Richard B. Holtzman

Lead-210 and polonium-210 in tissues of cigarette smokers.

Concentrations of lead-210 and polonium-210 in rib bones taken from 13 cigarette smokers were about twice those in six nonsmokers, the polonium-210 being close to radioactive equilibrium with the lead-210. In alveolar lung tissue the concentration of lead-210 in smokers was about twice that in nonsmokers. These differences are attributed to additional intake by inhalation of lead-210.

Lead and Lead-210 in Rainwater

THERE is a continuing interest in the possible toxicity to man and animals from the present and future concentrations of lead in the environment. The importance of environmental lead was emphasized by Monier-Williams in 1938 (ref. 1), and has since resulted in numerous studies2–4.

The lead uptake by perennial ryegrass and radishes from air, water and soil

Abstract Grass and radishes were grown in a specially constructed growth chamber with either normal or filtered air, while either distilled or lead-containing water was applied either to the leaves or to the soil surface. The experimental design was randomized complete block with factorial arrangement of treatments while the results were analyzed by the associated analysis of variance technique. The lead content of grass grown in filtered air was 2.5 μg/g while that grown in unfiltered air was 5.2 μg/g. These values are different at the 1% level of significance. The uptake of lead from the water applied either to the foliar parts or to the soil surface was not significant at the 5% level. The lead concentration of either radish leaves or edible parts did not differ greatly for any treatment at the 5% level, and was the same as for grass grown in filtered air. These measurements indicate that half of the lead content of grass and nearly all of that in radishes was obtained from the soil with little adsorption from simulated rainfall.

Radium-226, Radium-228, Lead-210, and Fluorine in Persons With Osteogenic Sarcoma

Concentrations of the naturally occurring alpha-emitting radioelements, radium-226, radium-228, and lead-210, and of stable lead and fluorine were determined in bone specimens from 32 individuals having a verified osteogenic sarcoma. Comparison of these results with those for the average person showed no significant differences in either the absorbed dose (rad) from the accumulated radioisotopes or in the concentrations of the elements studied.

226Ra AND THE NATURAL AIRBORNE NUCLIDES 210Pb AND 210Po IN ARCTIC BIOTA

Abstract In order to better determine the characteristics and effects on humans of arctic biota with high concentrations of 210Pb and 210Po, these nuclides, along with their long-lived predecessor, 226Ra, were measured in lichens, in bone and muscle of caribou and other arctic animals, and in Eskimo placenta. 226Ra with concentrations 1/3 to 1/50 those of the other nuclides, cannot be the direct source of the other nuclides. In caribou bone the 210Po was in radioactive equilibrium with the 210Pb and averaged about 11.7 pCi/g ash, twice the 210Pb in reindeer bone. The 210Pb content of muscle of both species was 10 pCi/kg (wet). By contrast, the 210Po content was much greater, about 200 pCi/kg. A definite seasonal decrease was noted in the 210Pb in muscle during the second half of the year. Similar variations were indicated for 210Po in muscle and for 210Pb in bone. The high levels in caribou are attributed to the high fallout levels of these nuclides in lichens, their winter forage, which contain (in dry weight) 6 pCi 210Pb/g and 12 pCi 210Po/g. The other animals exhibited appreciably lower concentrations in bone and muscle. Wolf, which consumes large quantities of caribou, exhibited activities in bone of 1 pCi/g ash, about that observed in some Eskimo bone by Hill. The 210Po content of wolf muscle was about the same as that of caribou, 200 pCi/kg, but the 210Pb was only about 1 pCi/kg. Similar, but less dramatic, differences were observed in Eskimo placenta. Estimates of uptake show that Eskimos could acquire sufficient of the long-lived 210Pb to double the total skeletal radiation dose (rad) over that of Midwesterners. However, despite the high concentrations of the 210Po in meat, direct intake accounts for only a relatively small increase in total dose.