ON THE PASSAGE OF PAIRS OF ELEMENTS THROUGH FOOD CHAINS

摘要

The first such pair of elements was Sr90 and naturally occurring calcium, whose relative concentrations in the biosphere are being extensively measured (1) to assess the hazard potential of atomic weapons tests. More recently another pair of elements, cesium and potassium, has been measured in the biosphere (2), but without as much supporting research. Other pairs of elements may be similarly considered in the future. The purpose of this paper is to examine the propriety and limitations intrinsically imposed by using pairs of elements to predict the hazard due to one member of a pair in its passage through food chains and eventually to man. The major part of the following discussion deals directly with the strontium-calcium pair. Indirectly, the same conclusions may be taken to qualitatively apply to other pairs.