Retention, Translocation and Excretion of Inhaled Pu²³⁹O₂

Journal Article · Sat Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1962 · Health Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1097/00004032-196212000-00012· OSTI ID:4714061

Bair, W. J.; Willard, D. H.; Herring, J. P.; George, L. A.

Beagle dogs were given single exposures to one of seven Pu²³⁹O₂ aerosols that differed in particle size from 0.2 to 7.6 mu mass median diameter (MMD). Translocation of plutonium to other tissues and excretion in both urine and feces up to a month after exposure were greatest for dogs exposed to aerosols with the smallest median diameter. Dogs exposed to an aerosol with a MMD of 4.3 mu were studied for about 10 months. The half-time for retention of Pu²³⁹ in lungs was about 300 days; however, during this period there was continuous accumulation of Pu²³⁹ in bronchiai lymph nodes, wiuch resulted in about a 1500 to 1800 day half-time for total body retention of plutonium. lnhaled and intravenously injected plutonium nitrate (0.2 N HNO₃) were compared in still other dogs. After inhalation, 70 per cent of the body burden was in the lungs, 10 per cent in the liver and 15 per cent in bone. After intravenous injection, more than 80 per cent of the body burden was in liver and about 6 per cent each in the spleen and bone. The rate of excretion in urine was about five times greater after inhalation than after intravenous injection. Corresponding differences were observed in the levels of plutonium in blood. The results of these studies emphasize the importance of the chemical form and the particle size of inhaled plutonium aerosols on retention, translocation and excretion, and point out the problems to be encountered in estimating the body burden from excretion analysis.

• Research Organization: General Electric Co., Richland, Wash.
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• NSA Number: NSA-17-010321
• OSTI ID: 4714061
• Journal Information: Health Physics, Journal Name: Health Physics Journal Issue: 6 Vol. 8; ISSN 0017-9078
• Publisher: Health Physics Society
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AEROSOLS
BLOOD
BONES
DOGS
FECES
LIVER
LUNGS
LYMPH NODES
LYMPH SYSTEM
PLUTONIUM 239
PLUTONIUM OXIDES
QUANTITY RATIO
SPLEEN
TISSUES
URINE