Abstract
THE presence in humans of caesium-137, a radioactive product of nuclear fission, was demonstrated in 19551 and ubiquitous distribution has since been described in population samples in Great Britain2–4, Europe5–9, Japan10 and North America11–21. The long physical half-life of 137Cs (30 years), coupled with its ease of absorption into the human body, has stimulated numerous studies of its metabolic behaviour and continuing evaluations of its hazard to human health. This report presents the results of 1,052 measurements of 137Cs levels in 454 persons during the decade 1960–69.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Miller, C. E., and Marinelli, L. D., Science, 124, 122 (1956).
Rundo, J., and Newton, D., Nature, 203, 537 (1964).
Burch, P. R. J., Bird, P. M., and Spiers, F. W., Brit. J. Radiol., Suppl. 7, 128 (1957).
Godfrey, B. E., and Vennart, J., Nature, 218, 741 (1968).
Liden, K., and Naversten, Y., in Assessment of Radioactivity in Man, 2, 167 (International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, 1964).
Miettinen, J. K., in Assessment of Radioactivity in Man, 2, 193 (International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, 1964).
Huycke, E. J., and Oberhausen, E., in Assessment of Radioactivity in Man, 2, 135 (International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, 1964).
Gabuniya, R., Medskaya. Radiol., 13, 77 (1968); Nucl. Sci. Abstr., 22, 3902 (1968).
Kanareikin, V. A., and Sivintsev, Y. V., Atomn. Energ., 24, 583 (1968); Nucl. Sci. Abstr., 22, 5251 (1968).
Fujita, M., Yabe, A., Akaishi, J., and Ohtani, S., Health Phys., 12, 1649 (1966).
Anderson, E. C., Schuch, R. L., Fisher, W. R., and Langham, W. H., Science, 125, 1273 (1957).
MacDonald, N. S., Hepler, M., James, E., Hamel, R., Darnell, T., and Steen, A. J., Nature, 206, 1127 (1965).
Cohn, S. H., Gusmano, E. A., and Love, R. A., Nature, 205, 537 (1965).
Palmer, H. E., Hanson, W. C., Griffin, B. I., and Braby, L. A., Science, 147, 620 (1965).
Richmond, C. R., and Furchner, J. E., Radiat. Res., 32, 538 (1967).
McNeill, K. G., and Harrison, J. E., Nature, 216, 1340 (1967).
Hanson, W. C., Archs. Envir. Health, 17, 639 (1968).
Gustafson, P. F., and Miller, J. E., Health Physics, 16, 167 (1969).
Roessler, G. S., Dunavant, B. G., and Roessler, C. E., Health Physics, 16, 673 (1969).
Karches, G. J., Wheeler, J. K.,, Helgeson, G. L., and Kahn, B., Health Physics, 16, 301 (1969).
Boni, A. L., Nature, 222, 1188 (1969).
Maletskos, C. J., Dean, P. N., Lough, S. A., and Miller, C. E., Health Physics, 13, 1307 (1967).
Radiol. Health News (State of California Bureau of Radiological Health, Berkeley.)
Ellett, W. H., Callahan, A. B., and Brownell, G. L., Brit. J. Radiol., 37, 45 (1964).
Medical Internal Radiation Dose Committee, pamphlets 1–6, in Suppl. 1–4, J. Nucl. Med. (1968–70).
Report of the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation, Suppl. No. 14 (A/6314) 69 (United Nations, New York, 1966).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
MACDONALD, N., BAN, I., FLESHER, A. et al. 137Cs Levels in Human Adult Population in California, 1960–69. Nature 228, 283–284 (1970). https://doi.org/10.1038/228283a0
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/228283a0
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.
