Publication Abstract

Transfer across the human gut of Environmental Technetium in lobsters (Homarus gammarus L.) from the Irish Sea

G.J. Hunt, A.K. Young and R.A. Bonfield

Few data are available on the uptake by the human gut of the element technetium. Of current radiological interest in connection with discharges of technetium-99 in liquid waste discharges from BNFL, Sellafield, is uptake from lobsters (Homarus gammarus), whose edible parts are known to concentrate technetium. In this study, a group of 8 adult volunteers (6 males and 2 females) ate samples of edible flesh from lobsters caught off the west Cumbrian coast and provided 24h samples of urine and faeces for analysis. Detection of uptake from the gut by difference between intake and faecal measurements proved insensitive, suggesting a low value of the gut transfer factor (f₁ value) of up to 0.1 with a maximum (2 standard deviation) level of about 0.3. In urine, technetium was detectable at a relatively low level
compared with the intakes, consistent with a low absorption across the gut. Values for f₁ were derived with the aid of literature data for excretion following intravenous administration of technetium-95m as pertechnetate, and gave averaged data for f₁ in the range 0.046 to 0.23. These results are in broad conformity with those derived from the faecal measurements, and suggest a lower value than 0.5 used by ICRP.

Reference:

G.J. Hunt, A.K. Young and R.A. Bonfield, 2001. Transfer across the human gut of Environmental Technetium in lobsters (Homarus gammarus L.) from the Irish Sea. Journal of Radiological Protection, 21: 21-29