Concentrations of 210Pb and 210Po in Human Soft Tissues

Abstract

Concentrations of 210Pb and 210Po in tissues from twenty individuals are reported. The tissues investigated were the kidney, liver, lung, pancreas, spleen, gonads, thyroid and heart. The two highest average 210Po concentrations were 14. 5 and 11. 3 pCi/kg in liver and kidney, respectively. Average concentration in gonads, lung and thyroid was about one-half as great, and the least amounts of 210Pb were found in the spleen, pancreas and heart. Higher concentration of 210Po were found in tissues of cigarette smokers than nonsmokers. Except for the lung, however, the differences were not significant. The 210Po/ 210Pb activity ratio varied from < 1 to > 1 in all tissue types, except for the heart fox which there were too few samples to be meaningful. The amount of Po unsupported by its 210Pb parent was greatest in the kidney. The dose rates delivered by the 210Po to the various tissues are discussed.