Detection and Quantitation of Fallout Particles in a Human Lung

• DOI: 10.1126/science.143.3609.957
• Publication Date: 2006-10-05T09:47:29Z
• Authors: Audrey V. Wegst; Charles A. Pelletier; G. Hoyt Whipple
• Keywords: Radioactive Fallout; Radioactivity; Research; Autoradiography; Humans; Lung

Portions of an adult human lung were studied by autoradiography in order to detect the presence of fallout particles. The radioactivity in the remainder of the tissue was determined with a gamma-ray spectrometer. Four particles were found and their activities were determined. From the measurement for total-fission-product activity in the lung tissue it was calculated that there were approximately 264 particles in the right lung at the time of death.