Determination of radionuclides in samples of middle-aged and older human femurs

The paper presents the studies of the presence of gamma isotopes and 90Sr in 19 middle-to old-aged human femur samples. The samples were taken up during routine orthopedic operations in 2012. The aim of the paper was determination of some radionuclides in human bones and estimation of radiation dose created by 90Sr and 90Y (in bones). The 137Cs, 40K, 226Ra, 228Th, 234Th and 210Pb isotopes were determined by gamma spectrometry. The above mentioned radionuclide contents were in the ranges: 137Cs (0.04-1.45); 40K (13-86); 226Ra (1-21.5); 228Th (1.4-40.2); 234Th (0.4-5.7); 210Pb (0.7-8.4) Bq/kg d.w. 90Sr was assayed based on radiometric measurement of ingrown 90Y. The 90Sr content was in the range 0.27-1.85 Bq/kg d.w. Measurements of concentration of 90Sr and 90Y in bones were used to estimation of health risk by calculation of radiation dose. Adsorbed doses ranged from 2.7· 10−7 to 1.9 · 10−6 Gy/y for 90Sr and from 1.2 · 10−6 to 8.3 · 10−7 Gy/y for 90Y.