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Strontium-90 in the bone of different South African Population Groups


D. van As
H.O. Fourie

Abstract

The 90Sr content of a large number of bone samples from South Africans of difference race and age groups has been measured. Significant differences were found between population groups especially in the age group 5 - 20 years. The 90Sr content of foodstuffs which are the main contributors to the total "'Sr in the diet, e.g. milk, bread and maize was also measured during the period 1966 - 1969. The two main population groups. Whites and Bantu, have vastly different dietary habits and consequently quite different calcium intakes and sources of "'Sr in their diets. Calcium and 90Sr intakes from different foodstuffs were calculated from dietary surveys. An inverse proportionality was found between the dietary calcium intake and the 90Sr content of bone.

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eISSN: 2078-5135
print ISSN: 0256-9574