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ARS Home » Plains Area » Grand Forks, North Dakota » Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center » Dietary Prevention of Obesity-related Disease Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #102814
Title: PERQUISITE SPIN-OFF FROM TWENTY TWO YEARS OF WHOLE BODY COUNTER STEEL ROOM BACKGROUND MEASUREMENTS

Author
item LYKKEN, GLENN - UNIV. OF NORTH DAKOTA
item ONG, H - UNIV. OF NORTH DAKOTA
item ALKHATIB, H - UNIV. OF NORTH DAKOTA
item MOMCILOVIC, B - INST. MED RES. - CROATIA
item Penland, James

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/31/1999
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: Lykken, G.I., Ong, H.S., Alkhatib, H.A., Momcilovic, B., Penland, J.G. 1999. Perquisite spin-off from twenty-two years of whole body counter steel room background measurements [abstract]. Presented at International Symposium on In Vivo Body Composition Studies, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY, October 7-9, 1999.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Measurements of potassium-40 activity (GRE) in humans were initiated in 1977 at the USDA ARS GFHNRC. In 1980 background radiation for K-40 GRE in the steel room (SRBR) was found to decrease approximately 10% throughout the working day. The major contributor to SRBR was found to be a decay product of Rn-222. Air ducts supplying fresh air to the chamber were added and the SRBR stabilized. Coincidently, regional K-40 and selected Bi-214 GRE were being monitored in bicyclists. We noted significant correlations between Bi-214 GRE and K-40 GRE increases in bicyclists after outdoor rides. Further observations on exposure of subjects to radon- laden atmospheres (RLA) revealed the following: greatest Bi-214 GRE came from the region of the upper cranium and lower abdominal region. Eight lead EEG measurements on a subject indicated an increased brain activation caused by Rn-222 exposure. Rn-222 uptake into the body through the lungs and subsequent redistribution throughout the body was demonstrated. The finding of high Bi-214 GRE from the cranium led to a study of Po-210 alpha particle and Bi-210 beta particle emissions from brain tissue. A tenfold increase in radioactivity in the protein fraction from the cortical gray and subcortical white matter in Alzheimer's disease and cigarette smokers, and a similar increase in the lipid fraction in Parkinson's disease relative to SC were found. Periodic measurements of SRBR indicated that impurities in the recycled lead lining of the steel room are a major contributor to SRBR. These later findings led to a current study of how electrical contacts in high speed, high density computer memories become contaminated with Pb-210. Persistent monitoring of SRBR in conjunction with total body potassium led to a number of spin-offs of importance.