Investigations of the biokinetics of zirconium and ruthenium isotopes as well as of lanthanides in humans and consequences for precautionary radiation protection - 3605S04471
urn:nbn:de:0221-2009011248
BfS-RESFOR-03/09
Summary
The knowledge about the biokinetic behaviour of radionuclides is of great importance for the dose estimation after incorporation of these radioactive substances. However, only little or insufficient information on the biokinetics is available so far, since these data have been obtained in many cases in animal experiments and their transferability to humans is still not assured. This is valid also for zirconium, ruthenium, as well as for lanthanides. In case of nuclear fallouts, the radionuclides of these elements can significantly affect both the occupational radiation exposure dose and that of the individuals among the population. The aim of the project was to experimentally generate the knowledge about the biokinetic properties of these elements directly on humans. This could be made possible by the use of stable isotopes, which, from the biokinetic view, do not differ from the corresponding radioisotopes.
In this way, it was possible to obtain information on the absorption, retention, and excretion behaviour of the respective radionuclides, which allowed generating improved biokinetic models. Furthermore, the transfer of the element cerium, a representative of the lanthanides, into human breast milk has been examined more closely, since in literature contradictory results have been published in this respect. Prior to the volunteer tests the appropriate stable isotopes had to be selected and the administration dose determined. This was considered both from toxicological as well as from analytical criteria.
