Distribution of plutonium

A general conclusion from the review of the distribution of plutonium between different compartments of the ecosystem was that the enrichment of plutonium from water to food was fairly well compensated for by man s metabolic discrimination against plutonium. Therefore, under the conditions described above, it may be concluded that plutonium from a nuclear waste repository in deep granite bedrock is not likely to reach man in concentrations exceeding permissible levels. However, considering the uncertainties in the input equilibrium constants, the site-specific Kd-values and the very approximate transport equation, the effects of the decay products, etc. — as well as the crude assumptions in the above example — extensive research efforts are needed before the safety of a nuclear waste repository can be scientifically proven. 

After the stipulated leaching period, the waters were sampled before and after filtration through 0.05 ym Nuclepore filters and the oxidation-state distribution of plutonium in the filtrates was determined as follows PrF3 carrier precipitation for Pu(III) and (IV), PrF3 precipitation following NaHS03 reduction for total plutonium, and thenoyltrifluoroacetone (TTA) extraction... 

Harrison JD, David AJ, Stather JW. 1980. The wound clearance and distribution of plutonium, americium and curium in rodents. Int J Radiat Biol 37(5) 505-512. 

Johnson LJ, Watters RL, Lagerquist CR, et al. 1970. Relative distribution of plutonium and americium following experimental Pu02 implants. Health Phys 19 743-749. 

Kathren RL, Strom DJ, Mclnroy JF, et al. 1990. Distribution of plutonium and americium in the lungs and lymph nodes of United States Transuranium Registry registrants and relationship to smoking status. Health Phys 58(Suppl. 1) S48. 

Lagerquist CR, Hammond SE, Bokowski DL, et al. 1972a. Distribution of plutonium and americium in occupationally exposed humans as found from autopsy samples. Health Phys 23(3) 418. 

McInroy JF, Kathren RL, Swint MJ. 1989. Distribution of plutonium and americium in whole bodies donated to the United States Transuranium Registry. Radiat Prot Dosim 26(1/4) 151-158. 

Miettinen JK, Mussalo H, Hakanen M, et al. 1980. Distribution of plutonium and americium in human and animal tissues after chronic exposures. In International Radiation Protection Society, ed. Radiation protection A systemic approach to safety Proceedings of the 5th congress of the International Radiation Protection Society, Jerusalem, March 1980. New York Pergamon Press, 1049-1052. 

Naylor GPL, Haines JW, Whysall K, et al. 1993. Measurements of the gastrointestinal absorption and tissue distribution of plutonium, americium and polonium in experimental animals. Sci Total Environ 130 429-435. 

Nyhan JW, Drennon BJ, Abeele WV, et al. 1985. Distribution of plutonium and americium beneath a 33-yr old liquid waste disposal site. J Environ Qual 14(4) 501-509. 

Schreckhise RG, Cline JF. 1980. Comparative uptake and distribution of plutonium, americium, curium and neptunium in four plant species. Health Phys 38 817-824. 

Evidence of interactions of actinides with rhodotorulic acid and 2,3-dihydroxy-benzoyl-N-glycine is presented in Figs. 1 and 2. In Fig. la the distribution of plutonium between citric acid, fractions 22—28, and transferrin, fraction 14-18, (the evi-... 

The coordination chemistry and distribution of plutonium in the body is similar to that of iron and desferrioxamine can mobilize 239Pu from most of the organs. This fact makes the drug important for safety in the nuclear industry. 

Karraker, D.G., Rudisill, T.S., Thompson, M.C. 2001. Studies of the effect of acetohy-droxamic acid on distribution of plutonium and neptunium by 30vol% tributyl phosphate. WSRC-TR-2001-00509. 

Sontag W. 1983. The early distribution of plutonium-239, americium-241 and uranium-233 in the soft tissues and skeleton of old rats. A comparative study. Hum Toxicol 2 91-100. 

The simulation of the fissure was accomplished by the apparatus shown in Fig. 12. Tablets of basalt were cut with smooth surfaces. Five of the six surfaces of the tablet were rendered impervious to water by coating them with wax. The sixth surface was left untreated and was held in the apparatus in such a manner as to be exposed to and wetted by a solution containing plutonium. This "active" surface was held in the apparatus in such a way that it faced an inert surface (Teflon) a short distance away (about 0.01 cm) as shown in Fig. 12. The space between the basalt and Teflon surfaces then constituted the fissure through which the aqueous medium could flow. Since all other surfaces of the basalt were waxed they did not participate in the experiment. Consequently all results on the distribution of plutonium on the surface of the basalt were unperturbed by effects that would have otherwise related to more complex geometries. 238... 

The sorption and desorption of aqueous plutonium in the range of 10 7 to 10 8M was studied on quartz and other silica surfaces. Sorption continued typically for 12 to 15 days before apparent equilibrium was reached, and the distribution of plutonium particle sizes sorbed on the silica was different from that in solution. At pH 7, sorption increased with increasing ionic strength, but decreased when bicarbonate was added. The amount of sorption varied at pH 5 and 7, but differently at high and low ionic strengths, as well as with the age of the solution. Plutonium desorption indicated that there were two basically different sorbed species, and the rate and quantity of desorbed material increased at pH 5 compared with 7 and 9. 

In one sorption experiment, the particle size distribution of the aqueous plutonium was determined by the centrifugation technique previously described (I). Simultaneously, a study was made of the size distribution of plutonium sorbed onto silica plates by an autoradiographic method (I, 2, 3). After the plutonium sorbed on the silica plates, the latter were dried and clamped for 2 to 4 days to glass plates coated with Kodak NTA nuclear emulsion. After developing the emulsion, the result-... 

Sanchez, A.L., Gastaud, J., Holm, E. and Roos, P. (1994) Distribution of plutonium and its oxidation states in Framvaren and Hellvik fjords, Norway. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 22, 205-217. 

The distribution of plutonium following absorption from the lungs was dependent on the physicochemical form deposited. In general, plutonium was distributed to the skeleton, liver, and lymph nodes, however, some plutonium has been found in all tissues. Information from humans who have been occupationally exposed to plutonium indicated that the highest concentrations of the absorbed plutonium were found in the tracheal-bronchial lymph nodes, followed by the liver, skeleton, and kidneys (Lagerquist et al. 1973). However, a more recent study by Mclnroy et al. 

The distribution of plutonium within the lungs after inhalation exposure was also dependent on several variables. In rats a more uniform exposure of lung cells occurred from administration of the air- oxidized form compared to the high-fired form (Sanders and Mahaffey 1979). Initially after exposure to the dioxide form, distribution in the lungs of hamsters was random with particles becoming more clumped with time (Diel et al. 1981). 

The distribution of plutonium in the liver differed between the nitrate and dioxide forms. Administration of the nitrate form to dogs resulted in diffusely distributed activity found as single tracks, while administration of the dioxide form resulted in localized activity found as "alpha stars" with radioautography (Dagle et al. 1985). 

In rats and dogs following absorption of plutonium from the gastrointestinal tract, up to 95X of the absorbed dose has been found to be distributed to the skeleton (Carritt et al. 1947 Larsen et al. 1981 Toohey et al. 1984). Plutonium was also distributed to a less extent to the liver, carcass, and soft tissues (Carritt et al. 1947 Katz et al. 1955 Larsen et al. 1981 Sullivan et al. 1984). The distribution of plutonium-237 in a bicarbonate solution administered via a gelatin capsule was greatest to the axial skeleton (Toohey et al. 1984). 

At early times after dermal exposure of rabbits to plutonium-239 nitrate, activity in blood was uniformly distributed, but later changed to a nonuniform distribution (Khodyreva 1966). Distribution of plutonium was greatest to the skeleton followed by muscle tissue, liver, kidney, spleen, heart, and lungs (Khodyreva 1966). In an earlier study in rats, the absorption of plutonium through intact skin did not appear to result in distribution to the liver as compared to absorption through skin damaged by punctures or wounds where deposition in the liver was seen (Oakley and Thompson 1956). 

The distribution of plutonium was studied in terminally ill patients who had been given an intravenous injection of plutonium (Langham et al. 1980). Blood concentrations decreased rapidly (0.3% remained in the blood after 30 days). At death, which occurred from 16 to 450 days after injection, an average of 56X of the administered plutonium was in the bone marrow and on bone surfaces, while 23% was in the liver (Langham et al. 1980). 

The distribution of plutonium after intravenous injection was age- dependent. The distribution of different chemical forms of administered plutonium did not differ in neonates, and activity was more uniformly distributed than in weanlings and adults (Mahlum and Sikov 1974 Sikov and Mahlum 1976). In immature dogs, increased deposition of plutonium was associated with bones that were... 

S. C. Miller (University of Utah) is determining the localization and distribution of plutonium- 239 and other actinides in tissue, cellular, and subcellular compartments of the gonads (testes and ovaries) in different species and in human tissue. 

Ash P, Parker T. 1978. The ultrastructure of mouse testicular interstitial tissue containing plutonium-239 and its significance in explaining the observed distribution of plutonium in the testis. Int J Radiat Biol 34 523-536. 

Gearhart J, Diel J, McClellan R. 1980. Intrahepatic distribution of plutonium in beagles. Radiat Res 84 343-352. 

Green D, Howells G, Vennart J, et al. 1977. The distribution of plutonium in the mouse ovary. Int J AppI Radiat Isot 28 497-502. 

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