Radionuclide injury to the lung

Journal Article · Sun Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1984 · Environ. Health Perspect.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.8455129· OSTI ID:5641980

Dagle, G E; Sanders, C L

Radionuclide injury to the lung has been studied in rats, hamsters, dogs, mice and baboons. Exposure of the lung to high dose levels of radionuclides produces a spectrum of progressively more severe functional and morphological changes, ranging from radiation pneumonitis and fibrosis to lung tumors. These changes are somewhat similar for different species. Their severity can be related to the absorbed radiation dose (measured in rads) produced by alpha, beta or gamma radiation emanating from various deposited radionuclides. The chemicophysical forms of radionuclides and spatial-temporal factors are also important variables. As with other forms of injury to the lung, repair attempts are highlighted by fibrosis and proliferation of pulmonary epithelium. Lung tumors are the principal late effect observed in experimental animals following pulmonary deposition of radionuclides at dose levels that do not result in early deaths from radiation pneumonitis or fibrosis. The predominant lung tumors described have been of epithelial origin and have been classified, in decreasing frequency of occurrence, as adenocarcinoma, bronchioloalveolar carcinoma, epidermoid carcinomas and combined epidermoid and adenocarcinoma. Mesothelioma and fibrosarcoma have been observed in rats, but less commonly in other species. Hemangiosarcomas were frequently observed in dogs exposed to beta-gamma emitters, and occasionally in rats exposed to alpha emitters. These morphologic changes in the lungs of experimental animals were reviewed and issues relevant to the prediction of human hazards discussed. 88 references.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest Lab., Richland, WA
• DOE Contract Number: AC06-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 5641980
• Journal Information: Environ. Health Perspect.; (United States), Journal Name: Environ. Health Perspect.; (United States) Vol. 55; ISSN EVHPA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560162* -- Radionuclide Effects
Kinetics
& Toxicology-- Animals
Plants
Microorganisms
& Cells
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ACUTE EXPOSURE
ACUTE IRRADIATION
ALPHA DOSIMETRY
ANIMAL TISSUES
ANIMALS
APES
BETA DOSIMETRY
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL RECOVERY
BIOLOGICAL REPAIR
BODY
CARCINOMAS
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
DISEASES
DOCUMENT TYPES
DOGS
DOSES
DOSIMETRY
EPITHELIUM
GAMMA DOSIMETRY
HAMSTERS
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
INHALATION
INJURIES
INTAKE
IRRADIATION
LUNGS
MAMMALS
MICE
MORPHOLOGICAL CHANGES
NEOPLASMS
ORGANS
PRIMATES
RADIATION DOSES
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATION HAZARDS
RADIATION INJURIES
RADIOINDUCTION
RATS
RECOVERY
REPAIR
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
REVIEWS
RODENTS
SARCOMAS
TISSUES
VERTEBRATES