Ruttenber A J, Kreiss K, Douglas R L, Buhl T E, Millard J
Health Phys. 1984 Jul;47(1):21-35. doi: 10.1097/00004032-198407000-00002.
This study provides an assessment of human exposure to radiation from a river system contaminated by radionuclides of the 238U decay series released through a dam break at a uranium mill tailings pond and by the continuous discharge of dewatering effluent from 2 uranium mines. The in vivo analyses of radionuclides in 6 Navajo Indians who lived near the river indicate no detectable elevations above background concentrations. Dose estimates for inhalation of suspended river sediment indicate a maximum annual 50-yr dose commitment of 204 mrem to the endosteum. Estimates of doses (50-yr dose commitments) from the ingestion of livestock range between 1 mrem (to liver) and 79 mrem (to bone) suggest that the major contribution to human exposure is from mine dewatering effluent that has been continuously released into the river system for many years. Although the estimated exposures do not exceed existing state or federal regulations, their magnitude justifies further measurement of radionuclides in animals and in the natural environment and the consideration of strategies to reduce radiation exposure to humans and animals.
本研究评估了人类因一座铀矿尾矿库溃坝释放出的238U衰变系列放射性核素以及两座铀矿持续排放的脱水废水而受到的河流系统辐射。对居住在该河流附近的6名纳瓦霍印第安人的放射性核素进行的体内分析表明，其浓度并未高于背景浓度。吸入悬浮河底沉积物的剂量估计显示，对骨内膜的最大年50年剂量承诺为204毫雷姆。摄入牲畜的剂量估计（50年剂量承诺）在1毫雷姆（对肝脏）至79毫雷姆（对骨骼）之间，这表明人类接触辐射的主要来源是多年来持续排放到河流系统中的矿山脱水废水。尽管估计的辐射暴露量未超过现行的州或联邦法规，但鉴于其量级，有必要进一步测量动物和自然环境中的放射性核素，并考虑采取策略减少人类和动物的辐射暴露。
