Bone tumors induced by inhalation of /sup 238/PuO/sub 2/ in dogs

Journal Article · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1976 · Recent Results Cancer Res.; (United States)

OSTI ID:7082977

Park, J F; Lund, J E; Ragan, H A; Hackett, P L; Frazier, M E

Plutonium-238, an alpha-emitting radionuclide, is used as a heat source in thermoelectric power generators such as have been employed on lunar expeditions of communications satellites and in cardiac pacemakers. It has an 86.4 year half-life and emits 5.5 MeV alpha particles. Beagle dogs were given single 10 to 30 minute exposures to /sup 238/PuO/sub 2/ aerosols to study the long-term translocation of plutonium and biologicl effects. Dogs with a terminal body burden ranging from 7 to 260 MuCi were euthanized due to respiratory insufficiency related to plutonium-induced pneumonitis during the first 3 years after exposure. Nine of the 11 dogs euthanized during the 4 to 6 year postexposure period had osteosarcomas. The terminal plutonium body burden in the tumor-bearing dogs ranged from 0.5 to 2.6 muCi with 30 to 55 percent of the plutonium in the skeleton. Experiments are in progress to further define the dose-effect relationship of inhaled /sup 238/PuO/sub 2/ and investigate the mechanisms of plutonium-induced neoplasia.

• OSTI ID: 7082977
• Journal Information: Recent Results Cancer Res.; (United States), Journal Name: Recent Results Cancer Res.; (United States) Vol. 54; ISSN RRCRB
• 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.
ACTINIDE COMPOUNDS
ACTINIDE ISOTOPES
ACTINIDE NUCLEI
ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
ALPHA PARTICLES
ANIMALS
BEAGLES
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
BODY
CARCINOGENESIS
CHALCOGENIDES
CHARGED PARTICLES
DISEASES
DOGS
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
HEAVY NUCLEI
INHALATION
INTAKE
ISOTOPES
MAMMALS
NEOPLASMS
NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems
NUCLEI
ORGANS
OSTEOSARCOMAS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PATHOGENESIS
PLUTONIUM 238
PLUTONIUM COMPOUNDS
PLUTONIUM ISOTOPES
PLUTONIUM OXIDES
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIOINDUCTION
RADIOISOTOPES
SARCOMAS
SKELETAL DISEASES
SKELETON
TRANSURANIUM COMPOUNDS
VERTEBRATES
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES