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Alex Martin, Content and distribution of stable strontium and 226Ra in human skeletons from Wisconsin decedents 1957–61, British Journal of Radiology, Volume 42, Issue 496, 1 April 1969, Pages 295–298, https://doi.org/10.1259/0007-1285-42-496-295
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Abstract
A large collection of essentially complete human skeletons provided an opportunity for simultaneous meaurement of stable strontium and 226Ra in a group of 75 subjects. The skeletons were from Wisconsin, U.S.A., residents who died during the period 1957 to 1961 and whose ages at death ranged from 24 to 95 years (average ∼70 years). 90Sr was not measured because estimated levels on the order of 0·1 pCi/g calcium were too low to permit adequate comparisons, particularly for smaller bone categories.
Stable strontium and 226Ra were determined in midsections of the combined tibiae and fibulae from each of the 75 skeletons. Their frequency distributions were found to be log-normal. Concentrations varied from 0·29 to 2·20 mg Sr/g Ca (log-mean = 0·51 mg Sr/g Ca) and from 13 to 112 fCi 226Ra/g Ca (log-mean = 33 fCi 226Ra/g Ca). There was no statistical correlation between strontium and 226Ra levels.
To evaluate the relative distribution of strontium and 226Ra within these skeletons, 19 component parts (excluding teeth) from three of the 75 were analysed. Stable strontium and 226Ra concentrations were found to be nearly uniform within any one skeleton. Although the levels of 226Ra in long bone ends were only slightly higher and the concentrations of strontium slightly lower than in corresponding long bone shafts, the differences were statistically significant.
While unusually high levels of strontium and 226Ra are reported in some Wisconsin municipal water supplies, subjects whose bones contained the highest concentrations of these substances did not consume such water.
Findings in this report are compared with those from similar studies.
