Methods to improve routine bioassay monitoring for freshly separated, poorly transported plutonium

Technical Report · Thu Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1988

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6800906· OSTI ID:6800906

Bihl, D E; Lynch, T P; Carbaugh, E H; Sula, M J

Several human cases involving inhalation of plutonium oxide at Hanford have shown clearance half-times from the lung that are much longer than the 500-day half-time recommended for class Y plutonium in Publication 30 of the International Commission on Radiological Protection(ICRP). The more tenaciously retained material is referred to as super class Y plutonium. The ability to detect super class Y plutonium by current routine bioassay measurements is shown to be poor. Pacific Northwest Laboratory staff involved in the Hanford Internal Dosimetry Program investigated four methods to se if improvements in routine monitoring of workers for fresh super class Y plutonium are feasible. The methods were lung counting, urine sampling, fecal sampling, and use of diethylenetriaminepentaacetate (DTPA) to enhance urinary excretion. Use of DTPA was determined to be not feasible. Routine fecal sampling was found to be feasible but not recommended. Recommendations were made to improve the detection level for routine annual urinalysis and routine annual lung counting. 12 refs., 9 figs., 7 tabs.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest Lab., Richland, WA (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC06-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 6800906
• Report Number(s): PNL-6695; ON: DE89000684
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560151* -- Radiation Effects on Animals-- Man
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ACTINIDE COMPOUNDS
BIOASSAY
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BIOLOGICAL WASTES
BODY
BODY FLUIDS
CHALCOGENIDES
CLEARANCE
COUNTING TECHNIQUES
EXCRETION
FECES
INHALATION
INTAKE
LUNG CLEARANCE
LUNGS
MATERIALS
MONITORING
OPTIMIZATION
ORGANS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PLUTONIUM COMPOUNDS
PLUTONIUM OXIDES
RADIATION PROTECTION
RECOMMENDATIONS
RESIDUES
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
SAMPLING
TESTING
TRANSURANIUM COMPOUNDS
URINE
WASTES