Ein Jahr nach Tschernobyl: Cäsium-137-Gehalt von Frühgeborenen, Neugeborenen, Säuglingen, Kleinkindern und Kindern aus Bonn und Umgebung

From May to August 1987, 137Cs activity was measured in a total-body counter (4 pi counter) in 33 premature and mature newborns (group I), 40 infants and young children up to 2 4/12 years of age (group II), and 15 children between 3 and 6 8/12 years (group III), all from Bonn or its environs. The mean of measurements in group II, at 3.7 Bq/kg body-weight, was lower than that of group I (5.8 Bq) and III (9.4 Bq). Mean radiation exposure, calculated from these data, was 1.7 mrem/a for group I, 1.1 mrem/a for group II, and 2.8 mrem/a for group III. A comparison with present Cs values in adults and measurements made at the end of the 1950's and beginning of 60's showed good agreement. There were no significant differences, as regards Cs activity, between newborns or infants who had been formula-fed or breast-fed. The measured radiation exposure of the three groups is about 1% of natural radiation exposure. Thus, present-day results indicate that there will be no damage to health outside the natural scatter.