Teeth

[FIELDRW@aol.com]

Ron makes some good points, especially his observation concerning the ratio 
between Sr-90 and Sr-89.  

Aarkrog has an interesting article concerning strontium-90 in shed deciduous 
teeth collected in Denmark from children born 1950-1958.  HPJ 15(2):105-114, 
1968

Maybe, the tooth fairy project should have been the deer project.  Wild 
animals (as biomonitors) may do a better job of reflecting trends in 
environmental radiation concentrations.  Drs. Von Middlesworth (Iodine-131), 
French (Sr-90), Bissell (Sr-90), Whicker and others have published some good 
historical data.

Deer may not be a viable option in areas where they have a low population 
density.  In those cases, smaller mammals may provide a good alternative.

Regards, Bill Field

Bill-field@uiowa.edu

In a message dated 00-04-27 03:16:32 EDT, you write:

<< The problem of Sr-90 in milk and teeth is rather more complex, so permit me
 to add to your brief discourse.  First of all, one can tell whether the
 Sr-90 came from weapons test fallout or a nuclear plant by observing the
 Sr-90:Sr-89 ratio.  In fallout, the Sr-89 has virtually all decayed away.
 Next, cows can do strange things -- during the winter, many are fed on
 hay/silage and may develop Ca deficiencies which may be treated by Ca
 injections; these affect the excretion of Sr-90.  Other metabolic processes
 may directly affect the excretion of Ca/Sr, and result in unexpected and
 sometimes inexplicably high concentrations of Sr/Ca in milk.  It is
 therefore important to look at the amount of Ca in the milk when elevated Sr
 levels are seen.  Finally, Moses Lake is much closer to the Hanford site
 than 100 miles.
 
 There are other problems with using Sr-90 in teeth as a surrogate for Sr-90
 intake.  Teeth do not all grow at the same rate, nor at a constant rate, and
 the turnover is very slow.  Studies at the USTUR with adults and actinides
 showed no correlation between body burden and concentration or total
 activity in teeth.  I believe the same is true of radium.
 
 Ron Kathren >>
************************************************************************
The RADSAFE Frequently Asked Questions list, archives and subscription
information can be accessed at http://www.ehs.uiuc.edu/~rad/radsafe.html