Abstract
AIM: To investigate pathologically effects of internal radiation on human body, we determine radioactivity on samples of Nagasaki atomic bomb casualties. We have already investigated methodology of detecting residual radiation on formalin fixed tissue specimens and paraffin-embedded blocks of autopsy cases at acute stage of atomic bomb injury in Nagasaki and Thorotrast patients, who were internally exposed chronic low-dose-rate to alpha-radiation from thorium dioxide deposits following intravascular administration of the radiographic contrast agent. The liver specimen of Thorotrast patient were observed a gamma ray peak of Ac-228 by Whole body counter (gamma ray spectrum, NaI (T1) scintillator) and alpha tracks by autoradiography. However, we couldn't determine the radioactivity on the samples of Nagasaki atomic bomb casualties. In this study, we determined radioactivity on much more tissue specimens of Nagasaki atomic bomb causalities at acute stage injury, Thorotrast patient and non-exposed control subjects. MATERIAL and METHODS: 1)7 cases of Nagasaki atomic bomb casualties at acute stage radiation injury, 2)1 case of Thorotrast patient and 3)non-exposed control subjects; 4 cases from Nagasaki Medical Center and 3 cases from Kyusyu university were determined radioactivity in tissue specimen by autoradiography. RESULTS: A few number of alpha tracks on lung, kidney and bone of Nagasaki atomic bomb casualties at acute stage injury were observed by autoradiography, which had a tendency to be a little much more than in control subjects. It should identify the nuclide and determine residual radiation.
