Investigations on Cesium-137 and Strontium-90 from nuclear weapon fallout using tobacco as an example

42 to 75 pCi cesium-137 and 702 to 903 pCi strontium-90 per kg were found in samples of tobacco of German origin and from commercial cigarette. The presence of these radionuclides in tobacco is attributed to the fallout from nuclear explosions. Taking into consideration mean transfer rates of the radionuclides in the main stream smoke condensate and average consumption of cigarettes, whole body radiation doses for inhalation have been calculated to be in the range 10-3 to 10-4 mrem/year and per person. This means, they are in the same order of magnitude as radiation doses by inhalation of ambient air. They are smaller by a factor of 10-4 than the radiation exposure due to ingestion of these radionuclides from the total diet. (orig.)