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PubMed1992

Development of a laboratory method to predict rapidly the availability of radiocaesium.

A simple extraction procedure has been developed to assess rapidly the probable extent of the transfer of radiocaesium into ruminant food products soon after a nuclear accident. The in vitro extractions were validated against true absorption measurements of different forms of radiocaesium in the sheep gut. Extractions were performed on a range of different radiocaesium sources. Some of these sources were artificial (ionic radiocaesium adsorbed onto bentonite, silica spheres and filter-papers) and others were environmentally contaminated [silt from the Ravenglass Estuary contaminated by effluent from British Nuclear Fuels Limited (BNFL) Sellafield, and upland grass and heather contaminated by Chernobyl fallout]. Laboratory experiments concentrated primarily on the use of simple inorganic extractants in competitive ion-exchange processes. Of the reagents used, 0.1 mol dm-3 stable caesium chloride solution was the most effective extractant. The proportion of radiocaesium extracted by 0.1 mol dm-3 caesium chloride correlated well with measurements of true absorption. Extracting radiocaesium using 0.1 mol dm-3 caesium chloride proved to be an inexpensive and rapid method of predicting the availability of radiocaesium for absorption in the ruminant gut, giving results within 24 h. Further extractions were carried out using cellulase/pepsin simulated digestions and ovine rumen fluid. Results suggested that the availability of radiocaesium from some inorganic sources may be underestimated using such techniques.

Accidents↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Case control study of neuroblastoma in west-Germany after the Chernobyl accident.

BACKGROUND: To explore possible causes of a 1988 incidence peak of infant neuroblastoma in west German regions which were contaminated with more than 6000 Bq/m2 Cs137 from the Chernobyl accident. The primary working hypothesis was that parents of the diseased children had been contaminated by an excessive intake of locally produced food, especially mushrooms or deer. DESIGN: Case control study with 1:2 (cases:controls) matching. Data were collected from the children's parents by questionnaires and telephone interviews. SETTING: Nation-wide study (former FRG) based on the German Childhood Cancer Registry. SUBJECTS: Cases born in 1988 and reported with a neuroblastoma to the registry until March 1992. Population-based healthy controls, matched for age, sex and residence at time of diagnosis. RESULTS: The working hypothesis could not be confirmed by the study, because the parents of cases tended to eat less locally grown food than the parents of controls (RR = 0.63, 95% CI:0.20-1.97). Possible influence factors which previously have been described to be associated with neuroblastoma incidence could not be confirmed by the study. Parental exposure to herbicides and pesticides was associated with the occurrence of neuroblastoma (RR = 4.2, 95% CI:1.4-12.9). Neuroblastoma stage distribution in the contaminated regions was shifted towards lower stages as compared to the less contaminated regions and previous age cohorts. CONCLUSIONS: The study does not show additional evidence that the observed increase in neuroblastoma incidence might have been caused by exposure to fallout from the Chernobyl accident. The observed shift towards lower clinical stages may rather indicate increased diagnostic awareness. The association between neuroblastoma and parental exposure with herbicides and pesticides resulted from an extensive exploratory data analysis and needs to be confirmed in further studies.

Child, Preschool↗