Radionuclides in Foods

Levels of strontium-90 and cesium-137 in Canadian milk during the period 1960-64 were consistently higher than those in the United States or the United Kingdom, but levels in humans, while also higher, did not reflect the differences observed in milk. Annual dose rates of 27 millirads to bone and 4 millirads to the whole body correspond to the highest average concentrations of strontium-90 and cesium-137 so far observed. Levels of cesium-137 in the urine of residents of the Canadian North were found to increase with the increasing consumption of caribou or reindeer. Whole body counting of a few northern residents showed cesium-137 levels as high as 1000 nanocuries. It is concluded that protective actions are not needed but that studies in the North should be emphasized to provide a better basis for evaluating that particular situation.     

The estimation of 90Sr and 137Cs excretion parameters from the organism of wild and laboratory small mammals in vivo, after natural contamination of them in the Chernobyl zone

In the course of laboratory experiment, parameters of 90Sr and 137Cs excretion were estimated in individuals of bank vole Clethrionomys glareolus, captured at one of the most contaminated sites of the Chernobyl zone. The animals were kept under laboratory conditions using "clean" feed during 50 days. The similar investigation was carried out with laboratory mice Mus musculus (Big Blue line) during a longer period (184 days). The measurements of 90Sr content in the animals' body were in vivo carried out, using a specially designed beta-spectrometer with appropriate software, and 137Cs one--by the gamma-spectrometer. During the experiment, the animals had lost less 0.4% of activity due to physical decay of radionuclides. The organism was depurated mainly through biological excretion. In accordance with parameters of one-component exponential decay equation, 99.3% of 137Cs initial content in vole was excreted with half-life period of 2.18 days, and mice--4.4 days (99%). 90Sr excretion had longer half-life period: 11.7 days (56%) in voles, and 49.9 days (87%) in laboratory mice. The rest radionuclides amount of given model was considered as non-excreted from the organism during the observation period. It was determined on the example of voles that 90Sr and 137Cs loss in males was faster than in females, and among females more intensive excretion was in lactating females. 137Cs excretion from the body of bank vole is mainly with urine (74.7%), whereas 90Sr one--with feces and urine in approximately equal amounts. Due to the birth of babies and consequent feeding female lose appreciably less amount of radionuclides body burden than at daily loss with urine and feces.     

Biosorption of cesium-137 and strontium-90 by mucilaginous seeds of Ocimum basilicum

Mucilaginous seeds of Ocimum basilicum were used in uptake studies with cesium-137 and strontium-90. Results showed that uptake was dependent on the structural integrity of the mucilage fibrils. Water imbibed seeds showed higher adsorption of both 137Cs and 90Sr in comparison to seeds pretreated with NaOH, HCl and Na-periodate solution. The uptake was pH dependent and while some divalent metal ions had no or little detrimental effect, the alkali metal ions Li+, Na+ and K+ decreased the uptake. The maximum adsorption capacity was 160 mg cesium g(-1) and 247 mg strontium g(-1) seed dry weight.     

Retranslocation of Rb86, Cs137, and K to new leaf growth in bush beans

Summary Bush bean plants were exposed to either Rb⁸⁶ or Cs¹³⁷ with and without carrier rubidium or cesium for 48 hours in a complete nutrient solution. These solutions were then discarded. The plants were then allowed to grow for 11 additional days in complete nutrient solution except that potassium was omitted. Measurement of Rb⁸⁶, Cs¹³⁷, and potassium in new leaves indicated that Cs¹³⁷ was retranslocated to the new growth much slower than was potassium but that proportionately more Rb⁸⁶ was in new leaves than potassium and these results were independent of the presence or absence of the respective carriers. Considerably more Rb⁸⁶ than Cs¹³⁷ was absorbed by the plants either with or without the carriers.     

Monovalent-ion carrier effects on transport of Rb86 and Cs137 into bush bean plants

Summary Bush bean plants were exposed to either Rb⁸⁶ or Cs¹³⁷ for 24 hours with different monovalent cations as carriers in single-salt solutions except for the presence of 10⁻⁴ M CaCl₂. Ratio of uptake of the radionuclides at 10⁻³ to 10⁻² M was used as an index of the carrier ability of various cations. Different monovalent cations decreased uptake of Cs¹³⁷ and its transport to shoots unequally when 10⁻² M salts were compared with 10⁻³ M salts. Rubidium and cesium salts decreased Cs¹³⁷ uptake equally but potassium salts were less effective in decreasing uptake when the ratios of the two concentrations were considered. All monovalent cations decreased uptake of Cs¹³⁷ at the 10⁻² M carrier concentration but some did not at 10⁻³ M. Nitrate nitrogen was a big factor in these results. Cesium and rubidium salts were most effective. Potassium appeared to increase Cs¹³⁷ transport to shoots particularly at 10⁻³ M KNO₃. Only cesium, rubidium, and potassium salts decreased uptake of Rb⁸⁶ when 10⁻² M salts were compared with 10⁻³ M. Rubidium and cesium salts decreased uptake essentially equally and potassium salts again were less effective. All nitrate salts tended to increase Rb⁸⁶ transport to shoots more consistently than with Cs¹³⁷. It is concluded that absorption and transport to shoots were not equivalent for potassium, rubidium, and cesium.     

Dynamics and distribution of radiocaesium in broiler chicken

The distribution and biological half-life of radiocaesium (¹³⁷Cs) in broiler chickens after three oral applications (in course of 1 day at the age of 14 days) of artificially contaminated feed mixture were studied. There was a rapid uptake of the orally administered ¹³⁷Cs (within a few hours) and also a rapid loss of ¹³⁷Cs which varied in the different organs (the initial biological half-life was: liver 0.6 day, intestine 0.6 day, breast meat 2 days, leg meat 1.2 days). More than one-half of the total administered ¹³⁷Cs activity (55%) was excreted from the body within the 1st day after dosage, and after 14 days more than 90% had been excreted. The highest accumulation of ¹³⁷Cs occurred in meat (50%–90%), and the proportion of total activity in breast and leg meat varied during decontamination. The transfer of radiocaesium from feed into the chicken body (measured as ratios of the ¹³⁷Cs activity concentrations in the organ to the ¹³⁷Cs activity concentration in the applied dose) 1 day after application was: 0.0220, 0.0294, 0.0216 and 0.0195 for breast meat, leg meat, intestine and liver, respectively. Significant differences between the values were demonstrated (P<0.05) except between those of breast meat and intestine. For the first 3 days there was a higher proportion of ¹³⁷Cs activity in leg meat, whereas from the 4th day a greater part of total activity was found in breast meat. The latter results were confirmed in a subsequent study. Data from this study suggest that if broiler chickens are contaminated by radiocaesium to a level of 5 kBq/chicken in the course of 1 day at the age of 14 days, then immediate feeding with uncontaminated feed mixture for 18 days should be effective in decontaminating the chicken's meat below the intervention levels for radiocaesium in animal products, i.e. below 1000 Bq ⋅ kg^–1. Received: 30 December 1996 / Accepted in revised form: 13 May 1997     

Untersuchung der im Vergleich zur Kalium-Anreicherung bevorzugten Anreicherung von Cäsium 137 im Säugetierorganismus

Zusammenfassung Es werden Untersuchungen zur Kalium-, Rubidium- und Cäsium- Anreicherung am perfundierten Meerschweinchenherzen durchgeführt. Unter Verwendung der Radionuklide⁴²K,⁸⁶Rb und¹³⁷Cs werden mit Hilfe einer Meßeinrichtung Alkaliionenflüsse zwischen Perfusionslösung und Herzmuskelzelle bestimmt. Es wird die Mehrdeutigkeit der Versuchsergebnisse diskutiert und einexperimentum crucis vorgeschlagen, das entscheiden soll, ob das Ruhepotential als Diffusionsoder als Grenzflächenpotential angesehen werden muß. Im Hinblick auf die unterschiedliche Kalium- und Cäsium-137-Anreicherung im Säugetierorganismus zeigen die Versuche, daß sich Cäsium gegenüber der Muskelzelle qualitativ wie Kalium verhält und daß Cäsium im Herzmuskel nicht bevorzugt angereichert wird.

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On the preferred accumulation of cesium 137 in mammalian organism in comparison with the accumulation of potassiumI. Accumulation of potassium, rubidium and cesium in the perfused guinea-pig heart

Summary Experiments concerning the accumulation of potassium, rubidium and cesium in the perfused guinea-pig heart were performed. Using the radionuclides⁴²K,⁸⁶Rb,¹³⁷Cs and a scintillation counter, the alkali ion fluxes between the perfusion solution and the heart muscle cells are evaluated. The ambiguity of the results is discussed and anexperimentum crucis is proposed which shall decide wether the resting potential has the character of a diffusion or of a phase-boundary potential. As to the different accumulations of potassium and cesium in mammalian organism, our experiments demonstrate that the transport mechanism into the cell is similar for potassium and cesium and that cesium is not accumulated at a higher degree than potassium in the heart muscle cell.

     

Cesium-137 in Lake Michigan sediments: Areal distribution and correlation with other man-made materials

Grab samples of sediment were collected at 530 locations in Lake Michigan, primarily in the southeastern quarter of the lake. Each sample was analysed in the field and in the laboratory for fallout cesium-137. Twenty-five of the samples, collected near the mouth of the St Joseph River, were also analysed in the laboratory for 11 other man-made materials known to be discharged into the river. Two statistical methods were used to determine if cesium-137 can be used as an environmental tracer to predict the areal distributions of other man-made materials. The results show fallout cesium-137 to be a moderate to good tracer for locating areas of accumulation of plutonium-238, plutonium-239, zinc, copper, chronium, lead, dieldrin, DDT and PCB in sediment. Little or no correlation is found between fallout cesium-137 and strontium-90 or nickel.     

Untersuchung der im Vergleich zur Kalium-Anreicherung bevorzugten Anreicherung von Cäsium 137 im Säugetierorganismus

Zusammenfassung Es wird die Anreicherung von Kalium und Cäsium 137 im Säugetierorganismus, der als offenes n-Kompartmentmodell behandelt wird, diskutiert. Es zeigt sich, daß das unterschiedliche Anreicherungsverhalten auf die unterschiedlichen Transportgeschwindigkeiten der beiden Alkaliionen zwischen Plasma und Organen und auf die Ausscheidungsgeschwindigkeiten aus dem Plasma zurückzuführen sind. Dabei ist die ungleichmäßige Anreicherung von Cäsium 137 im Gewebe des Säugetierorganismus in erster Linie auf die relativ große Ausscheidungsgeschwindigkeit—verglichen mit den Transportgeschwindigkeiten zwischen Plasma und Gewebe—zurückzuführen.

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On the preferred accumulation of cesium 137 in mammalian organism in comparison with the accumulation of potassiumII. Discussion of the potassium and cesium 137 accumulation in mammalian organism

Summary The accumulation of potassium and cesium 137 in mammalian organism, which is considered to be an open n-compartment model, is discussed. It can be shown that the different behaviour of the alkali ions is caused by the different transport rates of these ions between the plasma and the organs and by different excretion rates. The disproportionate accumulation of cesium 137 in the tissue of mammalian organism is mainly caused by an excretion rate which is relatively high as compared to the transport rates between the plasma and the tissue.

     

Murine immunization by cesium-137 irradiation attenuated Schistosoma mansoni cercariae

Cesium-137, becoming a more readily available ionizing gamma radiation source for laboratory use, was shown to effectively attenuate Schistosoma mansoni cercariae for vaccine production. In parallel comparison studies with the murine model, cesium-137 attenuated cercariae consistently afforded better (P greater than 0.05) protection than did the cobalt-60 prepared vaccine. Dose-response data indicated that the optimal total irradiation with cesium-137 was between 45 and 50 Krad.     

A Comparison of the Effects of Chlorothiazide,Quinethazone and Placebo on Student Volunteers and on Rats: A Teaching Exercise

Medical student participation in a controlled doubleblind clinical bioassay provides an effective introduction to clinical pharmacology and perhaps the best stimulus to the future rational evaluation and use of drugs. In one such exercise, 27 volunteers were divided into three groups: one received 50 mg. quinethazone, one 500 mg. chlorothiazide and the third a lactose placebo. Urine was collected for three 90-minute periods, volume and pH being recorded; sodium and potassium were measured with a flame photometer, and chloride by the Volhard technique. Although this study was primarily a comparative bioassay of two established diuretics against a placebo, no previous direct comparisons of these diuretics could be found in the literature. The diuretic activity of chlorothiazide and quinethazone compared to placebo therapy was confirmed in both humans and rats, the use of controls was illustrated, and a higher mean sodium-potassium ratio for quinethazone than for chlorothiazide was demonstrated.     

Radiocesium activity reduction in boar meat by brining

Meat of wild boar with an intial ¹³⁷Cs activity concentration of 103 Bq kg⁻¹ of fresh mass was treated by brining. Dry-salting reduced the ¹³⁷Cs activity only by about 12–18%. Subsequent brining was done by using both pure sodium chloride and a mixture of sodium chloride and potassium nitrate. After double-brine exchange, the ¹³⁷Cs activity concentration was reduced by at least 72%. The double-brine exchanges were done for two time intervals (the first each 24 h and the second each 7 days). There were no differences in the ¹³⁷Cs activity reduction for these two time intervals. From the technological point of view, the repeated exchange of the brine solution represents a relative easy method of ¹³⁷Cs activity reduction in contaminated pork meat.     

Can plants exposed to SO2 excrete sulfuric acid through the roots?

Hydroponically grown pea plants (Pisum sativum L., cv. Kleine Rheinländerin) and barley seedlings (Hordeum vulgare L., cv. Gerbel) were fumigated for several days with 1 or 2 μl l^?1 SO₂. Both species accumulated sulfate during fumigation, although the nutrient medium lacked sulfate. In pea, SO₂-dependent sulfate accumulation in different plant parts accounted for 60 percent of the SO₂ sulfur which, as calculated from a determination of boundary and stomatal flux resistances had entered the leaves. Up to 55% of the air-borne sulfate was translocated from pea leaves to roots during the period of fumigation, but no or only little sulfate was excreted into the nutrient solution. In contrast, barley retained sulfate in the leaves, and sulfate translocation from shoot to the root system could not be observed. In both species, protons were excreted by the roots. In fumigated plants, proton loss was higher than in untreated controls in pea, but not in barley. In pea, SO₂-dependent proton loss into the medium accounted for up to 50% of the sulfuric acid formed from SO₂. Proton excretion was strongly dependent on potassium availability in the nutrient medium. Cation uptake by the plants during fumigation was sufficient to compensate for proton loss, suggesting proton/cation exchange at the interface between root and medium. We conclude that by oxidation to sulfuric acid, plants are capable of detoxifying SO₂ taken up by the leaves. Depending on plant species, either both protons and sulfate anions can be exported from the leaves, or the proton load on leaf cells can be relieved by proton/cation exchange at the plasmalemma. Finally, the problem of airborne plant acidification may be solved by proton/cation exchange at the level of roots. The burden of acidification is then shifted from the plant to the nutrient medium. Appreciable amounts of sulfate can be excreted neither by pea nor by barley plants.     

Potential for phytoextraction of137 Cs from a contaminated soil

Potential for phytoremediation of a soil contaminated with radiocesium was investigated in three phases: (1) hydroponic screening for plant species capable of accumulating elevated levels of cesium in shoots, (2) investigation of several amendments for their potential to increase the bioavailability of ¹³⁷Cs in the contaminated soil, and (3) bioaccumulation of radiocesium in shoots of plants grown in¹³⁷ Cs-contaminated soil.The bioaccumulation ratio for Cs in shoots of hydroponically grown plants ranged between 38 and 165. From solution, dicot species accumulated 2- to 4-fold more cesium in shoots than grasses. In studies investigating the bioavailability of ¹³⁷Cs in aged contaminated soil, ammonium salts were found to be the most effective desorbing agents, releasing approximately 25% of the¹³⁷ Cs. The extent of ¹³⁷Cs desorption from the soil increased with ammonium concentration up to 0.2 M. In a pot study conducted in a greenhouse, there was significant species-dependent variability in the ability to accumulate ¹³⁷Cs in the shoot from contaminated soil. The ability to accumulate ¹³⁷Cs from the soil increased in the order: reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea) < Indian mustard (Brassica juncea) < tepary bean (Phaseolus acutifolius)< cabbage (B. oleracea var. capitata). It was also found that addition of NH₄NO₃ solution to the soil elicited a two- to twelve-fold increase in ¹³⁷Cs accumulation in the shoot. The greatest amount of ¹³⁷Cs (40 Bq g^-1 dw) was removed in shoots of cabbage grown in contaminated soil amended with 80 mmols NH₄NO₃ kg^-1 soil. Bioaccumulation ratios of 2–3 were obtained with the best performing plant species. These values are significantly greater than those previously reported in the literature (usually <0.1) for plants grown on aged contaminated soil. These results indicate that careful species selection along with amendments that increase the bioavailability of¹³⁷ Cs in the soil could greatly enhance the prospects for the use of plants to remediate ¹³⁷Cs-contaminated soils.     

Comparison of Prussian blue and apple-pectin efficacy on 137Cs decorporation in rats

Cesium-137 (137Cs) is one of the most important nuclear fission elements that contaminated the environment after the explosion of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine (1986). The aim of the study was to compare the efficacy of two chelating agent, Prussian blue and apple-pectin on 137cesium decorporation in rats. Rats were intravenously injected with a solution of 137cesium (5 kBq per rat). Chelating agents, Prussian blue or apple-pectin were given immediately after Cs contamination and during 11 days by addition of each chelating agent in drinking water at a concentration corresponding to 400 mg kg(-1) day(-1). Efficiency was evaluated 11 days after contamination (at the end of treatment) through their ability to promote Cs excretion and to reduce the radionuclide accumulation in some retention compartments (blood, liver, kidneys, spleen, skeleton and in the remaining carcass). In these conditions after treatment with Prussian blue a fivefold increase in fecal excretion of Cs was observed and was associated with a reduction in the radionuclide retention in the main organs measured. In contrast, no significant differences were observed between untreated rats and rats treated with apple-pectin. These observations were discussed in terms of ability of pectins to bind Cs and compared to recently published results obtained after treatment of Cs-contaminated children with this chelate.     

Resistance of Bacillus subtilis Spores to Inactivation by Gamma Irradiation and Heating in the Presence of a Bactericide: III. Factors Affecting Rates of Inactivation by Phenylmercuric Nitrate

Aqueous suspensions of Bacillus subtilis NCTC 8236 spores, surviving gamma irradiation from a cesium-137 source, exhibited an enhanced rate of inactivation compared to nonirradiated spores when heated with 0.04% phenylmercuric nitrate. The enhanced rate of inactivation, observable from survival curves, was noted when spores were irradiated with 150,000 rad under air in either the presence or absence of the bactericide. The magnitude of the enhanced inactivation rate increased as the irradiation dose under air increased from 150,000 to 300,000 rad. The inactivation rates of spores surviving irradiation with 150,000 rad under either oxic or anoxic conditions did not exhibit a simple quantitative relationship. The enhancement effect was observed when the severity of the heat treatment was increased by either reducing the pH from 8 to 6 or raising the temperature from 70 to 90 C.     

Resistance of Bacillus subtilis Spores to Inactivation by Gamma Irradiation and Heating in the Presence of a Bactericide: II. Factors Affecting Rates of Inactivation by Phenolic Bactericides

Aqueous suspensions of Bacillus subtilis NCTC 8236 spores, surviving 150,000 or 300,000 rad of gamma irradiation under air from a cesium-137 source, exhibited an enhanced rate of inactivation, compared to nonirradiated spores, when heated with different phenolic bactericides. The apparent magnitude of the enhanced inactivation rate, observed from survival curves, increased progressively with the irradiation dose applied and diminished progressively as the severity of heat treatment with 0.2% chlorocresol was increased either by raising the temperature from 70 to 90 C or reducing the pH from 8 to 6. The enhanced inactivation rate was unaffected when the concentration of sodium chloride added to 0.2% chlorocresol was altered from 0.4 to 0.8%. The enhancement effect was also observed when the heat treatment was carried out with 0.5% phenol and 0.3% m-cresol.     

Minimal Internal Radiation Exposure in Residents Living South of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant Disaster

Following the Fukushima nuclear power plant disaster, assessment of internal radiation exposure was indispensable to predict radiation-related health threats to residents of neighboring areas. Although many evaluations of internal radiation in residents living north and west of the crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant are available, there is little information on residents living in areas south of the plant, which were similarly affected by radio-contamination from the disaster. To assess the internal radio-contamination in residents living in affected areas to the south of the plant or who were evacuated into Iwaki city, a whole body counter (WBC) screening program of internal radio-contamination was performed on visitors to the Jyoban hospital in Iwaki city, which experienced less contamination than southern areas adjacent to the nuclear plant. The study included 9,206 volunteer subjects, of whom 6,446 were schoolchildren aged 4–15 years. Measurements began one year after the incident and were carried out over the course of two years. Early in the screening period only two schoolchildren showed Cs-137 levels that were over the detection limit (250 Bq/body), although their Cs-134 levels were below the detection limit (220 Bq/body). Among the 2,760 adults tested, 35 (1.3%) had detectable internal radio-contamination, but only for Cs-137 (range: 250 Bq/body to 859 Bq/body), and not Cs-134. Of these 35 subjects, nearly all (34/35) showed elevated Cs-137 levels only during the first year of the screening. With the exception of potassium 40, no other radionuclides were detected during the screening period. The maximum annual effective dose calculated from the detected Cs-137 levels was 0.029 and 0.028 mSv/year for the schoolchildren and adults, respectively, which is far below the 1 mSv/year limit set by the government of Japan. Although the data for radiation exposure during the most critical first year after the incident are unavailable due to a lack of systemic measurements, the present results suggest that internal radio-contamination levels more than one year after the incident were minimal for residents living south of the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant, and that the annual additional effective doses derived from internal Cs contamination were negligible. Thus, internal radio-contamination of residents living in southern radio-contaminated areas appears to be generally well controlled.     

Solubilization of lignocellulosic materials by gamma radiolysis

Summary Lignocellulosic plant materials were treated with various swelling agents and exposed to gamma radiation emitted from cobalt 60 or cesium 137. At 50 Mrads or above, the lignocellulosic materials were extensively hydrolyzed and formed a thick paste or liquid, depending upon the amount of liquid used. The hydrolysate was dark brown and had a sweet molasseslike odor. As much as 46% total sugar and 7.5% reducing sugar per dry weight of sugarcane bagasse could be obtained by this method. The majority of the soluble carbohydrate appeared to be disaccharides or larger molecules.     

Fate of mimosine administered orally to sheep and its effectiveness as a defleecing agent.

Mimosine was administered orally to Merino sheep once daily for periods of 1-3 days, either as the isolated compound or in the foliage of Leucaena leucocephala. A single daily dose of mimosine of 450 or 600 mg/kg body weight was effective for defleecing sheep. A daily dose rate of 300 mg/kg was effective for defleecing sheep if given on two successive days. The effectiveness of a treatment for defleecing sheep was related to the concentration of mimosine in plasma following dosing; defleecing ensued when the concentration of mimosine in plasma was maintained above 0-1 mmol/l for at least 30 h. The main products excreted in urine were mimosine and 3,4-dihydroxypyridine (DHP); small amounts of mimosinamine were also excreted. During the first day following dosing, the major excretory product was mimosine; DHP was an important component during the second and third days. In the three days following the start of dosing, between 32 and 53% of the mimosine given was accounted for as mimosine in the urine. Following an intravenous infusion of mimosine, no DHP was detected in urine; most of the mimosine was excreted intact but a small amount (c. 9%) was excreted as mimosinamine.