Radioactive cesium and potassium in cattle living in the 'zone in preparation for the lifting of the evacuation order' of the Fukushima nuclear accident.

To contribute to the reconstruction of livestock industry in Fukushima, radioactive cesium (134 Cs, 137 Cs) and potassium (4 °K) were measured in various tissues of beef cattle living in an area where the evacuation order will be lifted in the near future. Radioactive cesium concentration was less than 100 Bq/kg in most of the samples. Skeletal muscles and kidney had the highest concentrations of radioactive cesium, whereas the liver was lowest among samples, excepting blood. Radioactive cesium concentration in the sirloin, tenderloin and top round was significantly higher than that in the neck muscle. Radioactive cesium concentration in the urine was not correlated with that in the blood, but the relationship became proportional when corrected with urinary 4 °K. Distribution of 4 °K was similar but not identical to that of radioactive cesium. These results suggest that it will be possible to resume livestock production in this area after the decontamination measures are completed and the evacuation order is lifted. Contamination level of living cattle can be estimated not only by blood samples but also by urine samples. If 50-100 Bq/kg of cesium is detected in the neck muscle at a slaughterhouse, the cattle should be reinspected using a sample from different muscles.

Software development for estimating the concentration of radioactive cesium in the skeletal muscles of cattle from blood samples.

The 2011 earthquake severely damaged the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FNPP), resulting in the release of large quantities of radioactive material into the environment. The deposition of these radionuclides in rice straw as livestock feed led to the circulation of contaminated beef in the market. Based on the safety concern of the consumers, a reliable method for estimating concentrations of radioactive cesium in muscle tissue is needed. In this study, we analyzed the concentrations of radioactive cesium in the blood and skeletal muscle of 88 cattle, and detected a linear correlation between them. We then developed software that can be used to estimate radioactive cesium concentrations in muscle tissue from blood samples. Distribution of this software to the livestock production field would allow us to easily identify high-risk cattle, which would be beyond the safety regulation, before shipping out to the market. This software is planned to be released as freeware. This software would contribute to food safety, and aid the recovery of the livestock industry from the damage creacted by the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami.

Natural Uranium Tissue Content of Three Caucasian Males.

Uranium content and concentrations were measured in the tissues of three Caucasian male whole body donors to the U.S. Transuranium and Uranium Registries with no known intake other than from natural environmental sources. Average total body uranium content in the three cases was 81.3 ± 22.3 µg, of which 37.2 ± 2.1 µg (46%) was in the skeleton. The skeleton had a mean concentration of 3.79 ± 0.45 µg U kg(-1) wet weight and 11.72 ± 1.49 µg U kg(-1) ash. Distribution was in bone volume and not predominately on bone surfaces. Soft tissue concentrations ranged over about an order of magnitude, averaging about 0.5 µg kg wet weight for all tissues except the thoracic lymph nodes, which averaged 32.3 times the mean for soft tissue of the three cases. Observed thyroid tissue concentrations were about an order of magnitude greater than the average soft tissue concentration in two of the three background cases, suggestive of a possible long-term depot in this organ. Kidney content of uranium averaged 0.38 ± 0.21 µg for the three cases, an order of magnitude lower than the 7 µg recommended for Reference Man. The lower content and concentration in the kidney do not support a significant long-term depot for uranium in that organ. Assuming equilibrium between intake and excretion, the tissue data suggest a transfer coefficient from blood to skeleton of 0.14 with a residence half-life in the skeleton of 4,950 d (13.56 y), significantly greater than the 1,500 d (4.1 y) half-time proposed by ICRP.

Polonium-210 and Caesium-137 in lynx (Lynx lynx), wolverine (Gulo gulo) and wolves (Canis lupus).

Wolves, lynx and wolverines are on the top of the food-chain in northern Scandinavia and Finland. (210)Po and (137)Cs have been analysed in samples of liver, kidney and muscle from 28 wolves from Sweden. In addition blood samples were taken from 27 wolves. In 9 of the wolves, samples of muscle, liver and blood were analysed for (210)Po. Samples of liver and muscle were collected from 16 lynx and 16 wolverines from Norway. The liver samples were analysed for (210)Po and (137)Cs. Only (137)Cs analyses were carried out for the muscle samples. The wolves were collected during the winter 2010 and 2011, while the samples for lynx and wolverines were all from 2011. The activity concentrations of (210)Po in wolves were higher for liver (range 20-523 Bq kg(-1) d.w.) and kidney (range 24-942 Bq kg(-1) d.w.) than muscle (range 1-43 Bq kg(-1) d.w.) and blood (range 2-54 Bq kg(-1) d.w.). Activity ratios, (210)Po/(210)Pb, in wolf samples of muscle, liver and blood were in the ranges 2-77, 9-56 and 2-54. Using a wet weight ratio of 3.8 the maximal absorbed dose from (210)Po to wolf liver was estimated to 3500 µGy per year. Compared to wolf, the ranges of (210)Po in liver samples were lower in lynx (range 22-211 Bq kg(-1) d.w.) and wolverine (range16-160 Bq kg(-1) d.w.). Concentration of (137)Cs in wolf samples of muscle, liver, kidney and blood were in the ranges 70-8410 Bq kg(-1) d.w., 36-4050 Bq kg(-1) d.w., 31-3453 Bq kg(-1) d.w. and 4-959 Bq kg(-1) d.w., respectively. (137)Cs in lynx muscle and liver samples were in the ranges 44-13393 Bq kg(-1) d.w. and 125-10260 Bq kg(-1) d.w. The corresponding values for (137)Cs in wolverine were 22-3405 Bq kg(-1) d.w. for liver and 53-4780 Bq kg(-1) d.w. for muscle. The maximal absorbed dose from (137)Cs to lynx was estimated to 3000 µGy per year.

Peculiarities of internal radiation doses due to ¹³7Cs and 9°Sr intake in population from Zhytomyr oblast in a late period after the Chornobyl NPP accident.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To reveal the peculiarities of internal radiation doses in the inhabitants of Zhytomyr oblast and to provide a scientific ground for arrangements on internal irradiation dose reducing in population from contaminated regions in long-term period after the ChNPP accident. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Comprehensive radiation monitoring was carried out in 4 settlements in Narodychi region of Zhytomyr oblast. The radiochemical, dosimetric methods (instrumental and numerical) were used in the study. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Significant (2-3.5 times) seasonal increase of incorporated ¹³7Cs level was revealed through a WBC-monitoring in residents (both for adults and children) of the supervised settlements of Narodytsky region, Zhytomyr oblast. The exceeding of 1.0 mSv x year⁻¹ dose was revealed in up to 5 % of inspected persons. The maximal registered in those settlements ¹³7Cs content of 350 kBq is the source of 10 mSv x year⁻¹ annual dose. ¹³7Cs content in milk samples from those settlements didn't change much during a year. Elevation of ¹³7Cs content exceeding the permissible level of 100 Bq x litre⁻¹ was found in ~30-50 % of milk samples from Narodychi and Selets villages, whereas in Motiyky and Khrystynivka villages the ¹³7Cs content didn't exceed permissible levels. 90Sr content both in potatoes and milk samples was much under the permissible level of 20 Bq x litre⁻¹. ¹³7Cs content in potato samples was under the permissible levels. It was found out that main part of internal irradiation doses in the settlements of concern is due to consumption of locally produced victuals i.e. milk and natural/forest-originated products like berries and mushrooms.

[The ultrastructure of peripheral blood lymphocytes in children after long-time exposure to radioactive cesium].

The ultrastructure of peripheral blood lymphocytes of children which living in conditions of chronic intake of 137Cs through the food chain studied by method of transmission electron microscopy. The essential changes in the submicroscopic organization of intracellular organelles, especially mitochondria, in the basic group compared to control. The most pronounced changes were observed in the subgroup of children with the level of incorporated 137Cs exceeding 6845 Bq.

Low internal radiation alters innate immune status in children with clinical symptom of irritable bowel syndrome.

Adverse health effect of low radiation is clear. The aim of this study was to determine effect of internal low radiation on innate immune status in Ukrainian children with spastic colitis as a result of Chernobyl disaster. The test population consisted of 95 participants: 75 rural participants with clinical symptom of irritable bowel syndrome, aged 4 to 18, who lived in a contaminated area exposed to radio nucleotide due to the disaster in reactor in Chernobyl nuclear power plant (categorized in three groups) and 20 healthy urban participants from Kiev, aged 5 to 15, as the control group. Internal radiation activity has been measured by gamma-ray spectrometry. Peripheral blood leukocytes were analyzed for CD16(+) subset, serum concentration of circulation immune complex was measured by the polyethylene glycol method. Phagocytic activity function was assessed by using latex article and phagocytic index were calculated. p < 0.05 was considered significant. Percent of CD16(+) cell in groups II and III increased significantly in comparison to control group (p < 0.05). Concentration of circulating immune complexes increased significantly in all study groups compared to control group (p < 0.001). Phagocytes activity and phagocyte index decreased significantly in all study groups in comparison to control group (p < 0.001). The innate immune status of study groups has changed. Our data have demonstrated that this change may be related to radioactivity from technogenic pollution due to the disaster in reactor in Chernobyl nuclear power plant.

Effect of acetaminophen administration to rats chronically exposed to depleted uranium.

The extensive use of depleted uranium (DU) in both civilian and military applications results in the increase of the number of human beings exposed to this compound. We previously found that DU chronic exposure induces the expression of CYP enzymes involved in the metabolism of xenobiotics (drugs). In order to evaluate the consequences of these changes on the metabolism of a drug, rats chronically exposed to DU (40mg/l) were treated by acetaminophen (APAP, 400mg/kg) at the end of the 9-month contamination. Acetaminophen is considered as a safe drug within the therapeutic range but in the case of overdose or in sensitive animals, hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity could occur. In the present work, plasma concentration of APAP was higher in the DU group compared to the non-contaminated group. In addition, administration of APAP to the DU-exposed rats increased plasma ALT (p<0.01) and AST (p<0.05) more rapidly than in the control group. Nevertheless, no histological alteration of the liver was observed but renal injury characterized by incomplete proximal tubular cell necrosis was higher for the DU-exposed rats. Moreover, in the kidney, CYP2E1 gene expression, an important CYP responsible for APAP bioactivation and toxicity, is increased (p<0.01) in the DU-exposed group compared to the control group. In the liver, CYP's activities were decreased between control and DU-exposed rats. These results could explain the worse elimination of APAP in the plasma and confirm our hypothesis of a modification of the drug metabolism following a DU chronic contamination.

Examination of the health status of populations from depleted-uranium-contaminated regions.

During the NATO air strikes on the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro) in 1999, depleted-uranium ammunition was used on 112 locations, mainly Kosovo, in the south of Serbia, and one location in Montenegro. Blood samples of residents from depleted-uranium-contaminated areas were gathered and blood cell and chromosomal aberrations were analyzed. During the last 3 years blood samples from 21 residents of Kosovo (Strpce), from 29 residents from the south of Serbia (the Vranje and Bujanovac regions), and from 19 technical television workers from the site of Pljackovica, in the vicinity of Vranje, were collected. Blood samples from 33 residents of central Serbia and 46 occupational workers exposed to X-rays were used as controls. All subjects studied were without any clinical symptoms of disease. The examinations included general clinical assessment; urine samples for alpha-and gamma-spectrometry analysis; complete blood counts; ratio-percentages of blood cells in stained (Giemsa) capillary smears, individual leukocyte line elements; morphological changes observed under a microscope; the presence of immature forms or blasts; and leukocyte enzyme activity [alkaline phosphatase leukocyte (APL)]. Chromosomal aberrations were evaluated in 200 peripheral blood lymphocytes in mitosis. An increased incidence of rogue cells and chromosomal aberrations was found in the blood of the residents of Vranje and Bujanovac, but this was below the incidence of chromosomal aberrations in individuals occupationally exposed to ionizing irradiation. Blast cells were not found. Blood counts were decreased in only a few samples, while morphological changes of both nuclei and cytoplasm were marked in individuals in south and central Serbia. Enzymatic activity (as measured by the APL score) was decreased in samples with chromosomal aberrations and cyto-morphological changes in subjects from the south of Serbia. The contamination level measured by this examination was low. Because of the presence of depleted uranium (uranium-238) in the soil and in plants, the prevention of consequences necessitates the identification of the initial biological effects on sensitive tissues. Early identification of serious blood cell changes is important for appropriate medical treatment.

Evaluation of the contribution of smoking to total blood polonium-210 in Saudi population.

A preliminary study of 210Po concentrations in the blood of some smokers and nonsmokers is presented in order to evaluate the contribution of smoking to total blood 210Po in Saudi population. Blood samples were collected from 30 volunteers and analyzed by high resolution alpha-spectrometry using a radiochemical technique. The technique is based on the separation of polonium from other components of the sample by wet ashing with an HNO3/H2O2 oxidizing mixture and spontaneous deposition on a silver disc under the relevant conditions for alpha-particle counting. The results indicated that a significant fraction (about 30%) of blood 210Po is related to smoking.