Variation of radon retention parameters for radium-burdened dog skeletons as a function of exposure age and dosage level. Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • Radium-226 was administered to 36 beagles at various levels in eight semimonthly injections at ages 60 to 160, 120 to 220, or 435 to 535 days. Approximately 400 individual radon retention values were obtained from -ray spectra taken at intervals over the life span of the animals. Radon retention was fitted by regression analysis to a power function of the form At(b) (t = time after injection midpoint). Mean values and associated standard errors of the parameters (SE) and b (SE), for animals of both sexes given 10 Ci/kg body weight at injection midpoint ages of 110, 170, and 485 days were [3.11 (0.15 SE); 0.293 (0.006 SE], [5.31 (0.38 SE); 0.214 (0.006 SE)]< and [6.08 (0.21 SE); 0.200 (0.007 SE)], respectively. The smaller coefficients, A (t = 1-day intercept), and larger exponents, b (rate parameter), found for earlier ages at injection are attributed to age-dependent differences in the mineral density of bone and the intrabone radium distribution pattern. The mean values of the parameters for animals receiving total dosages 1.12-Ci/kg body weight at a midpoint age of 485 days were [7.88 (0.31 SE); 0.153 (0.005 SE)]. The differences in retention function parameters between the higher and lower226Ra dosage levels are interpreted in terms of radiation damage to bone which alters the degree of mineralization of regions of radium deposition.

published proceedings

  • Radiat Res

author list (cited authors)

  • Parks, N. J., Pool, R. R., & Williams, J. R.

citation count

  • 3

complete list of authors

  • Parks, NJ||Pool, RR||Williams, JR

publication date

  • February 1978

publisher