AGE-DEPENDENT MODEL FOR STRONTIUM RETENTION IN HUMAN BONE

A metabolic model is discussed that developed as a result of studies o f the population residing on the banks of the Techa river which was co ntaminated with fission products in 1949-1956. The model is mainly bas ed on a large number of measurements of Sr-90 body content made with t he whole-body counter. An age-dependent model of strontium retention i n human bone is represented by a mathematical function similar to the ICRP 20 retention function for adults (in a simplified form) but in wh ich parameters are dependent on age at intake. Besides the Techa river data, the information on strontium in human bone from global fallout and experimental findings with single injection were used in estimatin g model parameters. The model takes into account changes in metabolic parameters throughout the entire life beginning from bone formation an d growth in childhood and including loss of skeleton calcium in old ag e.