Iodine-131 in human thyroids following the Windsclae reactor accident.

Abstract

Following the Windscale reactor accident of October 1957, measurements were made of iodine-131 levels in the thyroid gland of persons from various sections of the country. The measurements were made in a lowbackground laboratory using a crystal detector coupled to a photomultiplier tube. The measurements were repeated over a four-month period. Data are tabulated. An attempt is made to correlate the findings with the milk consumption of the subjects, the location of the dairies supplying the milk, and the passage of the atomic cloud over Britain. (C.H.)