Iron-55 from Nuclear Fallout in the Blood of Adults

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Abstract
The concentration of Fe55, a nuclide which decays exclusively by electron capture, was measured in the blood of adults from the New York and New Jersey area to determine present body burdens and to evaluate a model predicting concentrations in blood from chronic exposure. Blood was taken from 17 male and 19 female volunteers. Samples were digested in HNO3, the Fe extracted, and subsequently electrodeposited on stainless steel discs. Stable Fe was determined gravimetrically. Fe55 was determined both by low background proportional counting and gamma scintillation spectrometry utilizing a 1 mm thick NaI (Tl) crystal. An equation to predict body burdens was developed following the ICRP [International Commission on Radiological Protection] approach using the known physiological parameters of Fe metabolism in humans. Average values in Aug. of 1966 were 2.7 pCi/mg of stable Fe in men and 4.1 pCi/mg in women, a difference that is significant at the P < 0.05 level of confidence. These concentrations of Fe55 will deliver infinity doses to the erythrocytes of men and women of 0.85 and 0.95 mrads respectively. Although exposures to adults from environmental levels of radioiron were low, the levels present during 1965-1966 offered a means to test models designed to predict human exposures from environmental data. The lack of comprehensive data on dietary intake prevented the direct use of the model to predict the levels found in blood. However, it was possible, using the model, to estimate the ratio between the sexes of Fe55 concentration in blood. The ratio predicted was consistent with experimental results.

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