectively rules out the possibility of using ionisation chambers as secondary standard transfer instruments for this nuclide. A germanium spectrometer therefore was calibrated for this purpose using ²⁴¹Am as a normalising agent.The results of this work are presented together with an analysis of the standardisation uncertainties that can be achieved in practice.     

Influence of heavy metals upon the retention and mobilization of polonium-210 in rats

PURPOSE: To provide information about the tissue retention and mobilization of the alpha-emitting radionuclide, polonium-210 (210Po), in rats under combined exposure to heavy metal ions and the chelating agent, 2, 3-dimercaptopropane-1-sulfonate (DMPS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Rats were pre-exposed intraperitoneally to either CdCl2 or Pb(CH3COO)2. 9 or 15 h later they received 210Po nitrate intravenously. The retention and excretion of 210Po via the urine and faeces of pre-exposed rats, as well as in pre-exposed rats treated with DMPS, were followed. The radioactivity due to 210Po in a broad spectrum of body tissues and excreta was measured by the liquid scintillation counting after sample digestion in a mixture of perchloric acid and hydrogen peroxide. The immunohistochemical localization of metallothioneins (MT) was studied using a mixture of murine monoclonal antibodies directed against MT I+II. RESULTS: The present study revealed different tissue distributions of polonium-210 in the rats pre-exposed to lead or cadmium ions when compared with that in 210Po only controls. Under combined exposure to Pb or Cd, the spontaneous excretion of 210Po was enhanced and could be further enhanced by treatment with DMPS. Treatment with this chelator was efficient even when its start was postponed until 24h after internal contamination of the body with 210Po. CONCLUSIONS: Polonium-210 is bound in vivo to binding sites on various biomolecules, among them erythrocytic enzymes and MT. This phenomenon explains the different affinity and overall distribution of 210Po in control body tissues. When the appropriate binding sites are occupied by lead or cadmium, enhanced natural excretion of polonium-210 occurs.     

Modeling of radon and its short-lived decay products emanating from tap water used inside a house: Dose to adult members of the public

Radon concentrations are measured in the tap water collected in different areas in Marrakech (Morocco) by using liquid scintillation techniques. The concentrations due to radon and its short-lived decay products emanating from the tap water used inside different compartments of the house were determined. Alpha activities due to the ²¹⁸Po and ²¹⁴Po short-lived radon decay products were evaluated in various compartments of the respiratory tract of adult members of the public. The committed equivalent doses due to the ²¹⁸Po and ²¹⁴Po short-lived progeny of radon were evaluated in different tissues of the respiratory tract by the frequencies of using the various parts of the house.