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Title: Lund clearance of neutron-activated Mount St. Helens volanic ash in the rat

Journal Article · · Environ. Res.; (United States)
OSTI ID:6151747

To determine pulmonary deposition and clearance of inhaled volcanic ash, rats received a single 60-min, nose-only exposure to neutron-activated ash. Over a period of 128 days after exposure, the rats were sacrificed in groups of five animals. Lungs were analyzed for the radionuclide tracers /sup 46/Sc, /sup 59/Fe, and /sup 60/Co by ..gamma..-ray spectrometry. The alveolar ash burdens, detemined by the radionuclides /sup 46/Sc and /sup 59/Fe, are in good agreement for the majority of samples analyzed, indicating ash particulate levels in the lungs, rather than leached radionuclides. The ash deposition estimates based on /sup 60/Co were appreciably lower for the lungs, indicating that /sup 60/Co leached from the ash. Approximately 110 ..mu..g ash, or 6% of the inhaled ash, was initially retained in the deep lung. The biological half-time of the alveolar ash burden was 39 days. After 90 days, the mean lung burden had decreased to about 20% of its initial value; 128 days after exposure, about 10% remained.

Research Organization:
Battelle Pacific Northwest Lab., Richland, WA
OSTI ID:
6151747
Journal Information:
Environ. Res.; (United States), Vol. 35:1
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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