| Abstrakt: |
Bone is a critical organ for the accumulation of 90Sr but also of other “bone-seeking' radionuclides such as Ra, Pb, Th, U and Pu. That's why a simple radiochemical procedure to separate 90Sr, 210Pb, 226Ra, Thnat., Unat., 238Pu and 239/240Pu from bone and teeth was developed. The separation scheme is based on extraction chromatography. Deciduous teeth, extracted from children born in 1982-1991 were collected in various regions of Germany and in Northwest Ukraine and analyzed for 90Sr concentrations with regard to the Chernobyl accident in 1986. The teeth were grouped into samples according to the year of birth and the residence of the donors. The 90Sr content in teeth from the Ukraine (mean = 63.8 mBq/g Ca) averaged more than twice as much as that found in teeth from Germany (mean = 28.4 mBq/g Ca). The obvious explanation for this effect is that the concentration of 90Sr decreased with increasing distance from the damaged Chernobyl nuclear power plant. The measured levels of 90Sr concentrations, however, were much lower than 90Sr concentrations determined in the mid-60s and mid-70s. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
