Human Excretion Patterns Following Occupational Uptake of 3H-, 14C- and 35S-labeled Compounds

Abstract

Graphs of excretion patterns following occupational uptake of 3H, 14C and 35S labeled compounds in humans are presented. A brief description of New England Nuclear's bioassay program and analytical methods is given. One or two exponential regression curves are found to fit most sets of data. Exceptions where exponentials do not closely fit the data are discussed. Characteristic rate constants are estimated and used to establish retention equations. When groups of workers were exposed to the same source excretion parameters were not found to strongly correlate with weight or sex. Variations in individual excretion patterns following low level group exposure did not significantly effect individual dose commitment estimates. Excretion rates following uptake of 14C and 3H labeled compounds were found to span three orders of magnitude. This indicates that health physicists may tend to dissipate resources in unnecessary investigations if conservative ICRP recommendations are assumed.