Measurements of a radioactivity in Jamaican building materials and gamma dose equivalents in a prototype red mud house

Concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K measured in bauxite waste, local building materials, and soils are presented and used in model equations to estimate the effective gamma dose-equivalent increments over background in the center of a standard-sized room in a prototype house. Calculated and measured values compare reasonably well. (AU)

Cancer of the cervix in Trinidad and Tobago 1983-1987

This project presents data on the type of treatment available at the National Radiotherapy Centre, St. James as well as a statistical analysis on the patients' data of cancer of the cervix cases in Trinidad and Tobago over the five year period 1983 - 1987. Two types of radiation treatment are available at the centre, (i) external, which uses cobalt - 60 as its source; (ii) internal, in which radium ovoids are used. For best results a combination of external and internal therapy is given. Usually radiation is given daily, a total dose of between 4500 - 4999R is usually received by the patient, from the cobalt-60 source over a 4 - 5 week period; while a dose of 4000 - 4999R is delivered by the internal radium source over a 2 - 6 day period. Data for the statistical analysis were obtained from the Radiotherapy Centre and compiled using a statistical survey program. Most of the cancer of the cervix cases occur between the ages of 41 - 70 years and there was a decrease in the amount of cases registered over the five year period 1983 - 1987. The survival rate was over 90 percent. Regular Pap smears of women in the cancer age group is an important method for reducing the incidence of invasive carcinoma of the cervix. With detection and treatment at an early stage the chances of survival are greatly enhanced. (AU)