Pulmonary lesions induced by inhaled plutonium in beagles

Conference · Wed Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1975

OSTI ID:4093142

Dagle, G. E.; Lund, J. E.; Park, J. F.

The histopathologic features of pulmonary fibrosis and bronchiolo- alveolar carcinoma in beagles exposed to aerosols of plutonium oxide were reviewed. A hypothesis of the pathogenesis of radiation pneumonitis induced by inhalation of plutonium oxide was presented; this hypothesis included phagocytosis of plutonium particles, fibrosis responding to the necrosis, and alveolar cell hyperplasia compensating for alveolar cells killed by alpha radiation. Histopathologic features of the epithelial changes suggest a progression from hyperplasia to metaplasia and, finally, to bronchiolo-alveolar carcinoma. The possibility of concurrent radiation-induced lymphopenia contributing to the development of bronchiolo-alveolar carcinoma through a loss of immunologic surveillance was discussed. (auth)

• Research Organization: Battelle Pacific Northwest Labs., Richland, Wash. (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: E(45-1)-1830
• NSA Number: NSA-33-020553
• OSTI ID: 4093142
• Report Number(s): BNWL-SA--5563; CONF-751043--7
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

*CARCINOMAS-- RADIOINDUCTION
*LUNGS-- BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
*PLUTONIUM OXIDES-- BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
*PNEUMONITIS-- RADIOINDUCTION
560162* --Biomedical Sciences
Applied Studies--Radiation Effects--Radionuclide Effects--Internal Source--Animals
ALPHA SOURCES
BEAGLES
DOGS
ETIOLOGY
INHALATION
N48620* --Life Sciences--Radionuclide Effects (Internal Source)--Animals
PATHOLOGICAL CHANGES
RADIOACTIVE AEROSOLS