title: Excreta Sampling as an Alternative to In Vivo Measurements at the Hanford Site.
abstract: The capabilities of indirect radiobioassay by urine and fecal sample analysis were compared with the direct radiobioassay methods of whole body counting and lung counting for the most common radionuclides and inhalation exposure scenarios encountered by Hanford workers. Radionuclides addressed by in vivo measurement included 137Cs, 60Co, 154Eu, and 241Am as an indicator for plutonium mixtures. The same radionuclides were addressed using gamma energy analysis of urine samples, augmented by radiochemistry and alpha spectrometry methods for plutonium in urine and fecal samples. It was concluded that in vivo whole body counting and lung counting capability should be maintained at the Hanford Site for the foreseeable future, however, urine and fecal sample analysis could provide adequate, though degraded, monitoring capability for workers as a short-term alternative, should in vivo capability be lost due to planned or unplanned circumstances.
authors.affiliation: *1835 Terminal Drive, Ste 200, MSIN B1-60, Richland, WA 99354.
authors.forename: Eugene H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Carbaugh
authors.forename: Cheryl L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Antonio
authors.forename: Timothy P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Lynch
mesh_terms: D001681:Biological Assay / Q000379:methods*; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D009688:Nuclear Reactors; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods*; D011834:Radiation Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D011868:Radioisotopes / Q000652:urine*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014861:Washington; D014915:Whole-Body Counting / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D011868:Radioisotopes