VARIATIONS IN THE CONCENTRATION OF PLUTONIUM, SR-90 AND TOTAL ALPHA-EMITTERS IN HUMAN TEETH COLLECTED WITHIN THE BRITISH-ISLES

Concentrations of plutonium-239, plutonium-240, strontium-90 and total alpha-emitters have been measured in children's teeth collected throu ghout Great Britain and Ireland. The concentrations of plutonium and s trontium-90 were measured in batched samples, each containing approxim ately 50 teeth, using low-background radiochemical methods. The concen trations of total alpha-emitters were determined in single teeth using cu-sensitive plastic track detectors. The results showed that the ave rage concentrations of total alpha-emitters and strontium-90 were appr oximately one to three orders of magnitude greater than the equivalent concentrations of plutonium-239,240. Regression analyses indicated th at the concentrations of plutonium, but not strontium-90 or total alph a-emitters, decreased with increasing distance from the Sellafield nuc lear fuel reprocessing plant - suggesting that this plant is a source of plutonium contamination in the wider population of the British Isle s. Nevertheless, the measured absolute concentrations of plutonium (me an = 5 +/- 4 mBq kg(-1) ash wt.) were so low that they are considered to present an insignificant radiological hazard. (C) 1997 Elsevier Sci ence B.V.