Citation

Harrison JD, Smith T, Fell T, Smith J, Ham G, Haylock R, Hodgson A, Etherington G. J. Radiol. Prot. 2017; 37(4): 837-851.

Affiliation

Radiation Protection Division, Public Health England, Didcot, UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, Institute of Physics Publishing)

DOI

10.1088/1361-6498/aa80f5

PMID

28726678

Abstract

Mr Litvinenko died on 23rd November 2006, having been poisoned with polonium-210 on 1st November, with evidence of a previous poisoning attempt during October 2006. Measurements of 210Po in urine samples were made for a large number of people to determine whether they may have been contaminated. In the majority of cases, measured levels were attributable to the presence of 210Po from normal dietary sources. For a small number of cases, elevated levels provided evidence of direct contamination associated with the poisonings. For one individual, while estimated doses were below thresholds for irreversible organ damage, a notably increased risk of cancer can be inferred. The use of the chelating agent, Unithiol, to increase 210Po excretion in this case was only moderately effective in reducing doses received.

© 2017 IOP Publishing Ltd.

Language: en

Keywords

Cancer risks; Chelation therapy; Dose assessments; Polonium-210; Urinary excretion