Distribution and short-term effects of intratracheally instilled neutron-irradiated UO[sub 2] particles in the rat

Journal Article · Fri Apr 01 00:00:00 EST 1994 · Environmental Research; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1006/enrs.1994.1025· OSTI ID:7199183

Lang, S; Kosma, V M; Kumlin, T; Ruuskanen, J ^[1]; Haelinen, A; Salonen, R O ^[2]; Servomaa, K; Rytoemaa, T ^[3]

---

1. Univ. of Kuopio (Finland)
2. National Public Health Institute, Kuopio (Finland)
3. Finnish Centre for Radiation and Nuclear Safety, Helsinki (Finland)

In the present study we investigated the radionuclide distribution and histopathological effects of neutron-irradiated UO[sub 2] particles in the rat after intratracheal instillation. The kinetics and short-term effects of uranium fission products ([sup 95]Zr, [sup 95]Nb, [sup 103]Ru, and [sup 141]Ce) were examined during a 3-month follow-up period. A rapid clearance (about 21%) of particles occurred via the gastrointestinal tract within 24 hr after the instillation. Autoradiographic and histological examinations revealed that the retained particles were nonuniformly distributed in the lungs. Translocation of the fission products from the lung to various other tissues was slow; 3 months after the instillation, the activity of the total body burden was below 1% in the liver, kidney, and spleen, whereas in the lungs it was 83%. Clearance of particles appeared to be mainly due to tracheobronchial mucociliary mechanisms. Translocation of the fission products to the bone and liver was significantly less than that reported by the ICRP, indicating that the clearance of uranium-matrix-associated fission products is preferably dependent on the physical characteristics of the particulate material. The cumulative lung doses ranging from 170 to 550 mSv caused slight or moderate local inflammatory reactions in the lungs, but at smaller dose levels there were no histopathological changes observed. 39 refs., 6 figs., 1 tab.

• OSTI ID: 7199183
• Journal Information: Environmental Research; (United States), Vol. 65:1; ISSN 0013-9351
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
FISSION PRODUCTS
TRANSLOCATION
GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT
CLEARANCE
URANIUM OXIDES
BIOLOGICAL PATHWAYS
TISSUE DISTRIBUTION
AUTORADIOGRAPHY
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
BODY BURDEN
LUNGS
ACTINIDE COMPOUNDS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BODY
CHALCOGENIDES
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
DISTRIBUTION
ISOTOPES
MATERIALS
ORGANS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
URANIUM COMPOUNDS
560150* - Radiation Effects on Animals