Microdosimetry of plutonium in beagle dog lung

Conference · Fri Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1980

OSTI ID:6925948

Fisher, D. R.; Roesch, W. C.

A better understanding of the microdosimetry of internally-deposited radionuclides should provide new clues to the complex relationships between organ dose distribution and early or late biological effects. Our current interest is the microdosimetry of plutonium and other alpha emitters in the lung. Since the lung is an inhomogeneous tissue, it was necessary to characterize the microscopic distributions of alveolar tissue, air space, and epithelial cell nuclei to define source-target parameters. A statistical representation of the microstructure of beagle dog lung was developed from automated image analysis of specimens from three healthy adult male dogs. The statistical distributions obtained constituted a data base from which it was possible to calculate both the energy dissipation of an alpha particle as it traversed a straight line path through pulmonary tissue, and the probability of intersecting a potentially sensitive biological site in the cell. Computer methods were modified to accomodate tissues with air space regions such as one finds in lung tissue. With the lung model description, these methods were used to determine probability density curves in specific energy for inhaled plutonium aerosols. It was assumed that the activity was randomly distributed on alveolar walls. Calculated examples are given for various activities of inhaled plutonium point sources deposited in lung tissue.

• Research Organization: Battelle Pacific Northwest Labs., Richland, WA (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC06-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 6925948
• Report Number(s): PNL-SA-8299; CONF-800944-5
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560152* -- Radiation Effects on Animals-- Animals
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ACTINIDES
ANIMALS
BEAGLES
BODY
DOGS
DOSIMETRY
ELEMENTS
INHALATION
INTAKE
LUNGS
MAMMALS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
METALS
MICRODOSIMETRY
ORGANS
PLUTONIUM
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
TRANSURANIUM ELEMENTS
VERTEBRATES