The Concentration of Common Cesium and Rubidium in Human Body∗

Abstract

Measurements have been made of potassium, rubidium and cesium in the human soft tissues, muscles and bones from autopsies to determine the normal concentrations of these elements and to estimate the total body amount. The individual variability of concentration increases in the following order: K Rb Cs and the distribution pattern of potassium in muscle suggests a normal distribution and the observed distribution of stable cesium and the Cs/K ratio in muscle appear to be lognormal. A fairly good agreement is observed in rubidium data with those reported by other workers, however, discrepancy in cesium data is observed between the author and other workers. The amount of potassium, rubidium and cesium in the total body estimated from the concentrations of these elements in the soft tissues, muscle and bone is, respectively, 136+28 grams, 0.360.09 grams and 1.4 x10-3 grams (95% probable range: 0.50 '4.1 x10-3) for the standard man of 70kg body weight. © 1962, Journal of Radiation Research Editorial Committee. All rights reserved.