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IRRADIATION OF THE GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT OF THE RAT BY INSOLUBLE BETA EMITTERS

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:4304064

Phosphorus-32 labeled particulate chromic phosphate was administered, by gavage, to rats as a source of gastrointestinal beta irradiation. A method of calculating the resultant dose-rates to the various segments of the gastrointestinal tract was formulated; and doserates were calculated for each group of irradiated animals. Groups of rats received daily adminlstrations of CrPO(sub 4), containing 100, 204, or 400 microcuries of P-32, for periods of 5, 10 and 30 days. These animals, and their allied controls, were subjected to clinical and histological examinations to determine the biological effects of local beta irradiation on the gastrointestinal tissues. Rats, of the Long-Evans strain, were found to tolerate daily radiation dosages ranging from 100 rep to the stomach, to 25 rep to the cecum, for periods of 10 days, without evidence of immediate damage. The cecum was shown to be the critical tissue of the gastrointestinal tract of the rat, following the ingestion of insoluble beta emitters. Daily radiation dosages as high as 260 rep to the;tomach, and 84 rep to the cecum, produced moderate atrophic and degenerative changes in the gastrointestinal mucosa, with a complementary loss of body weight, and a reduction of the numbers of circulating lymphocytes. Amimals receiving the above dose-rates for a period of 10 days were found to return to a clinically sound condition by 14 days post irradiation. The data are discussed in terms of possible applicability to situations in which humans were to ingest insoluble beta emitters under emergency conditions. lt is tentatively concluded that present emergency permissible levels of contamination based upon low acceptable risk of injury to hematopoietic tissue are also acceptable insofar as beta particle injury to the gastrointestinal tract are concerned. (auth)

Research Organization:
Rochester, N.Y. Univ. Atomic Energy Project
NSA Number:
NSA-13-001049
OSTI ID:
4304064
Report Number(s):
UR-529
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English