Isotopes of uranium and thorium, lead-210, and polonium-210 in the lungs of coal miners of Appalachia and the lungs and livers of residents of central Ohio

The lungs of twelve and the livers of three residents of central Ohio and the lungs of four coal miners of Appalachia were analyzed for uranium-238, uranium-234, thorium-230, lead-210, polonium-210, and thorium-232. Mean and median lung concentrations of uranium-238 and of uranium-234 in the lungs of central Ohioans were essentially the same and were equal to 4 fCi/g dry. Mean concentrations of these isotopes in the lungs of Appalachian coal miners were also essentially the same and were equal to 9 fCi/g. Little uranium was found in the liver. The median concentration of thorium-230 in the lungs of central Ohioans was also 4 fCi/g dry; however, the mean concentration was 8 fCi/g due to the relatively high concentration values in a few persons. The mean concentrations of this isotope in the lungs of central Ohioans and Appalachian coal miners were essentially the same; i.e. 8 fCi/g. The mean and median concentrations of thorium-232 in the lungs of central Ohioans were assentially the same and equal to 4 fCi/g. The mean concentration of this isotope in the lungs of Appalachian coal miners was 9 fCi/g. Little thorium was found in the liver. The mean concentrations of lead-210 in the lungs of the two populations were nearly equal and about 23 fCi/g dry. The mean liver/lung ratio of this isotope was essentially two, and the concentrations appeared to be positively correlated with smoking. Polonium-210 concentrations in the lungs were distributed into three sets of values which are described here as low (2-4 fCi/g), medium (20-30 fCi/g), and high (>100 fCi/g), and also appeared to be correlated with smoking. Mean liver concentrations of this irotope were nearly equal to the mean liver concentrations of lead-210 (50 as opposed to 47 fCi/g). 18 refs., 6 tabs