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PubMed2002

Aerosols: unexpected disequilibrium phenomena between airborne radio activities of lead-210 and its progenies bismuth-210 and polonium-210.

For the first time, concentrations of the long lived radon progenies (210)Pb, (210)Bi and (210)Po were measured in the mine atmosphere of the so called "healing gallery" in Badgastein, Austria, a region famous for its radioactive springs. These investigations were performed in order to study the radioactive equilibrium between the (210)Pb-(210)Bi and the (210)Pb-(210)Po pairs so as to gain more information about the aerosol-forming processes in the mine. The particle size distribution of the aerosols was determined under different ventilation conditions. Six-stage and eight-stage cascade impactors with working ranges from 0.15 to 5 micro m and from 0.063 to 8 micro m, respectively, were used to collect the mine aerosols. These samples were analysed in the laboratory and measured by liquid scintillation spectrometry. The most surprising results were found under full ventilation, when the total activity concentrations of (210)Pb, (210)Bi and (210)Po were 4.6, 2.0 and 16.5 mBq/m(3), respectively. In this case (210)Po/(210)Pb activity ratios ranged between 1.8+/-0.3 and 4.3+/-0.3. These unexpected results were confirmed by the eight-stage impactor samples. For the smallest particles, between 0.062 and 0.125 micro m, an even higher value of 7.5 was observed. As outside sources could be excluded, such (210)Po enrichments must occur during the aerosol-forming process itself inside the mine.

Aerosols↗
PubMed1985

Clearance of polonium-210-enriched cigarette smoke from the rat trachea and lung.

The distribution and clearance of alpha radioactivity in the lungs of rats were measured after inhalation of smoke from cigarettes highly enriched in 210Po. Female Fischer rats were exposed daily for 6 months to smoke from cigarettes with 500 times the normal content of 210Po. Control rats were exposed to standard cigarette smoke. Animals were serially withdrawn and killed. After necropsy the trachea, major bronchi, larynx, and nasopharynx were examined for surface alpha activity by an etched track technique utilizing cellulose nitrate detectors. Areas of accumulated activity were seen on samples of larynx from rats exposed to the 210Po-enriched cigarettes. No other local accumulations were seen on the airways. The lower lungs were analyzed radiochemically for 210Po. Both radiochemical analysis and track measurements showed highly elevated activity concentrations in rats exposed to the 210Po-enriched cigarettes. Following withdrawal from smoking, both short- and long-term clearance components were seen. The parameters which fit the postexposure data for clearance of the lung burden cannot fit the buildup during the exposure period.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

The ratio of lead-210 to polonium-210 in U.K. diet.

The levels of the natural radionuclides, 210Pb and 210Po, in U.K. diet have been measured previously. However, in the earlier measurements, the samples were sufficiently aged for 210Pb and 210Po to have attained secular equilibrium. In order to determine the extent of disequilibrium between these radionuclides in fresh food, measurements have been made on recently collected dietary samples. Disequilibrium has been observed in five food groups. The activity per unit mass of 210Pb was found to be greater than that of 210Po in bread, cereals, sugar and preserves, whereas the opposite was found to be true for eggs and beverages. When account is taken of consumption rates, however, the total intakes of 210Pb and 210Po from these food groups are approximately the same. The annual effective dose equivalents from the ingestion of 210Pb and 210Po have been re-estimated at 41 and 12 mu Sv, respectively.

Diet↗
PubMed1992

Lead-210 and polonium-210 concentrations in some species of marine molluscs.

Data are presented for 210Pb and 210Po concentrations in three species of molluscs collected in the intertidal region of the coast of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Lead-210 activity in the soft tissue of the edible mussel Perna perna was 20 times higher than that found in its shell. The visceral mass contained the largest activity for both radionuclides, which is attributed to the feeding habits of the molluscs. Animals collected from Ponta Negra beach (open sea) showed higher concentrations of isotopes than those collected from Boa Viagem beach (within Guanabara Bay).

Animals↗