MEASUREMENTS OF 4K IN THE HUMAN BODY USING WHOLE BODY COUNTING (WBC) SYSTEM – POSSIBLE RELATIONSHIP OF ENHANCED INTAKE OF RADIOACTIVE 40K WITH BOD

Abstract

The aim of this study is to assess the amount of 40K in human tissue and establish the relationship of this amount with subject's height, weight and age using FASTSCAN Whole Body Counter (WBC) which is installed at the Secondary Standard Dosimetry Laboratory (SSDL), Institute of Nuclear Science & Technology (INST), of Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission, Savar, Dhaka. This is a special unique instrument consisting of two vertical Nal (TI) detectors which detect and measure the internal contamination and body-burden for occupational radiation workers and the public. The apparatus is useful for identification, quantification, and location of radionuclides in all persons who are contaminated with radioactive materials as well as for the public in case of normal and abnormal situations. Internal body burden activities of 4K were measured for subjects of both types (occupational and members of the public) using WBC. The Total Body Potassium (TBK) was found to vary from 89 g K to 170 g K for occupational workers (age between 25 to 53 years) whereas for members of public (age between 19 to 24 years) these values range from 101 g K to 196 g K. These values of total body potassium content are less than the recommended TBK for reference man (about 250 g K). The measured activity of total body potassium in selected examples showed a fluctuation with various parameters.