Model results of kidney burdens from uranium intakes

Uranium is a naturally occurring element, which is both radiologically and chemically toxic. When dealing with intakes of uranium, whether natural or depleted, chemical toxicity to the kidney usually predominates over radiological toxicity. This is especially true for uranium compounds in soluble (inhalation Type F) and moderately soluble (inhalation Type M) forms. To assess chemical toxicity, information on kidney burden per unit intake is required. This study summarizes the kidney burdens per unit intake for common exposures from uranium ingestion and inhalation. ICRP models developed for radiation dosimetry purposes can equally well be used to estimate kidney burdens from uranium intakes. While dosimetric quantities and data are tabulated in ICRP publications, data on uranium burdens in kidney are not explicitly given in these tabulations. In this work, the most recent ICRP models were utilized to generate a compilation of kidney burdens from common intakes. Calculations were made for four age groups from infant to adult. For all age groups, long-term chronic uranium ingestion will result in a kidney burden of 6.6% of daily uranium intake. Comparisons of kidney burdens due to acute ingestion and acute inhalation show that inhaled uranium compounds of Type F and Type M will generally result in higher burdens to kidney compared to the same amount of uranium compounds ingested.

Foliar uptake of 134Cs and 85Sr in strawberry as function by leaf age

In this paper a study of the foliar uptake and translocation of 134Cs and 85Sr in a herbaceous fruit plant is presented. In particular, absorption, translocation and loss of these radionuclides in strawberry plants have been studied in relation to the age of contaminated leaves. Strawberry plants were contaminated by distributing droplets of an aqueous solution containing 134CsCl and 85SrCl2 on the surface of two leaves per plant. One half of the plants was contaminated through two young leaves, a second half through two old leaves. Sets of plants were collected 1 day, 7 days and 15 days after contamination. One half of them was rinsed with double distilled water before gamma analysis. Rinsing contaminated leaves removes on average 55% of the applied 134Cs and 45% of 85Sr. The activity removed decreases during the 15 days of the experimental study, both for 134Cs and for 85Sr, suggesting an increase in foliar absorption during this period. The activity removed does not differ between old and young leaves. "External loss" is lower for young than old contaminated leaves. "Internal loss" through translocation occurs mainly for 134Cs. Translocation coefficients from contaminated leaves to fruits are two orders of magnitude higher for 134Cs (4.0%), than for 85Sr (0.05%). Leaf to fruit translocation coefficients for 134Cs are higher from young leaves (5.8%), than from old leaves (2.3%).

Modelling of long-term behaviour of caesium and strontium radionuclides in the Arctic environment and human exposure

In this paper a compartment model of the highly vulnerable Arctic terrestrial food chain "lichen-reindeer-man" is outlined. Based upon an analysis of measured (137)Cs and (90)Sr contents in lichen and reindeer meat from 1961 up to 2001, site specific model parameters for two regions in north-western Arctic Russia and for Kautokeino municipality in Arctic Norway have been determined. The dynamics of radionuclide activity concentrations in the "lichen-reindeer-man" food chain for all areas was satisfactorily described by a double exponential function with short-term and long-term effective ecological half-lives between 1-2 and 10-12 years, respectively, for both (137)Cs and (90)Sr. Using parameter values derived from the model, life-time internal effective doses due to consumption of reindeer meat by reindeer-breeders after an assumed single pulse deposit of 1 kBq m(-2) of (137)Cs were estimated to be 11.4 mSv (Kola Peninsula), 5 mSv (Nenets Autonomous Area), and 2 mSv (Kautokeino, Norway). Differences in vulnerability to radiocaesium deposition were due to differences in transfer between lichen and reindeer and in diet between the three regions.

Application of potassium chloride to a Chernobyl-contaminated lake: modelling the dynamics of radiocaesium in an aquatic ecosystem and decontamination of fish

This study tests a whole-lake experiment to reduce the bioaccumulation of radiocaesium (137Cs) in fish in lakes contaminated by the Chernobyl accident. In many lakes in the Chernobyl contaminated areas, radiocaesium activity concentrations in fish are still significantly higher (up to 100 times in some species) than acceptable limits for human consumption. Estimates of the long-term rate of decline of 137Cs in fish in these regions, in the absence of countermeasures, show that radioactivity in fish in some lakes may remain above acceptable consumption limits for a further 50-100 years from the present date. In February 1998 we applied 15 t of potassium chloride to Lake Svyatoe, Kostiukovichy. The addition of potassium chloride fertilizer to the lake resulted in a decrease in activity concentration of 137Cs to approximately 40% of pre-countermeasure values in a number of different fish species. In contrast to Lake Svyatoe, 137Cs activity concentrations in fish from four control lakes showed no systematic decrease over the study period. Simplified models for transfers of 137Cs in lakes successfully 'blind' predicted the changes in 137Cs in water and fish resulting from this major alteration of the potassium concentration of the lake. The experiment represents the first test of a predictive model for the dynamics of radiocaesium in response to a major perturbation in potassium (its major competitor ion) in a whole lake ecosystem.

Gamma-emitting natural and anthropogenic radionuclides in the terrestrial environment of Kongsfjord, Svalbard

This paper presents results obtained from a radiometric survey, conducted by the Norwegian Radiation Protection Authority, into the levels of gamma-emitting radionuclides, both anthropogenic and natural, in the terrestrial environment of Kongsfjorden, which lies on the North-Western Coast of Spitsbergen in the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard (79 degrees N, 12 degrees E). Samples of terrestrial matrices were taken during field campaigns conducted between 2000 and 2002 and analysed for a range of gamma-emitting radionuclides. The objectives of this study included an assessment of the levels of gamma-emitting radionuclides in the terrestrial environment of the region, identification of processes and activities that influence the accumulation and redistribution of such nuclides within the region and elucidation of the behaviour of such radionuclides within a high arctic environment. Results indicate a quite homogenous spatial distribution of such radionuclides within the study area and highlight the relatively low levels of contamination by the anthropogenic radionuclide, 137Cs, on Svalbard. Average values and ranges of the radionuclides activities in surface soils (0-3 cm) were: 238U 42 Bq/kg (17-134), 226Ra 43 Bq/kg (12-137), 232Th 21 Bq/kg (4-52), 40K 283 Bq/kg (31-564), 137Cs 35 Bq/kg (1-146). Average levels of these nuclides in avian faecal materials were 238U 63 Bq/kg, 226Ra 54 Bq/kg, 232Th 19 Bq/kg, 40K 365 Bq/kg, 137Cs 78 Bq/kg. Enrichment of radionuclides is apparent in soils taken from locations close to bird colonies in the locale, maximum levels of the radionuclides being found in samples associated with such colonies. The results indicate that this is due to concentration of such radionuclides within the faecal material of the birds and subsequent enrichment of the nearby soils either via direct incorporation of the faeces into the soil or by leaching processes. The results indicate that this process may result in contamination of non-related species, such as Svalbard reindeer (Rangifer tarandus playrhynchus), via pathways other than the traditionally accepted route of atmospheric deposition-vegetation-reindeer.

Iodine-129 in thyroid and urine in Ukraine and Denmark

Human thyroids collected from Gomel in Belarus, sheep thyroid from Jutland and human urine from Zealand in Denmark were analysed for 129I and 127I concentrations. The ratios of 129I/127I in human thyroid in Gomel are 2.65-11.0 x 10(-9) with an average of 7.21 x 10(-9), which is one order of magnitude higher than those from Asia and South America (10(-10)), but significantly lower than those observed in west Europe (10(-8)). A weak negative correlation (P < 0.05) between 129I/127I ratio in human thyroid and the age of the subjects was observed in Gomel. The average ratio of 129I/127I in sheep thyroids from Jutland of Denmark is 1.81 x 10(-7), which is two orders of magnitude higher than those in south hemisphere, and Asia. It is also significantly higher than those observed in other west European countries before 1984 and that in human thyroid in Gomel. The high thyroid 129I level in Jutland is attributed to the release of reprocessing plants in France and UK. The 129I/127I ratios in human urine in Zealand of Denmark are 0.86-2.86 x 10(-8). The possibility of using urine 129I to evaluate the thyroid exposure to 129I is investigated.

Practical experience of the application of ICRP models in internal dose assessment

The introduction of the Ionising Radiations Regulations 1999 in the UK, which came into force on 1 January 2000, led to significant changes in internal dose assessment. Before this date, assessments were based on the methodology from ICRP Publication 26 and, in general, made use of simple models such as those detailed in ICRP Publication 30. However, the introduction of the new Regulations required the use of ICRP Publication 60 methodology, and, at the same time, the latest ICRP biokinetic models were introduced. Many of these newer models were considerably more complex than the ones they replaced. In particular, the use of 'recycling', where activity is constantly recirculated between different organs, meant that the models could not simply be implemented by use of the Skrable formula, as detailed in ICRP Publication 30. This paper outlines two aspects of the application of these latest ICRP models. First, the problems encountered during implementation of these models are detailed, and secondly, it covers the practical experience of using the resulting computer programs for internal dose assessment.

Immobilization of iodide on copper(I) sulfide minerals

In the goal of finding efficient scavengers for radioiodide in conditions (pH, pE) close to those encountered in deep geological sites, sorption of iodide ions on cuprous sulfide minerals (especially roxbyite, Cu(1.75)S) has been studied. Surface analysis by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy has shown that commercial cuprous sulfides are covered by an oxidized overlayer (mainly in the form of CuSO(4)). Therefore, a synthetic procedure to get roxbyite (typically by mixing Na(2)S with an aqueous suspension of commercial Cu(2)O) was applied to produce pure samples with clean surfaces. Batch equilibration of cuprous sulfide particles suspended in aqueous solutions containing iodide species has revealed significant consumption of iodide. The sorption mechanism involves the formation of a surface complex via the exchange of surface hydroxyl groups by iodide anions, as highlighted by a transient pH increase during the immobilization process. Other copper and mixed copper-iron sulfides (e.g. CuS, CuFeS(2)), which are stable over wide pH and potential ranges are also likely to accumulate iodide species. Because of the specific interaction between iodide and copper(I) centers on the minerals, high distribution coefficients (>1000 ml/g) were observed.

226Ra, 40K and 7Be activity concentrations in plants in the environment of Kaiga, India

Leaves, stem and bark samples from several plant species were collected from tropical forest of Kaiga, in the west coast of India where two nuclear power reactors of 220 MW each have just been commissioned and another two are under construction, and analysed for their (226)Ra, (40)K and (7)Be concentrations. The activities of (226)Ra and (40)K in plants were found to vary in the range BDL-13.2 and 12.0-797.3 Bq kg(-1), respectively. Plants show significant (7)Be activity in leaves, the activity varies in 72.5-1,060.8 Bq kg(-1). Stem and bark of plants show higher levels of (226)Ra and (40)K when compared to leaves. Soil-to-plant transfer factor for (226)Ra and (40)K were found to vary in the range BDL-0.37 and 0.09-5.61, respectively for different plants. The concentration of (226)Ra and (40)K in leaves depends on the age of the leaves.

Current status of internal dosimetry in Lithuania

After Lithuania regained independence, the legal basis for existing radiation protection was modified radically according to the IAEA, ICRP recommendations and the requirements of legislation of the European Community. The legal basis for internal dosimetry and a functioning system of assessment of exposure to intake of radionuclides have been created in the Radiation Protection Centre (regulatory authority in radiation protection). Direct and indirect measurements of concentrations of radionuclides are used for the assessment of internal doses of workers and the public.

Doses and risks from the ingestion of Dounreay fuel fragments

The radiological implications of ingestion of nuclear fuel fragments present in the marine environment around Dounreay have been reassessed by using the Monte Carlo code MCNP to obtain improved estimates of the doses to target cells in the walls of the lower large intestine resulting from the passage of a fragment. The approach takes account of the reduction in dose due to attenuation within the intestinal wall and self-absorption of radiation in the fuel fragment itself. In addition, dose is calculated on the basis of a realistic estimate of the anatomical volume of the lumen, rather than being based on the average mass of the contents, as in the current ICRP model. Our best estimates of doses from the ingestion of the largest Dounreay particles are at least a factor of 30 lower than those predicted using the current ICRP model. The new ICRP model will address the issues raised here and provide improved estimates of dose.

A new model for the human alimentary tract: the work of a Committee 2 task group

The absorbed doses received from ingested radionuclides are currently calculated using the method outlined in ICRP Publication 30. It has been recognised by the ICRP that some of the assumptions used to calculate absorbed doses should be reviewed. A new physiologically based model has been developed, applicable to intakes of radionuclides in food and liquids by children and adults. All parts of the alimentary tract are included, additional sites for absorption and retention are considered and the morphometric and transit parameter values are reviewed in coordination with the ICRP Reference Man revision. Features of the new model are explained and preliminary dose estimates are presented.

Testing of a foodchain model using Chernobyl 137Cs fallout data and considering the effect of countermeasures

Chernobyl 137Cs fallout data obtained during the period 1986-1996 from the most contaminated area in Russia were used within the IAEA BIOMASS programme to test the reliability of radiological assessment models. This model-testing scenario included information and data on countermeasures that were applied in the test area after the accident. This paper presents the predictions of the terrestrial foodchain model SPADE that was used in this model-testing exercise. SPADE predictions compared reasonably well with test data except for pigs and wild berries where differences were up to a factor of 50 and 200, respectively. Estimated intake of 137Cs and ingestion dose by adult men and women living in the test area compared favourably with the test data. Overall, SPADE proved to be capable of simulating agricultural countermeasures and their effectiveness. Modelling of countermeasures was found to be a complex process with large uncertainties regarding their 'real' implementation and effectiveness. The lessons learned from this exercise will be valuable in making future dose assessments/reconstructions involving countermeasures with improved results.

Minimum detectable dose as a measure of bioassay programme capability

This paper suggests that minimum detectable dose (MDD) be used to describe the capability of bioassay programmes for which intakes are expected to be rare. This allows expression of the capability in units that correspond directly to primary dose limits. The concept uses the well established analytical statistic minimum detectable amount (MDA) as the starting point, and assumes MDA detection at a prescribed time post-intake. The resulting dose can then be used as an indication of the adequacy or capability of the programme for demonstrating compliance with the performance criteria. MDDs can be readily tabulated or plotted to demonstrate the effectiveness of different types of monitoring programmes. The inclusion of cost factors for bioassay measurements can allow optimisation.

Tree-ring strontium-90 and cesium-137 as potential indicators of radioactive pollution

To examine whether tree rings can be used to detect or assess local historical 90Sr or 137Cs fallout, such as that resulting from the Hiroshima atomic bomb, radial distribution of 90Sr and 137Cs in trees was examined. We studied a gymnosperm [Japanese cedar, Cryptomeria japonica (L. f.) D. Don] and an angiosperm (Japanese persimmon, Diospyros kaki Thunb.) tree species from the vicinity of the atomic bomb hypocenter, and from other locations in Japan. A significant amount of 137Cs was detected in tree rings formed before 1945, indicating lateral migration of Cs. In contrast, the specific activity of 90Sr in the Hiroshima Japanese cedar showed the highest level in 1945, due to relatively immobile characteristics of Sr compared with Cs. Strontium-90 and Sr analyses in tree rings helped identify and distinguish between residual 90Sr activity from the Hiroshima atomic bomb and the atmospheric nuclear testing. This indicates the possibility of detecting or assessing previous local 90Sr pollution through with treering analysis.

Transfer of 131I into human breast milk and transfer coefficients for radiological dose assessments

Data on transfer of radioiodine into human milk are rare in the literature. Data from sixteen publications were reviewed and analyzed to estimate the transfer coefficient (f(hm)*, having units of d L(-1)). The data on the radioiodine concentration in breast milk were analyzed by two methods: direct numerical integration and integration of a fitted exponential model. In general, the integrated fitted functions were greater. The fitted functions likely better describe the transfer into milk since few data sets sampled mothers' milk near the time of maximum excretion. The derived transfer coefficient values seem to represent two populations. The first group was those individuals who had very low excretions, including those where thyroid and mammary uptake was impaired by the administration of stable iodine or iodinated compounds. The second group included those with much higher excretions. The second group, termed the "normal-excretion" group, had transfers of iodine to milk that were more than ten-fold higher than in the "low-excretion" group. The derived milk transfer coefficient data for the low- and normal-excretion groups fitted to lognormal distributions gave geometric means, (geometric standard deviations), of 0.043 d L(-1) (2.1, n = 14) and 0.37 d L(-1) (1.5, n = 12), respectively. Estimates of the effective half-time (time from maximum concentration to half the value) were determined for the low- and normal-excretion groups separately. There was evidence that the effective half-time was longer for the normal- than for the low-excretion group; the geometric mean (and geometric standard deviation) were 12 (1.7) and 8.5 (2.6) h, respectively, though the difference was not statistically significant. The geometric mean times to maximum milk concentration in the low- and normal-excretion groups were nearly identical, 9.4 (3.1) and 9.0 (1.6) h, respectively. The data show that administration of large doses of stable iodine (commonly used to block uptake of iodine into the thyroid) is also an effective means to block radioiodine transfer into milk. Thus, protecting the mother's thyroid also protects the nursing infant. Despite inadequacies of available data describing the transfer of radioiodine to human milk within a healthy population of women, the values of f(hm)* provided here are believed to be the best available for use in radiological assessments. These values are particularly applicable to lactating women having normal diets and availability to stable iodine, as in the United States.

Formation and retention of organically bound deuterium in rice in deuterium water release experiment

As a substitute of tritium, deuterated water (D2O) vapor release experiments were performed in a greenhouse to estimate the different formation and subsequent retention of organically bound deuterium in rice plants between daytime and nighttime exposure. Potted rice plants were exposed to D2O vapor in the greenhouse for 8 h, under day or night conditions. Deuterium concentrations in free water and organic matter in rice leaves and ears were investigated until harvest time. The formation of organically bound deuterium in the daytime was higher than during the nighttime by the factors of 2.4 for the ear and 2.9 for the leaf. The decrease of the organically bound deuterium concentration in the ear after the nighttime exposure was faster than that after the daytime exposure. Data analysis was carried out using a compartment model in which different generating processes of organic matter were considered. The calculated organically bound deuterium retention in rice agreed with the measured value.

Assessment of current exposure levels in different population groups of the Kola Peninsula

Activity concentrations of 137Cs and 90Sr in samples of vegetation and natural food products collected in the Kola Peninsula in 1998 and 1999 indicate a very slow decrease in contamination levels during the last decade, mainly due to the physical decay of the radionuclides. The activity concentrations of 137Cs in reindeer meat decreased with a half-life of about 9 years. 137Cs in lichen, moss and fungi is significantly higher than in natural vegetation (grasses) and agricultural plants (potatoes). The activity concentrations of 137Cs in reindeer meat were two orders of magnitude higher than those in locally produced beef and pork. Consumption of reindeer meat, fish, mushrooms and berries constituted the main contribution to the internal dose from 137Cs and 90Sr for reindeer-breeders in the Lovozero area. The estimated committed doses due to 137Cs intake in this group were about 10 microSv per month in summer 1998 and 15 microSv per month in winter, 1999. There was good agreement between internal dose estimates based on intake assessment and whole body measurements. The population of Umba settlement, which is not involved in reindeer breeding, received individual committed doses due to 137Cs intake of about 0.5 microSv per month, about a factor of 20 less than the reindeer-breeders in Lovozero. In this case, the main contribution to the internal dose of the general population came from consumption the of 137Cs in mushrooms and forest berries. The contribution of 90Sr to the internal dose varied from 1% to 5% in the different population groups studied.

Frequency distributions of 137Cs in fish and mammal populations

We collected fish and mammals in several radioactively contaminated locations in the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone and analyzed them for 137Cs content. Frequency distributions were built for populations of channel catfish, yellow-necked mice and bank voles. We combined our data with similar data from several other studies to demonstrate the relationship between the standard deviations and means of 137Cs of fish and mammal populations. The frequency distributions of 137Cs in populations of fish and mammals are not normal, as indicated by the strong relationship between standard deviation and mean. Distributions for mammals are more skewed than those for fish. Fish and mammals probably use their environments in fundamentally different ways. The highest concentrations and thus greatest risks are therefore confined to relatively few individuals in each population.

Aquatic mosses as a monitoring tool for 137Cs contamination in streams and rivers-a field study from central southern Norway

Mosses are frequently used as biomonitors for trace element pollution in the aquatic environment. The purpose of this study was to assess their usefulness as a tool in monitoring and in regional surveys of radioactive contamination. Specimens of the aquatic mosses, Fontinalis antipyretica and F. dalecarlica, were transplanted from non-contaminated areas to streams and rivers in the Norwegian Jotunheimen Mountains and neighbouring lowland areas that had received radioactive fallout after the Chernobyl accident. Equilibrium concentrations of 137Cs in the exposed mosses were reached after a few weeks. Two series from 20 streams in 1994 and 1996 show linear correlations between activities in water and moss samples and biomagnification ratios of 10(4) - 10(5). We conclude that mosses are better suited for monitoring purposes than water samples, because they provide values integrated over weeks while the radioactivity in surface waters can be subject to rapid variations according to hydrological events. The activity concentrations in aquatic mosses can be easily measured with good precision even when aqueous concentrations are below the limit of detection. Use of aquatic mosses also reduces the logistic problems of transporting large volumes of water, especially in areas inaccessible by road.

Radioactive contamination in the Arctic--sources, dose assessment and potential risks

Arctic residents, whose diets comprise a large proportion of traditional terrestrial and freshwater foodstuffs, have received the highest radiation exposures to artificial radionuclides in the Arctic. Doses to members of both the average population and selected indigenous population groups in the Arctic depend on the rates of consumption of locally-derived terrestrial and freshwater foodstuffs, including reindeer/caribou meat, freshwater fish, goat cheese, berries, mushrooms and lamb. The vulnerability of arctic populations, especially indigenous peoples, to radiocaesium deposition is much greater than for temperate populations due to the importance of terrestrial, semi-natural exposure pathways where there is high radiocaesium transfer and a long ecological half-life for this radionuclide. In contrast, arctic residents with diets largely comprising marine foodstuffs have received comparatively low radiation exposures because of the lower levels of contamination of marine organisms. Using arctic-specific information, the predicted collective dose is five times higher than that estimated by UNSCEAR for temperate areas. The greatest threats to human health and the environment posed by human and industrial activities in the Arctic are associated with the potential for accidents in the civilian and military nuclear sectors. Of most concern are the consequences of potential accidents in nuclear power plant reactors, during the handling and storage of nuclear weapons, in the decommissioning of nuclear submarines and in the disposal of spent nuclear fuel from vessels. It is important to foster a close association between risk assessment and practical programmes for the purposes of improving monitoring, formulating response strategies and implementing action plans.

Concentration of caesium-137, cobalt-60 and potassium-40 in some wild and edible plants around the nuclear power plant in Bulgaria

The activities of 137Cs, 60Co and 40K were determined in samples of wild (Taraxacum officinale, Plantago lanceolata and Populus nigra 'Italica') and edible (vegetable, corn, fruit) plants as well as soil collected from the 30 km safety zone of the Bulgarian NPP "Kozloduy" and comparisons with earlier measurements and analyses of samples from other regions and with literature values were performed. The derived transfer factors for 137Cs and 40K from soil to plants ranged between 0.002 and 0.009 for 137Cs, and between 0.09 and 0.35 for 40K. The individual effective dose (calculated from the present results and data on the activity of other foodstuffs and from information about dietary habits) comprises 4.5% of the annual dose limit.

A review of the effects of uranium and depleted uranium exposure on reproduction and fetal development

Depleted uranium (DU) is used in armor-penetrating munitions, military vehicle armor, and aircraft, ship and missile counterweighting/ballasting, as well as in a number of other military and commercial applications. Recent combat applications of DU alloy [i.e., Persian Gulf War (PGW) and Kosovo peacekeeping objective] resulted in human acute exposure to DU dust, vapor or aerosol, as well as chronic exposure from tissue embedding of DU shrapnel fragments. DU alloy is 99.8% 238Uranium, and emits approximately 60% of the alpha, beta, and gamma radiation found in natural uranium (4.05 x 10(-7) Ci/g DU alloy). DU is a heavy metal that is 160% more dense than lead and can remain within the body for many years and slowly solubilize. High levels of urinary uranium have been measured in PGW veterans 10 years after exposure to DU fragments and vapors. In rats, there is strong evidence of DU accumulation in tissues including testes, bone, kidneys, and brain. In vitro tests indicate that DU alloy may be both genotoxic and mutagenic, whereas a recent in vivo study suggests that tissue-embedded DU alloy may be carcinogenic in rats. There is limited available data for reproductive and teratological deficits from exposure to uranium per se, typically from oral, respiratory, or dermal exposure routes. Alternatively, there is no data available on the reproductive effects of DU embedded. This paper reviews published studies of reproductive toxicity in humans and animals from uranium or DU exposure, and discusses ongoing animal research to evaluate reproductive effects in male and female rats embedded with DU fragments, and possible consequences in F1 and F2 generations.

Chemical speciation used to assess [S,S']-ethylenediaminedisuccinic acid (EDDS) as a readily-biodegradable replacement for EDTA in radiochemical decontamination formulations

Preliminary investigations into the replacement of widely used chelating agents for industrial cleansing of radionuclide contaminated items using readily biodegradable alternatives which have equivalent effectiveness, have been made using chemical speciation simulation programs and databases such as the JESS system. The chelation of radionuclide cations by [S,S']-EDDS has been compared with traditional decontamination agents, EDTA and citrate. Models indicate that in many respects, [S,S']-EDDS compares favourably with EDTA.

A mechanistic model for the uptake of waterborne strontium in the common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.)

The release of radioactive strontium to the environment is of concern due to the strong accumulation of this calcium resembling element in the bone and other tissues. To predict the effects of changes in environmental conditions on the uptake of Sr2+ and Ca2+ by freshwater fish, a Michaelis-Menten type model is introduced that accounts for the effects of chemical speciation, hydrogen ion activity, and metal ion competition. The uptake kinetics were characterized in vivo from short-term exposure experiments using the common carp (Cyprinus carpio) as the model organism. Fish were exposed to a wide range of waterborne Sr2+ (0.2-10,000 microM) and Ca2+ (10-10,000 microM) concentrations and water pH (5.0-8.5). Strontium uptake by the whole body of fish increased with increasing Sr2+ activity, displaying saturation kinetics, but decreased significantly with increasing Ca2+ and H+ activities in the water. Likewise, calcium uptake by the fish decreased with increasing Sr2+ and H+ activities in the water. The model fitted to the pooled data explains 97.5% of the variation in Sr2+ uptake and 86% in Ca2+ uptake over the wide range of exposure conditions and reveals that Sr2+ and Ca2+ inhibit each other completely competitively, while H+ inhibits the uptake of both metal ions in a partially noncompetitive way. This model can be used as a mechanistic tool to predict the uptake of these metals in carp under variable conditions.