Chelation Modeling of a Plutonium-238 Inhalation Incident Treated with Delayed DTPA

Journal Article · Tue Nov 14 00:00:00 EST 2023 · Radiation Research

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1667/rade-23-00135.1· OSTI ID:2228656

Dumit, Sara ^[1]; Miller, Guthrie ^[1]; Grémy, Olivier ^[2]; Poudel, Deepesh ^[1]; Bertelli, Luiz ^[3]; Klumpp, John A. ^[1]

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1. Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
2. Paris-Saclay University, Fontenay-aux-Roses (France)
3. L Bertelli and Associates, Salt Lake City, UT (United States)

This work describes an analysis, using a previously established chelation model, of the bioassay data collected from a worker who received delayed chelation therapy following a plutonium-238 inhalation. The details of the case have already been described in two publications. The individual was treated with Ca-DTPA via multiple intravenous injections and then nebulizations beginning several months after the intake and continuing for four years. The exact date and circumstances of the intake are unknown. However, interviews with the worker suggested that the intake occurred via inhalation of a soluble plutonium compound. The worker provided daily urine and fecal bioassay samples throughout the chelation treatment protocol, including samples collected before, during, and after the administration of Ca-DTPA. Unlike the previous two publications presenting this case, the current analysis explicitly models the combined biokinetics of the plutonium-DTPA chelate. Further, using the previously established chelation model, it was possible to fit the data through optimizing only the intake (day and magnitude), solubility, and absorbed fraction of nebulized Ca-DTPA. This work supports the hypothesis that the efficacy of the delayed chelation treatment observed in this case results mainly from chelation of cell-internalized plutonium by Ca-DTPA (intracellular chelation). It also demonstrates the validity of the previously established chelation model. As the bioassay data were modified to ensure data anonymization, the calculation of the “true” committed effective dose was not possible. However, the treatment-induced dose inhibition (in percentage) was calculated.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
• Grant/Contract Number: 89233218CNA000001
• OSTI ID: 2228656
• Report Number(s): LA-UR--23-26857
• Journal Information: Radiation Research, Journal Name: Radiation Research Journal Issue: 6 Vol. 200; ISSN 0033-7587
• Publisher: Radiation Research Society
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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