In:
Pediatrics, American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), Vol. 89, No. 3 ( 1992-03-01), p. 407-410
Abstract:
Cesium 137 activity was measured after the Chernobyl incident in a whole-body radiation counter (4-π-scintillation counter) in 85 premature and mature newborns (group 1), 174 infants and young children up to 2 11/12 years (group 2), and 48 children between 3 and 8 years (group 3) from Bonn (Germany) and surroundings. In 1987 the mean level of radioactivity in group 2, at 3.7 Bq/kg body weight corresponding to a mean radiation exposure of 11 µSv/y, was lower than that of group 1 (5.8 Bq/kg, 17 µSv/y) and 3 (9.4 Bq/kg, 28 µSv/y). Up to 1990 the values of all groups revealed a continuous decrease. The latest measurements showed mean values of 0.5 Bq/kg (1.5 µSy/y) in group 1, 0.6 Bq/kg (1.8 µSv/y) in group 2, and 0.8 Bq/kg (2.4 µSv/y) in group 3. A comparison with present cesium 137 values and determinations at the end of the 1950s and beginning of 1960s, both in adults, showed good agreement. The effective dose-equivalent rates amounted to less than 1% of that from natural radiation exposure. These levels should present no teratogenic risks to the population studied and, while there are theoretical mutagenic risks, the dose is so low that no increase in measurable mutagenic effects should be observed.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
0031-4005
,
1098-4275
DOI:
10.1542/peds.89.3.407
Language:
English
Publisher:
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
Publication Date:
1992
detail.hit.zdb_id:
1477004-0
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