Effect of firing temperature on the lung retention and translocation of Pu following the inhalation of /sup 238/PuO/sub 2/ and /sup 239/PuO/sub 2/ by CBA/H mice
Mice were exposed by inhalation to sized aerosols of /sup 238/PuO/sub 2/ and /sup 239/PuO/sub 2/ which had been fired at temperatures from 550-1250 degrees C and groups killed at times between 1 d and 2 y after exposure. Measurements were made of /sup 238/Pu and /sup 239/Pu in the lungs, lung-associated lymph nodes, liver and skeleton. With /sup 239/Pu, lung retention and translocation were independent of firing temperature. With /sup 238/Pu on the other hand, the retention in lung was greater initially than for /sup 239/Pu but, with the low-fired oxide, eventually fell below that of /sup 239/Pu. With high-fired oxides, the lung retention of /sup 238/Pu still exceeded that of /sup 239/Pu after 2 y. Translocation to liver and bone was invariably greater for /sup 238/Pu than for /sup 239/Pu and was also dependent on firing temperature. The practical implications of these findings are discussed.
- Research Organization:
- United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority, Harwell Lab., Oxfordshire
- OSTI ID:
- 5167046
- Journal Information:
- Health Phys.; (United States), Journal Name: Health Phys.; (United States) Vol. 54:3; ISSN HLTPA
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
Kinetics
& Toxicology-- Animals
Plants
Microorganisms
& Cells
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ACTINIDE ISOTOPES
ACTINIDE NUCLEI
AEROSOLS
ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
ANIMALS
BODY
COLLOIDS
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
DISPERSIONS
DISTRIBUTION
ENERGY
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
EVEN-ODD NUCLEI
GLANDS
HEAT
HEAVY NUCLEI
INHALATION
INTAKE
ISOTOPES
LIVER
LUNGS
LYMPH NODES
LYMPHATIC SYSTEM
MAMMALS
MICE
NUCLEI
ORGANS
PLUTONIUM 238
PLUTONIUM 239
PLUTONIUM ISOTOPES
RADIOACTIVE AEROSOLS
RADIOISOTOPES
RADIONUCLIDE KINETICS
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
RETENTION
RODENTS
SKELETON
SOLS
TEMPERATURE EFFECTS
TISSUE DISTRIBUTION
VERTEBRATES
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES