Uranium, Thorium and Plutonium in Bones from the General Population of the United States

Abstract

This paper describes the concentrations of alpha-emitting isotopes of thorium (228Th, 230Th and 232Th), uranium (234U, 235U and 238U) and plutonium (238Pu, 239,240Pu) in vertebrae, ribs and sternum from former residents of two areas in the United States. These radionuclides were measured in the same sets of bone samples. Measurements of α-emitting isotopes of thorium, uranium, and plutonium reported in the open literature have never been made on the same samples as are reported here. A brief review of measurements of uranium, thorium and plutonium in human tissues follows.