Baseline Levels of Total-Body Radioactivity Determined by Whole-Body Monitoring

• Published in: Radiation protection dosimetry 1991-06, Vol.36 (2-4), p.93-96
• Main Authors: Hayball, M.P., Dendy, P.P.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0144-8420; 1742-3406
• DOI: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.rpd.a080975

A survey is being carried out in Cambridge with the aim of measuring the total-body burden of a number of gamma emitting radionuclides. Cambridgeshire was chosen for the survey for its low natural and artificial background radioactivity in order to provide a baseline for other, similar surveys around the country. 137Cs, 134Cs and 40K, radon daughters, thorium daughters and certain nuclides used in nuclear medicine and radiobiology have been observed. The site has a very low radon level and hence we are in a position to measure the body burden of radon daughters in or on volunteers. Over 1050 volunteers have already been measured and with large numbers from the same population; accuracy can be achieved by combining the results from a large sample, giving much improved statistics. The statistical validity of deductions based on this large population sample will be discussed together with the relevance of the work to attempts to establish baseline data on the body levels of radioactivity from the population.