Background information about polonium-210 -considerations on its biokinetics and internal dosimetry

Abstract The mysterious death of the former secret service agent Alexander Litvinenko on 23 November 2006 suddenly attracted the attention of the public to the rather unknown radionuclide 210Po. In this respect, this paper presents some general background information about this radionuclide as well as some details about its biokinetic behaviour and internal dosimetry. The results are discussed in the context of the Litvinenko case with regard to possible health effects on people from Germany being potentially contaminated. However, no evidence for contamination with 210Po could be found for any people tested at the GSF-National Research Center for Environment and Health (since 01.01.2008 Helmholtz Zentrum Munchen).