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PubMed1985

243,244Cm studies in C57BL/Do mice.

Three groups of C57BL/Do mice were injected with different activities of 243,244Cm so that the long-term biological effects could be evaluated. The biological retention, R, of injected curium in the skeleton at t days after injection could be represented by the equations R = 0.245e-0.000379t and R = 0.208e-0.000494t for male and female mice, respectively. Effective skeletal retention equations were used to calculate the cumulative mean skeletal dose in rad at 140 days before death in each group of mice. The primary objective of this study was to determine the relative biological effectiveness (RBE) of 243,244Cm compared to 226Ra, using bone sarcoma induction as the end point. Combined data (bone sarcomas per 10(6) mouse-rad) for male and female mice permitted the RBE value +/- SD for 243,244Cm to be calculated as 4.4 +/- 1.8 compared to 1.0 for 226Ra. A comparison of RBE values form a previous study in this mouse strain and the value for 243,244Cm from this study suggests that the trivalent actinides 241Am, 243,244Cm, and 249Cf are about three times less effective for bone sarcoma induction than 239Pu.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Spectroscopic Study of Cm(III) Sorption onto gamma-Alumina.

The surface sorption of Cm(III) onto aqueous suspensions of alumina is investigated by time-resolved laser fluorescence spectroscopy (TRLFS). The experiment is performed under an Ar atmosphere at an ionic strength of 0.1 M NaClO(4). The pH is varied between 2 and 10 and the metal ion concentration between 2.7x10(-8) and 4.5x10(-5) mol/L. With increasing pH, two Cm(III)-alumina surface species are identified which are attributed to identical withAl-O-Cm(2+)(H(2)O)(5) and identical withAl-O-Cm(+)(OH)(H(2)O)(4). The two curium-alumina surface complexes are characterized by their emission spectra (peak maxima at 601.2 nm and 603.3 nm, respectively) and fluorescence emission lifetime (both 110&mgr;s). In the concentration range investigated, the surface complex formation is not dependent on the metal ion concentration but only on the pH. Additionally, the concentration ratio of the two surface species is found to be independent of the metal ion concentration. No spectroscopic evidence for the presence of "strong" and "weak" sites can be found at different surface coverages. Copyright 2001 Academic Press.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2002

A time-resolved laser fluorescence spectroscopy (TRLFS) study of the interaction of trivalent actinides (Cm(III)) with calcite.

Cm(III) interaction with calcite was investigated by time-resolved laser fluorescence spectroscopy (TRLFS) in the trace concentration range. Two different Cm(III)/calcite sorption species were found. The first Cm(III) sorption species consists of a curium ion bonded onto the calcite surface. The second Cm(III) sorption species has lost its complete hydration sphere and is incorporated into the calcite bulk structure. The Cm(III)/calcite complexes are characterized by their emission spectra (peak maxima at 607.5 and 618.0 nm) and their fluorescence emission lifetimes (314+/-6 and 1302+/-75 micros).

Journal Article↗
PubMed1987

Hot particles in the environment: assessment of dose and health detriment.

Hot particles, highly radioactive particles made up of fission products or actinides and being small enough to become airborne, defy many of the dose models and risk concepts in use by the health physics community. At environmental exposures, both on the level of populations and tissues, dose distributions become very skewed; only few persons or tissue cells being exposed at correspondingly higher levels. Fallout from Chernobyl showed a numerically small subfraction of the aerosol particles containing activities of up to 10 kBq 103-ruthenium or up to 0.3 Bq 242-curium in single particles. The implications of these hot particles on the dosimetry after uptake are great since the locally accumulated dose, for example in the pulmonary region, may reach up to 10 MSv. For inhalation as well as for ingestion, theoretical considerations predict a decrease in the effectiveness of particulate radioactivity as compared to monomeric activity. This hypothesis is also supported by experimental and epidemiological evidence from the examination of the radiation effects of particulate alpha-emitters deposited in the lung.

Accidents↗
PubMed2006

Online analysis of europium and gadolinium species complexed or uncomplexed with humic acid by capillary electrophoresis-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.

Detailed information on the geochemical behavior of radioactive and toxic metal ions under environmental conditions (in geological matrices and aquifer systems) is needed in order to assess the long-term safety of waste repositories. This includes knowledge of the mechanisms of relevant geochemical reactions, as well as associated thermodynamic and kinetic data. Several previous studies have shown that humic acid can play an important role in the immobilization or mobilization of metal ions due to complexation and colloid formation. In our project we investigate the complexation behavior of (purified Aldrich) humic acid and its influence on the migration of the lanthanides europium and gadolinium (homologs of the actinides americium and curium) in the ternary system consisting of these heavy metals, humic acid and kaolinite (KGa-1b) under almost natural conditions. Capillary electrophoresis (CE, Beckman Coulter P/ACE MDQ), with its excellent separation performance, was hyphenated with a homemade interface to inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS, VG Elemental PlasmaQuad 3) giving a system that is highly sensitive to the rare-earth element species of europium and gadolinium with humic acid. The humic acid used was also halogenated with iodine, which acted as an ICP-MS marker. To couple CE to ICP-MS, a fused silica CE capillary was flexibly fitted into a MicroMist 50 mul nebulizer with a Cinnabar cyclonic spray chamber in the external homemade interface. The chamber was chilled to a temperature of 4 degrees C to optimize the sensitivity. 200 ppb of cesium were added to the CE separation buffer so that the capillary flow could be observed. A make-up fluid including 4 ppb Ho as an internal standard was combined with the flow from the capillary within the interface in order to get a fluid throughput high enough to maintain continuous nebulization. Very low detection limits were achieved: 125 ppt for 153Eu and 250 ppt for 158Gd. Using this optimized CE-ICP-MS coupling system it was possible to quantify metal concentrations from the detection limit up to approximately 1 ppm (the linear range). This set-up was used to separate metal/humic acid-species in a 100 mM acetic acid/10 mM acetate buffer system. Using humic acid as the complexing ligand, uncomplexed metal ion species could be separated from metal-humate complexes on a time-resolved scale.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1985

Identification of transferrin as the principal neptunium-binding protein in the blood serum of rats.

The binding of 239Np(V) to blood serum components of rats was examined in vivo and in vitro. After gel filtration of the serum using a Sephacryl S-300 column, 98% of the applied activity appeared with protein fractions representing coeluted albumins and transferrin. A separation of the albumin- and transferrin-proteins by ion-exchange chromatography using DEAE-cellulose showed the 239Np being entirely bound to the iron-carrier protein transferrin. The high elution yields from the ion-exchange columns, greater than 90%, suggest that the binding may be quite strong. The binding capacity of transferrin for neptunium in vivo was found to decline when the iron level in blood serum was increased. Precipitation experiments showed that 84 +/- 2% of the 239Np was precipitated with 10% (w/v) trichloracetic acid, 77 +/- 3% with 90% ethanol but only 6 +/- 1% with saturated ammonium sulphate at pH 7.4. The available data indicate that as for plutonium, thorium, americium and curium, the iron transport protein, transferrin, may be the main carrier protein for neptunium in mammalian blood serum.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Transuranic biokinetic parameters for marine invertebrates--a review.

A catalogue of biokinetic parameters for the transuranic elements plutonium, americium, curium, neptunium, and californium in marine invertebrates is presented. The parameters considered are: the seawater-animal concentration factor (CF); the sediment-animal concentration ratio (CR); transuranic assimilation efficiency; transuranic tissue distribution and transuranic elimination rates. With respect to the seawater-animal CF, authors differ considerably on how they define this parameter and a seven-point reporting system is suggested. Transuranic uptake from sediment by animals is characterised by low CRs. The assimilation efficiencies of transuranic elements in marine invertebrates are high compared to vertebrates and mammals in general and the distribution of transuranics within the body tissue of an animal is dependent on the uptake path. The elimination of transuranics from most species examined conformed to a standard biphasic exponential model though some examples with three elimination phases were identified.

Animals↗
PubMed1980

Actinide transport across cell membranes.

Protactinium uptake into the normal liver does not exceed 3%, but when the phospholipid levels in the liver are elevated by administration of thioacetamide this uptake increases to 31%. Phosphatidic acid, which is absent from the normal liver, has been shown to extract protactinium into organic solvents. However, phosphatidylserine, a component of normal liver cell membranes, does not extract protactinium. It might be conjectured that this is why so little protactinium is taken up by the normal liver. The hypothesis is advanced that phosphatidylserine, which is known to complex plutonium, americium and curium, may regulate the uptake of these elements by liver.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

The development of a sequential method for the determination of actinides and 90Sr in power station effluent using extraction chromatography

Determination of the actinides and 90Sr in power station effluent requires their radiochemical isolation prior, to measurement. Historically, techniques such as precipitation, ion exchange and solvent extraction have been used but these methods can be complex, time consuming and produce large amounts of chemical waste. A more environmental friendly sequential scheme for their determination in power station effluent using extraction chromatography has been developed. This is a simplified method which minimises chemical waste and makes use of commercially available pre-packed chromatography columns. An Eichrom TRU.Spec column was used for the separation of isotopes of plutonium from americium and curium followed in sequence by an Eichrom Sr.Spec column for the separation of 90Sr. The isolated actinides were prepared for alpha spectrometry analysis by electrodeposition and 90Sr was analysed by liquid-scintillation counting. The tracers 242Pu, 243Am and 85Sr were used to measure chemical yields. Method evaluation was carried out on water samples spiked with certified radionuclide standards to determine precision, accuracy, detection limits and chemical recoveries. Finally, testing and evaluation of the method was carried out on power station effluent.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2005

Stabilities of the aqueous complexes Cm(CO3)33- and Am(CO3)33- in the temperature range 10-70 degrees C.

The carbonate complexation of curium(III) in aqueous solutions with high ionic strength was investigated below solubility limits in the 10-70 degrees C temperature range using time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy (TRLFS). The equilibrium constant, K(3), for the Cm(CO(3))(2-) + CO(3)(2-) right harpoon over left harpoon Cm(CO(3))(3)(3-) reaction was determined (log K(3) = 2.01 +/- 0.05 at 25 degrees C, I = 3 M (NaClO(4))) and compared to scattered previously published values. The log K(3) value for Cm(III) was found to increase linearly with 1/T, reflecting a negligible temperature influence on the corresponding molar enthalpy change, Delta(r)H(3) = 12.2 +/- 4.4 kJ mol(-1), and molar entropy change, Delta(r)S(3) = 79 +/- 16 J mol(-1) K(-1). These values were extrapolated to I = 0 with the SIT formula (Delta(r)H(3) degrees = 9.4 +/- 4.8 kJ mol(-1), Delta(r)S(3) degrees = 48 +/- 23 J mol(-1) K(-1), log K(3) degrees = 0.88 +/- 0.05 at 25 degrees C). Virtually the same values were obtained from the solubility data for the analogous Am(III) complexes, which were reinterpreted considering the transformation of the solubility-controlling solid. The reaction studied was found to be driven by the entropy. This was interpreted as a result of hydration changes. As expected, excess energy changes of the reaction showed that the ionic strength had a greater influence on Delta(r)S(3) than it did on Delta(r)H(3).

Journal Article↗
PubMed2006

Density functional theory studies of actinide(III) motexafins (An-Motex2+, An = Ac, Cm, Lr). Structure, stability, and comparison with lanthanide(III) motexafins.

Newly developed relativistic energy-consistent 5f-in-core actinide pseudopotentials and corresponding (7s6p5d1f)/[5s4p3d1f] basis sets in the segmented contraction scheme, combined with density functional theory methods, have been used to study the molecular structure and chemical properties of selected actinide(III) motexafins (An-Motex2+, An = Ac, Cm, Lr). Structure and stability are discussed, and a comparison to the lanthanide(III) motexafins (Ln-Motex2+, Ln = La, Gd, Lu) is made. The actinide element is found to reside above the mean N5 motexafin plane, and the larger the cation, the greater the observed out-of-plane displacement. It is concluded that the actinium(III), curium(III), and lawrencium(III) cations are tightly bound to the macrocyclic skeleton, yielding stable structures. However, the calculated metal-ligand gas-phase binding energy for An-Motex2+ is about 1-2 eV lower than that of Ln-Motex2+, implying a lower stability of An-Motex2+ compared to Ln-Motex2+. Results including solvent effects imply that Ac-Motex2+ is the most stable complex in aqueous solution and should be the best candidate for experimentalists to get stable actinide(III) motexafin complexes.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2007

Quantification of actinide alpha-radiation damage in minerals and ceramics.

There are large amounts of heavy alpha-emitters in nuclear waste and nuclear materials inventories stored in various sites around the world. These include plutonium and minor actinides such as americium and curium. In preparation for geological disposal there is consensus that actinides that have been separated from spent nuclear fuel should be immobilized within mineral-based ceramics rather than glass because of their superior aqueous durability and lower risk of accidental criticality. However, in the long term, the alpha-decay taking place in these ceramics will severely disrupt their crystalline structure and reduce their durability. A fundamental property in predicting cumulative radiation damage is the number of atoms permanently displaced per alpha-decay. At present, this number is estimated to be 1,000-2,000 atoms/alpha in zircon. Here we report nuclear magnetic resonance, spin-counting experiments that measure close to 5,000 atoms/alpha in radiation-damaged natural zircons. New radiological nuclear magnetic resonance measurements on highly radioactive, 239Pu zircon show damage similar to that caused by 238U and 232Th in mineral zircons at the same dose, indicating no significant effect of half-life or loading levels (dose rate). On the basis of these measurements, the initially crystalline structure of a 10 weight per cent 239Pu zircon would be amorphous after only 1,400 years in a geological repository (desired immobilization timescales are of the order of 250,000 years). These measurements establish a basis for assessing the long-term structural durability of actinide-containing ceramics in terms of an atomistic understanding of the fundamental damage event.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2005

EXAFS and time-resolved laser fluorescence spectroscopy (TRLFS) investigations of the structure of Cm(III)/Eu(III) complexed with di(chlorophenyl)dithiophosphinic acid and different synergistic agents.

The complexes of trivalent actinide curium (Cm(III)) with di(chlorophenyl)dithiophosphinic acid ((ClPh)2PSSH) and three different neutral complexing agents as synergists in tert-butylbenzene are studied by EXAFS and time-resolved laser fluorescence spectroscopy (TRLFS). The results are compared with those from the corresponding europium (Eu(III)) complexes. The aim of these investigations is to understand the chemical interactions responsible for the high selectivity of the synergistic systems of (ClPh)2PSSH and neutral complexing agents tri-n-octylphosphine oxide, tributylphosphate and tris(2-ethylhexyl)phosphate for trivalent actinide cations in liquid-liquid extraction. In our structural chemistry study, we find that the inner coordination sphere of extracted Cm(III) and Eu(III) complexes are different. In all complexes the (ClPh)2PSSH is bound to the metal cation in a bidentate fashion and the oxygen donor of the neutral complexing agent used as synergist is directly coordinated to the metal cation. Comparison of the Cm(III) and Eu(III) complexes shows that Cm(III) preferentially binds to the sulfur of (ClPh)2PSSH, whereas Eu(III) is preferentially bound to oxygen. A good selectivity in liquid-liquid extraction is correlated with a high ratio of the sulfur coordination number to oxygen coordination number. This leads to the conclusion that the observed differences in the coordination structure between Cm(III) and Eu(III) complexes play an important role in the selectivity of these extraction systems.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1980

The induction of chromosome aberrations in human lymphocytes by alpha-radiation.

Human blood has been irradiated with alpha-particles from an external source of curium-242. The collimated alpha-particles entered the blood with an energy of 4-9 MeV and were almost completely absorbed by the blood. After culturing for 48 hours, the dicentric yield in the lymphocytes at the first metaphase was measured as a function of dose to the blood. The yield was linear with dose up to 400 rad with a slope of 28x6 X 10(4) dicentrics/cell per rad. This is equivalent to an initial slope r.b.e. of 17x9 with respect to cobalt-60 gamma-rays. This value disagrees with the only two other published values in the literature. Reasons for this disagreement are discussed. Compared with neutron r.b.e values obtained in this laboratory the alpha-particle values we observe are surprisingly low. A model is proposed which predicts low values of r.b.e. for chromosome aberration production using radiations of high LET. The low values occur because there is a distribution of specific energy between cells which causes a selective removal of cells likely to contain higher numbers of aberrations.

Alpha Particles↗
PubMed1980

The induction of chromosome aberrations in human lymphocytes by in vitro irradiation with alpha-particles from plutonium-239.

The yields of unstable chromosome aberrations induced in human lymphocytes by alpha-particles from plutonium-239 have been measured. Plutonium citrate solution was mixed with heparinized blood so that doses of 13--160 rad were delivered in 24 hours. Dicentric aberration yields (Y) fitted best to the linear expression Y = 3 . 72 +/- 0 . 23 x 10(-3) rad-1. Inclusion of a 6 . 5 rad point resulting from a 1 . 7 hour irradiation raised the yield coefficient insignificantly to 3 . 75 +/- 0 . 24 x 10(-3). The aberration yields are in good agreement with data from curium-242 alpha-particles obtained in this laboratory but they are much lower than those obtained in two other laboratories. Reasons for this disagreement are examined.

Alpha Particles↗