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THE DISTRIBUTION AND EXCRETION OF THALLIUM-204 IN THE RAT, WITH SUGGESTED MPC'S AND A BIOASSAY PROCEDURE

Journal Article · · Health Physics (England)
The distribution and excretion of thallium in the rat were studied followtng injection of Tl/sup 204/ by six routes: intramuscular, intraperitoneal, intratracheal, irtravenous, oral, and subcutaneous. In all cases absorption is rapid and distribution diffuse with comparatively large quantities found in the kidneys. It is assumed that thallium is generally incorporated into the intracellular fluids. There is no day to day variation in relative organ thallium content with the exception of hair in which there is an actual build-up of thallium with time. Any organ except hair may therefore be said to have the same biological half-time as the body burden (3.3 days) which follows a single exponential function extrapolating to 100 per cent at zero time. Excretion assumes the same pattern after all routes of injection with some minor exceptions. There is a fecal to uninary ratio of between 2 and 5, a greater rate of decrease in thallium content being found in the urine than in the feces. A maximum permissible body burden and maximum permissible concentrations for air and water were calculated for Tl/sup 204/ with kidney as critical organ. Assuming body burden equilibrium at about 30 days expcsure on an industrial routine, a suitable method for bio-assay was suggested. (auth)
Research Organization:
Univ. of Rochester, N.Y.
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
NSA Number:
NSA-14-018755
OSTI ID:
4141998
Journal Information:
Health Physics (England), Journal Name: Health Physics (England) Vol. Vol: 2; ISSN HLTPA
Country of Publication:
Country unknown/Code not available
Language:
English