A study of geographical variations in the concentrations of plutonium and radiostrontium in human teeth throughout the British Isles

Concern has been expressed about the impact on humans of plutonium and radiostrontium releases from nuclear installations in the United Kingdom, with public interest focusing on reported leukaemia clusters the in vicinity of some of these installations. In particular, it is not clear whether such discharges result in an increase in the body burden of plutonium and radiostrontium (present as a consequence of global fallout) in the local population. In this collaborative study the comparative exposures to 239,240 Pu and 90 Sr of different geographically located child populations in the British Isles have been examined using teeth removed from children for orthodontic purposes. Minute traces of 239,240 Pu were found to be present in children's teeth. Approximately 75% of the samples analysed showed concentrations below the mean value. Although there is considerable scatter in the data, there is some evidence of a marginal enhancement in the 239,240 Pu concentrations measured in the general vicinity of Cumbria, where the BNF plc. nuclear fuel reprocessing complex is located. Concentrations of 90 Sr in teeth exceeded those of plutonium by three orders of magnitude, the overall mean being 8± Bq/kg (ash). However, there was no evidence of any enhancement in the levels throughout Cumbria. No correlation was observed between 239,240 Pu or 90 Sr concentrations and mean annual rainfall, nor was there any correlation between the levels of these radionuclides in the same samples. 78 refs