Deposition translocation, and effects of transuranic particles inhaled by experimental animals

Conference · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1977

OSTI ID:6419458

Craig, D. K.; Ballou, J. E.; Dagle, G. E.; Mahlum, D. D.; Park, J. F.; Sanders, C. L.; Sikov, M. R.; Stuart, B. O.

Inhalation exposure constitutes the most likely route of entrance for transuranics into the body. Cancer is the most likely consequence of exposure, but several thousand workers have been exposed during the last 30 yrs without, so far, evidence of exposure-related effects. Several soluble and insoluble transuranic compounds have been studied in rodents and dogs, either alone or combined with exposure to other materials (e.g., PuO/sub 2/--UO/sub 2/ fuel and Na). These studies have provided a wide variety of spatial and temporal dose distribution patterns in the lung. The distribution and total initial deposition in the respiratory tract is a function of the physical characteristics of the inhaled aerosols (size distribution, shape, hygroscopicity) and of the morphology and physiology of the animal. Translocation rates, organ and tissue distribution and excretion in urine and feces, are a function of the physicochemical characteristics of the deposited material (solubility, specific activity, chemical compound, etc.). Differences in rate of translocation of the solubilized material, primarily to the liver and bone, determines the radiation dose to the various tissues involved. Insoluble particles of plutonium dioxide are transferred to the thoracic lymph nodes, which may be functionally destroyed as a consequence. Radiation pneumonitis and pulmonary fibrosis are the main causes of death in animals with cumulative radiation doses to the lung of a few thousand rads. The most significant long-term effect of inhaled transuranic compounds in animals is the development of lung and bone tumors. The main type of lung tumor in both dog and rat is the bronchioloalveolar carcinoma (adenocarcinoma). However, tumor type is a function of radiation dose and dose-distribution at high doses. Bone ranks next to lung as the tissue developing the most tumors following inhalation of transuranics.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest National Lab., Richland, WA (US)
• Sponsoring Organization: US Department of Energy (US)
• OSTI ID: 6419458
• Report Number(s): PNL-SA--6489; OSTI ID: 6419458
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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560172* -- Radiation Effects-- Nuclide Kinetics & Toxicology-- Animals-- (-1987)
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AMERICIUM 241
AMERICIUM 241:DEPOSITION
EXCRETION
LUNG CLEARANCE
TISSUE DISTRIBUTION
CARCINOGENESIS--RISK ASSESSMENT
CARCINOMAS--RADIOINDUCTION
CURIUM 244
CURIUM 244: DEPOSITION
EXCRETION
LUNG CLEARANCE
TISSUE DISTRIBUTION
DOGS
FIBROSIS--RADIOINDUCTION
INHALATION
LIVER: CUMULATIVE RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATION DOSES
RADIONUCLIDE KINETICS
LUNGS
LUNGS: CUMULATIVE RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIONUCLIDE KINETICS
SPATIAL DOSE DISTRIBUTIONS
TEMPORAL DOSE DISTRIBUTIONS
LYMPH NODES
LYMPH NODES: CUMULATIVE RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATION DOSES
RADIONUCLIDE KINETICS
NEOPLASMS
PLUTONIUM 238
PLUTONIUM 238 & 239: CARCINOGENESIS
DEPOSITION
EXCRETION
LUNG CLEARANCE
RADIOINDUCTION
RISK ASSESSMENT
TISSUE DISTRIBUTION
PLUTONIUM 239
PLUTONIUM DIOXIDE
RADIATION DOSES
RATS
SPATIAL DOSE DISTRIBUTIONS
TEMPORAL DOSE DISTRIBUTIONS
TISSUE DISTRIBUTION
TRANSLOCATION