Estimation of radiation dosage and transmutation effect of 14C involved in measuring rate of albumin synthesis with 14C-carbonate

For direct measurement of the rate of albumin synthesis, Na214CO3 was used intravenously. The assessment of the radiation hazard involved in the study was based on the knowledge of the minimum dose of Na214CO3 necessary for a sufficient incorporation of 14C in the guanidine-C of arginine in albumin to obtain measurable radioactivity. By measurement of expired 14CO2 and excreted 14C-urea in the urine during a 5-hr period following intravenous administration of Na214CO3 in five subjects, some quantitative data on 14C retention and radiation dosage were obtained. In comparison with animal studies, the rate of expiration of 14CO2 in man is slower. About 50 percent of the total radioactivity injected was lost through the respiratory route in the first hour. The total amount of expired 14C during the 5 hr of investigation was about 75 percent of the injected dose for the five subjects. The amount of 14C excreted as urinary 14C-urea during the 5 hr of investigation is very small in comparison with the expired 14C; it was only about 0.5 percent of the dose injected. The total absorbed radiation dose after complete elimination of 14C from the body was calculated with various assumptions. The extra risk of genetic damage due to disintegration of retained 14C in comparison with that of natural 14C in the body during 30 living years is about 50 percent. (U.S.)