Radionuclides alpha-emitting

Muggenburg BA, Mewhinney JA, Hahn FF, et al. 1979. Toxicity of inhaled alpha-emitting radionuclides - status report. In Henderson RF, Diel JH, Martinez BS, eds. Inhalation toxicology research institute annual report Lovelace Biomedical and Environmental Research Institute. Albuquerque, NM Inhalation Toxicology Research Institute, 117-121. 

Radionuclides that do not emit beta particles likely emit alpha particles. An alpha particle is, in effect, a helium atom (two protons and two neutrons) ejected from an unstable nucleus. An alpha particle can only travel a few inches in air and cannot penetrate the outer layers of dead skin cells. Therefore, alpha particles are not external hazards and produce tissue damage only if alpha-emitting radionuclides are ingested, inhaled, or injected. 

Singh, NP, Ibrahim SA, Cohen N, et al. 1979. Simultaneous determination of alpha-emitting radionuclides of thorium plutonium in human tissues including bone. Analytical Chem 51 1978-1981. 

Alpha emitting radionuclides — including nadium-226+228, but excluding radon isotopes... 

Concentrations of long-lived, alpha-emitting radionuclides restricted to 4 kBq g 1 in individual waste packages and average of 0.4 kBq g 1 over all waste packages... 

Concentrations of long-lived, alpha-emitting radionuclides that exceed restrictions for short-lived waste... 

High-level waste Thermal power density greater than about 2 kW m 3 and concentrations of long-lived, alpha-emitting radionuclides that exceed restrictions for short-lived waste Geologic repository... 

Within the low-level and intermediate-level waste classes, a further distinction was made between short- and long-lived waste, as well as alpha-bearing waste (IAEA, 1981). Short-lived waste referred to waste that would decay to low activity levels during the time period of perhaps a few centuries when administrative control over the waste can be expected to last, and long-lived waste referred to waste that would not decay to low levels during an administrative control period. Alpha-bearing waste referred to waste that contains one or more alpha-emitting radionuclides in amounts above acceptable limits established by national authorities. 

Naturally occurring uranium contains three alpha-emitting radionuclides, (99.2745 %), (0.7200 %), and (0.0055 %). They are long-lived radioiso-... 

For more information about lung effects from plutonium and a review of the hazards associated with alpha-emitting radionuclide exposure, see the ATSDR Toxicological Profile for Plutonium (ATSDR 1990e) or Appendix D of this profile. 

Because uranium is a predominantly alpha-emitting radionuclide, current theories on gene mutation and chromosomal aberrations by high-LET alpha radiation suggest a potential for genotoxicity from uranium s radioactivity (BEIR 1980,1988,1990 Leach et al. 1970 Morris et al. 1990 Muller et al. 1967 Otake and Schull 1984 Sanders 1986 Stokinger et al. 1953 UNSCEAR 1982,1986,1988) (see Appendix D for a review of the hazards associated with radionuclide exposure). Other genotoxicity studies are discussed in Section 2.5. 

Fabrikant JI. 1990. The health effects of radon and other alpha emitting radionuclides The National Academy of Sciences BEIRIV report. Elsevier Science Publishers, 9-13. 

Fig. 2.1. Details of the chart of isotopes showing the three decay series which contain between them all naturally occurring alpha-emitting radionuclides.

All alpha-emitting radionuclides and equipment containing alpha-emitting radionuclides meeting all of the following specification ... 

The weaponisation-related blocks in the top-level diagram involve such processes as the production of high explosives, tritium, enriched lithium and alpha-emitting radionuclides. The indicators will be largely comprised of equipment, material and environmental signatures. 

McDevitt MR, Sgouros G, Finn RD, Humm JL, Jurcic JG, Larson SM, et al. Radioimmunotherapy with alpha-emitting radionuclides. 

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