Plutonium in South-central Washington State Autopsy Tissue Samples-1970-1975

Abstract

Results are presented of postmortem human tissue sampling and analysis for plutonium of Hanford Site workers, residents of the nearby Tri-Cities, and individuals residing farther away from the Hanford Site for the period 1970-1975. The majority of Hanford Site workers and nearby residents coming to autopsy had tissue concentrations of plutonium no larger than those who lived farther away from Hanford and whose likely source of plutonium was limited to nuclear weapons testing fallout. Thus, Hanford operations up to that time apparently had made no significant addition to plutonium in those individuals sampled postmortem.

DETERMINATION OF 240Pu/239Pu ISOTOPIC RATIOS IN HUMAN TISSUES COLLECTED FROM AREAS AROUND THE SEMIPALATINSK NUCLEAR TEST SITE BY SECTOR-FIELD HIGH RESOLUTION ICP-MS

“…The results for bone samples were not statistically different from the previously reported results: mean, 5.4 Ϯ 2.2 mBq kg Ϫ1 -wet (n ϭ 71) (a two-tailed Student's t test; 95% significant level, ␣ ϭ 0.05) (Yamamoto et al 2006). The present 239,240 Pu levels in bone, lung, and liver samples did not seem to be largely different from ranges found for human tissue samples for residents from other countries that were due solely to global fallout during the 1970's-1980's (Nelson et al 1972;Nelson and Thomas 1977;McInroy et al 1979;Fox et al 1980;Fisenne et al 1980;Mussalo et al 1980;Bunzl and Kracke 1983;Santori and Clemente 1983;Popplewell et al 1985;Kawamura et al 1987;Nelson et al 1993). For a detailed comparison, clearly more autopsy cases from the areas around the SNTS are needed.…”

Health and safety at necropsy

“…118 Radioactive contaminants Bodies may be contaminated by radioactive materials deliberately, as a consequence of medical treatment, 119 or as a consequence of the explosion of atomic devices or working in the nuclear industry. 120 Necropsies on radioactive bodies that had been recently dosed with strontium-89-chloride before death have been reported. 119 In the reported case, whole body and hand exposures were recorded as 0.000 for all personnel involved (although this is not surprising because strontium is concentrated in the bones).…”

Risks, hazards and safety in mortuaries

“…Bodies may be contaminated by radioactive materials deliberately, as a consequence of medical treatment (59) or as a consequence of the explosion of atomic devices or working in the nuclear industry (60). There are reports of cases of pathologists receiving excessive radiation after autopsying such bodies (61).…”