[en] The report presents some statistical data and criteria that are necessary to decide upon the feasibility of epidemiological studies on the radiation hazard to occupationally exposed persons. Other than in experimental studies that seek for information on resulting effects by purposeful variation of possible influencing factors, a study like the one presented here, aimed at clarifying stochastic radiation effects on man, has to rely on fact finding surveys and statistical methods. For this purpose, disease and/or mortality rates in radiation exposed and non-exposed collective groups are determined, as well as the radiation exposure of persons affected and of those where no effect was detectable, the data finally being compared. (orig./PW)

[en] On the basis of the official statistics on the causes of death, leukaemia mortality of the years 1970-1978 was investigated. The following aspects were worked out: 1) Acquisition, preparation, and documentation of the relevant data in tables and graphic representations. 2) Temporary development of mortality in Bavaria by trend analysis, subdivided into different types of leukaemia and summarized for all leukaemia types. 3) Bavarian regions were investigated on differences in leukaemia mortality. Criteria for this investigation were the following: a) the presence of nuclear power stations, b) the amount of the exposure to natural irradiation c) number of employees in chemical plants, d) number of employees in the manufacture of leather. The most important results are: 1) For the considered period an increase of the leukaemia mortality rate from the 70th year of life upwards was found in Bavaria. In the other age groups the values for the individual years of life varied too strong to permit any statements about a detectable trend. 2) A correlative connection between the parameters given under 3) and leukaemia mortality could not be proved. (orig./HP)

[en] The report under review lists dose factors for 809 radionuclides, showing the dose equivalent in 21 body organs or tissues, as well as the effective dose equivalent per activity intake through inhalation or ingestion. The calculations rely on the dosimetry and biokinetics models, calculation methods, and data given in ICRP publication 30. Modifications have been made with regard to data on the age dependence of anatomic or biokinetic parameters, and minor corrections in nuclear physical data. As for the element iodine, the nutritional iodine deficit in the FRG has been taken into account. (orig./PW)

[en] The report under review lists dose factors for 809 radionuclides, showing the dose equivalent in 21 body organs or tissues, as well as the effective dose equivalent per activity intake through inhalation or ingestion. The calculations rely on the dosimetry and biokinetics models, calculation methods, and data given in ICRP publication 30. Modifications have been made with regard to data on the age dependence of anatomic or biokinetic parameters, and minor corrections in nuclear physical data. As for the element iodine, the nutritional iodine deficit in the FRG has been taken into account. (orig./PW)

[en] The report under review lists dose factors for 809 radionuclides, showing the dose equivalent in 21 body organs or tissues, as well as the effective dose equivalent per activity intake through inhalation or ingestion. The calculations rely on the dosimetry and biokinetics models, calculation methods, and data given in ICRP publication 30. Modifications have been made with regard to data on the age dependence of anatomic or biokinetic parameters, and minor corrections in nuclear physical data. As for the element iodine, the nutritional iodine deficit in the FRG has been taken into account. (orig./PW)

[en] ¹²⁵I computed tomography (CT) allows for the selective determination of trabecular and compact bone mineral parameters in the radius. Using this technique the effects of high dose oestrogen treatment in 11 tall girls, and of high dose testosterone treatment in 5 tall boys were monitored. In both groups trabecular bone density (TBD) increased steadily during treatment at a rate of about 1% per month. Also in both groups the compact bone mineral increased steadily. These results are compared with from a cross sectional study on 49 normal children and 36 normal adults, in whom TBD was found to be independent of age and sex, so that the increases in TBD in both treatment groups can be attributed directly to the influence of the sex hormones. Since the compact bone mineral is higher in adults than in children it cannot yet be decided whether the increases seen in the treated patients are related to the sex hormone treatment, or reflect only the normal development of the bone during adolescence. (author)

[en] The report under review lists dose factors for 809 radionuclides, showing the dose equivalent in 21 body organs or tissues, as well as the effective dose equivalent per activity intake through inhalation or ingestion. The calculations rely on the dosimetry and biokinetics models, calculation methods, and data given in ICRP publication 30. Modifications have been made with regard to data on the age dependence of anatomic or biokinetic parameters, and minor corrections in nuclear physical data. As for the element iodine, the nutritional iodine deficit in the FRG has been taken into account. (orig./PW)

[en] For two different designs of a study - cohort and case control study - estimates of required sample size have been made on the basis of lung cancer risk assessment data for exposure to radon and radon daughters. The estimates have shown that a cohort study is not feasible for reasons of unjustifiably high requirements. A case control study, however, may contribute to clarifying the lung cancer risk, especially if the basic overall entity is limited to the population group of over 50 years of age. (orig.)

[en] Carcinomas occurring in the thyroid gland as a result of radiation generally affect the papillary and, to a slightly lesser extent, follicular parts of this organ, while the available body of evidence hardly gives any indications of anaplastic and medullary neoplasms. Radiation has, however, mostly been associated with multicentric tumours. Among the survivors of the nuclear assaults on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, there are no known cases of anaplastic carcinomas of the thyroid. The papillary carcinoma, which is the prevailing type of neoplasm after radiation exposure, has less malignant potential than the follicular one and is encountered in all age groups. Malignant carcinomas of the thyroid are predominantly found in the middle and high age groups. It was calculated that high Gy doses and dose efficiencies are associated in children with a risk coefficient of 2.5 in 10⁴ person-years. This rate is only half as high for adults. Studies performed on relevant cohorts point to latency periods of at least five years. Individuals exposed to radiation are believed to be at a forty-year or even life-long risk of developing cancer. The cancer risk can best be described on the basis of a linear dose-effect relationship. The mortality rate calculated for cancer of the thyroid amounts to approx. 10% of the morbidity rate. The carcinogenic potential of iodine-131 in the thyroid is only one-third as great as that associated with external radiation of high dose efficiency. (orig./MG)

[en] The effective dose equivalent of the cumulated activity was determined for different organs as a function of the health, age, and sex of the patient. The calculations are based on data from nuclear medical examinations. A linear compartment model with linear differential equations was used whose solution provides the retention functions that can be represented as the sum of exponential functions. The nuclides investigated were: Tc-99m (DMSA, MDP, DPD, HDP, pertechnetates, colloids), I-131 hippurane, Co-58 vitamin B-12, Fe-59 citrate, and Cr-51-labelled erythrocytes. (HP)