Re:Sr-90 and bone marrow

[Rodney Bauman <rodney_bauman@wssrap-host.wssrap.com>]

Per ICRP-30, isotopes of the alkaline earths with radioactive half-lives of
greater than 15 days (e.g., Sr-90, Sr-85 and Sr-89) get uniformly distributed
throughout the volume of mineral bone, whereas isotopes with radioactive
half-lives of less than 15 days are assumed to be distributed in a thin layer
over bone surfaces.

Rodney Bauman, CHP, RRPT
rodney_bauman@wssrap-host.wssrap.com

____________________Reply Separator____________________
Subject:    Sr-90 and bone marrow 
Author: <radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu>
Date:       08/23/2000 10:14 PM

Aug. 23

        A few weeks ago there was a lot of traffic on RADSAFE concerning a claim
that Sr-90 goes to the bone and irradiates the immune system thereby
damaging it.  (I do not want to re-start that thread.)  Instead, I have a
question about where the Sr-90 is deposited, and its effect(s) when it gets
to the bone.

        Is Sr-90 deposited on the surface of the bone, is it deposited within
the
bone, or is it deposited on the inner surface of the bone where it can
directly irradiate the bone marrow?

        Regardless of where it is deposited in or on the bone, is Sr-90's
radiation strong enough to damage the bone marrow, or interfere with the
production of blood, in particular leukocytes?  If the radiation isn't
strong enough to damage or otherwise interfere with leukocytes, which are
part of the immune system, it would seem that the whole argument falls down
flat.

Steven Dapra
sjd@swcp.com




************************************************************************
The RADSAFE Frequently Asked Questions list, archives and subscription
information can be accessed at http://www.ehs.uiuc.edu/~rad/radsafe.html


************************************************************************
The RADSAFE Frequently Asked Questions list, archives and subscription
information can be accessed at http://www.ehs.uiuc.edu/~rad/radsafe.html