Biokinetics of yttrium and comparison with its geochemical twin holmium
- Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). Environmental Sciences Division
The transition metal yttrium (Y, atomic number 39) is chemically similar to elements in the lanthanide family (atomic numbers 57-71, lanthanum through lutetium) and is always present with the lanthanides in rare earth ores. Yttrium and the lanthanide holmium are particularly close chemical and physical analogues and are referred to as geochemical twins because they typically show little fractionation in geological material. Extensive measurements on rocks, soils, and meteorites indicate that the Y/Ho mass concentration ratio rarely falls far from the “chondritic” or “solar system” ratio of ~26. Our paper presents a new biokinetic model for yttrium in adult humans and examines whether yttrium and holmium may be biological as well as geochemical twins. Collected data on yttrium and holmium in plants and human tissues do not allow precise derivations of Y/Ho concentration ratios but with occasional exceptions yield ratios that are reasonably consistent with chondritic values. Predictions of the time-dependent behavior of yttrium in adult humans based on the yttrium model presented here closely approximate predictions of the behavior of holmium based on a previously developed model for holmium. We know that yttrium and holmium are close biological analogues, but the available comparative data are too limited and imprecise to reveal whether there are any significant differences in their biological behavior.
- Research Organization:
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- Grant/Contract Number:
- AC05-00OR22725
- OSTI ID:
- 1394185
- Journal Information:
- Journal of Radiological Protection, Vol. 37, Issue 2; ISSN 0952-4746
- Publisher:
- IOP PublishingCopyright Statement
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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