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PubMed1998

Transplacental transfer of radionuclides. A review.

Transplacental transfer of tritium (H), cesium (Cs), iodine (I), strontium (Sr) and plutonium (Pu) has been observed in all examined species with an active transfer mechanism for iodine, strontium and plutonium. Cesium and tritiated water freely cross the placenta and are distributed approximately uniformly in maternal as well as in fetal tissue. In pregnant mice, 137Cs concentrations in maternal organs were 4-6 times higher than in the foetus. With increasing weight, Cs amounts rise in the foetus. 131I distribution in the foetus before and after the beginning of thyroid function is totally different. In an 8-week-old human foetus, there was almost no accumulation of 131I in the thyroid gland, while on week 14 of gestation more than 40% of the fetal iodine was accumulated in the thyroid gland. Radioiodine given only once results in distinctly higher fetal-maternal ratios than after long-term exposure. Experiments performed to evaluate the extent of placental barrier of Sr in comparison to Ca showed a maximum of Sr/Ca discrimination early in pregnancy while at the end of pregnancy Sr and Ca are transported to almost equal proportions across the placenta. A well-known phenomenon is the accumulation of Pu in the yolk-sack of rats such that 80% of the total activity is contained in the feto-placental unit. For the extrapolation of results from animals to man, experiments should not be confined to laboratory animals but include primates. Furthermore, computer softwares like MIRDOSE could be used to simulate transplacental distribution.

Americium↗
PubMed1994

Differential induction of bone and hematopoietic tumors in C3H mice after the injection of 239Pu citrate.

Although alpha-emitting plutonium is easily distributed in the skeleton via circulation and subsequently induces bone tumors, there is little evidence that hematopoietic neoplasias are highly induced even though bone marrow stem cells are irradiated internally by alpha particles. We injected groups of female C3H strain mice with doses of 239Pu citrate from 500 to 10000 Bq to investigate the dose-related spectrum of tumor types induced during a lifetime. Survival time was reduced strikingly in all the injected mice due to much earlier induction of bone and lymphoid tumors as compared to the control animals that showed a variety of soft tissue tumors after a longer period of survival. Induction of osterosarcomas was dose-dependent, being maximal in 70% of the animals that received a mean skeletal dose of 10 Gy or less, but was 48% or less at 20 Gy or more. Non-thymic lymphomas accompanied by lymphocytic leukemia were observed in only 4-6% of the animals that received a dose of 10 Gy or less whereas it was maximal in 17-19% at 20 Gy or more. In contrast, there were no bone tumors in the control animals, rather thymic lymphomas or histiocytic lymphomas were found very late in 20% and other soft tissue tumors, including lung, liver and ovary tumors, were noted in 60%. Neither myeloid leukemia nor other myelogenous neoplasias were found in the control and 239Pu-injected animals that received a mean skeletal dose of 3 Gy or more. These results indicate that the differential induction of bone tumors and hematopoietic tumors in mice depends on the dose range and the time after the injection of plutonium.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

The relationship between internally deposited alpha-particle radiation and subsite-specific liver cancer and liver cirrhosis: an analysis of published data.

Chronic exposure to high LET radiation has been shown to cause liver cancer in humans based on studies of patients who received Thorotrast, a colloidal suspension of thorium dioxide formerly used as a radiological contrast agent, and on studies of Russian nuclear weapons workers exposed to internally ingested plutonium. Risk estimates for these exposures and specific subtypes of liver cancer have not been previously reported. Combining published data with tumor registry data pertinent to the Thorotrast cohorts in Germany, Denmark, Portugal, and Japan and to Russian workers, we generally found significantly elevated risks of three major histologic types of liver tumors: hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), cholangiocarcinoma (CC), and hemangiosarcoma (HS) for Thorotrast exposures. In contrast, HS was the only liver tumor significantly associated with the lower alpha-particle doses experienced by the Russian workers. Excess cases per 1,000 persons exposed to Thorotrast were similar for the three liver cancer subtypes but lower for plutonium exposure. Odds ratios (OR) of HS and CC for Thorotrast were from 26 to 789 and from 1 to 31 times higher than those for HCC, respectively. ORs of liver cirrhosis for Thorotrast exposure ranged from 2.7 (95% confidence interval (CI): 2.2-3.4) to 6.7 (5.1-8.7).

Alpha Particles↗
PubMed2004

Lung cancer in Mayak workers.

The cohort of nuclear workers at the Mayak Production Association, located in the Russian Federation, is a unique resource for providing information on the health effects of exposure to plutonium as well as the effects of protracted external dose. Lung cancer mortality risks were evaluated in 21,790 Mayak workers, a much larger group than included in previous evaluations of lung cancer risks in this cohort. These analyses, which included 655 lung cancer deaths occurring in the period 1955-2000, were the first to evaluate both excess relative risk (ERR) and excess absolute risk (EAR) models and to give detailed attention to the modifying effects of gender, attained age and age at hire. Lung cancer risks were found to be significantly related to both internal dose to the lung from plutonium and external dose, and risks were described adequately by linear functions. For internal dose, the ERR per gray for females was about four times higher than that for males, whereas the EAR for females was less than half that for males; the ERR showed a strong decline with attained age, whereas the EAR increased with attained age until about age 65 and then decreased. Parallel analyses of lung cancer mortality risks in Mayak workers and Japanese A-bomb survivors were also conducted. Efforts currently under way to improve both internal and external dose estimates, and to develop data on smoking, should result in more accurate risk estimates in the future.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

[Efficiency of etidronic acid in the case of cutaneous radiocontamination by actinid elements: in vitro evaluation].

Ethane 1 hydroxy 1.1. biphosphonate (EHBP) is a medicine named Didronel, which inhibits bone resorption in the case of Paget's disease. This molecule could offer a new application in radiotoxicology. Our works describe its efficiency as decontaminating agent in uranium and plutonium cutaneous radiocontamination. Its effect on uranium and plutonium is demonstrated by two in vitro techniques using human cutaneous explants. Both techniques are usually used in dermopharmacology to estimate the action of topic drugs.

Chelating Agents↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Tissue studies of persons with intakes of the actinide elements: the U.S. Transuranium and Uranium Registries.

For more than three decades, the United States Transuranium and Uranium Registries (USTUR) have studied the biokinetics, dosimetry, and biological effects of plutonium, uranium, and americium through voluntary postmortem tissues from persons with known intakes. Radiochemical analyses of tissue obtained at autopsy have shown that plutonium and americium have different biokinetics and an appreciable deposition in the soft tissues of the body as well as the known depots in skeleton and liver. Studies of whole-body Thorotrast donors to the USTUR indicate that commonly accepted risk coefficients for alpha induction of bone sarcoma may be too high while those for leukemia are a factor of six too low. This review considers these and other major contributions of the USTUR.

Actinoid Series Elements↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Combined prophylactic administration of riboxin and algisorbum at 239Pu intake into gastrointestinal tract of rats].

The present study is devoted to the investigation of effectiveness of combined prophylactic administration of riboxin and algisorbum at 239Pu per oral intake and possible mechanisms of their interaction, and also to comparative estimation of effectiveness of combined administration of the preparations at per oral and intra peritoneal methods of riboxin introduction. The experiments have been carried out on white nonlinear rats. Riboxin (per oral and intra peritoneal) and algisorbum (per oral) have been introduced to the rats both separately and combined before per oral 239Pu introduction. Data obtained as a result of the investigation showed that combined riboxin and algisorbum introduction into gastrointestinal tract before 239PU intake lead to greater decrease in the plutonium content in the organs of deposition than single algisorbum administration. Intra peritoneal riboxin introduction reduced effectiveness of per oral algisorbum administration in plutonium binding in GI tract. Efficiency of combined riboxin and algisorbum administration in the reduction of 239Pu accumulation in organs depends on the method of riboxin introduction and develops only at per oral introduction.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1991

The influence of age at time of exposure to 226Ra or 239Pu on distribution, retention, postinjection survival, and tumor induction in beagle dogs.

The influence of age at injection of 226Ra or 239Pu on skeletal deposition and local distribution, the pattern of bone tumor formation, and postinjection survival was assessed in parallel short-term studies of mechanisms and lifetime toxicity. Beagles received a single intravenous injection of 226Ra or 239Pu at 3 months (juveniles), 17-19 months (young adults) or 60 months (mature). Data from short-term studies of mechanisms and dosimetry and from one dosage level (41 kBq 226Ra/kg or 11 kBq 239Pu/kg body mass) of each of the toxicity experiments were compared. Skeletal growth and turnover produced differential initial deposition and distribution patterns typical for each age group. At 1 week after injection, skeletal retention of 226Ra or 239Pu was 68 and 68%, respectively, in the juveniles, 32 and 46% in the young adults, and 31 and 43% in the mature dogs. Comparing individual bones in the juveniles, gradients in the concentration of 239Pu were small since all bones were actively growing, but substantial gradients, corresponding to centers of ossification, were present within individual bones. In other age groups, local concentration gradients were less pronounced, but much larger differences were present among the various bones. In the toxicity study all animals injected with either 41 kBq 226Ra/kg or 11 kBq 239Pu/kg have died. The cumulative average skeletal doses to the presumed time of start of tumor growth (1 year before death) were 25 and 4 Gy, respectively, for the juveniles, 22 and 5 Gy for the young adults, and 15 and 4 Gy for the mature dogs. The highest bone tumor incidence was seen in the young adult groups. Differences were observed in location of bone tumors between dogs in the same age group given radium or plutonium and among age groups injected with either radionuclide, some of which could be explained by differences in local dose distributions. Median postinjection survival assessed by the Kaplan-Meier nonparametric method ranged from 2513 and 2592 days for the juveniles to 2099 and 1617 for the young adults to 2086 and 1421 in the mature groups. Cox regression analysis indicated no significant differences in postinjection survivals (uncorrected for the different preinjection periods) of groups injected with radium, but there was a statistically significant difference among the groups injected with plutonium. It was demonstrated that differences in the effects of 239Pu in the three groups were due primarily to the age- and time-dependent local distribution of the radionuclide.

Aging↗
PubMed1988

Scanning electron microscopic autoradiography of lung.

Scanning electron microscopic (SEM) autoradiography of the lung is being used to determine the distribution of inhaled, alpha particle-emitting, plutonium dioxide particles. SEM autoradiography provides high visual impact views of alpha activity. Particles irradiating the bronchiolar epithelium were detected both on the bronchiolar surface and in peribronchiolar alveoli. The technique is being used to obtain quantitative data on the clearance rates of plutonium particles from bronchi and bronchioles.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

[Ischemic heart disease in workers of radiochemical industry chronically exposed to radiation dosage less than MPEL].

Prevalence of coronary artery disease (CAD) was studied in workers of atomic industry, who are exposed to combined radiation (doses hardly allowable for professionals). The occupational activities lasting for 5 to 38 years caused total gamma-radiation, doses of 0.01-1 Gy, plutonium-239 incorporation of 0.07-1.48 kBq. The prevalence of CAD, with consideration of Minnesota Code Criteria, equalled 10.9%. The authors analyzed the main risk factors for CAD. Dispersion analysis failed to find significant relationship between CAD and the total dose of external radiation and the level of plutonium-239 incorporation. The studies revealed reliable dependence of the CAD occurrence on the age and arterial hypertension.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Wounds and burns of the skin polluted by alpha irradiation in personnel of radiochemistry enterprises].

Records of pollution by plutonium and americium 241 of skin wounds and burns in the personnel of the Mayak plant in 1948-1992 are analyzed. Traumas occurred in 286 (7.2%) workers, mechanical injuries were 84.1% of these. A high incidence of wound contamination was recorded in the workers engaged in mechanical processing of plutonium. Altogether 34.1% of injuries had alpha-radiators in residual amounts after debridement, though their levels did not surpass the minimal levels of radionuclide detection.

Air Pollution, Radioactive↗
PubMed1996

[An evaluation of the role of radiation and nonradiation factors in the development of lung cancer in workers at a radiochemical enterprise (1)].

A case-control study using logistic regression included 500 employees of the nuclear works (162 patients with lung carcinoma and 338 healthy controls). After examination of radiation and nonradiation causative factors 5 proved statistically significant. For them the following chance proportions were obtained: smoking 6.6, plutonium pneumosclerosis 4.6, plutonium incorporation 3.1, chronic nonspecific pulmonary diseases 2.1, external gamma-radiation 1.6. Attributive risk for the total of the radiation factors makes up 25% at the most while of the nonradiation factors at least 70%.

Aged↗
PubMed1976

Ca-DTPA-induced fetal death and malformation in mice.

Increased fetal mortality and congenital malformation were induced in mice by Ca-DTPA, a chelate widely used for the removal of internally deposited plutonium in human beings. Mated C57BL/Do female mice were given five daily injections of 720-2,880 mumol/kg Ca-DTPA during early, mid, or late gestation. Damage probably occurred as a result of the depletion by Ca-DTPA of zinc and manganese, trace elements essential to growth and development. By extension, it seems likely that Ca-DTPA could damage human fetuses. A much safer chelate, Zn-DTPA, is recommended for the treatment of accidental plutonium contamination.

Abnormalities, Drug-Induced↗
PubMed2002

Determination of (236)U and transuranium elements in depleted uranium ammunition by alpha-spectrometry and ICP-MS.

It is well known that ammunition containing depleted uranium (DU) was used by NATO during the Balkan conflict. To evaluate the origin of DU (the enrichment of natural uranium or the reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel) it is necessary to directly detect the presence of activation products ((236)U, (239)Pu, (240)Pu, (241)Am, and (237)Np) in the ammunition. In this work the analysis of actinides by alpha-spectrometry was compared with that by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) after selective separation of ultratraces of transuranium elements from the uranium matrix. (242)Pu and (243)Am were added to calculate the chemical yield. Plutonium was separated from uranium by extraction chromatography, using tri- n-octylamine (TNOA), with a decontamination factor higher than 10(6); after elution plutonium was determined by ICP-MS ((239)Pu and (240)Pu) and alpha-spectrometry ((239+240)Pu) after electroplating. The concentration of Pu in two DU penetrator samples was 7 x 10(-12) g g(-1) and 2 x 10(-11) g g(-1). The (240)Pu/(239)Pu isotope ratio in one penetrator sample (0.12+/-0.04) was significantly lower than the (240)Pu/(239)Pu ratios found in two soil samples from Kosovo (0.35+/-0.10 and 0.27+/-0.07). (241)Am was separated by extraction chromatography, using di(2-ethylhexyl)phosphoric acid (HDEHP), with a decontamination factor as high as 10(7). The concentration of (241)Am in the penetrator samples was 2.7 x 10(-14) g g(-1) and <9.4 x 10(-15) g g(-1). In addition (237)Np was detected at ultratrace levels. In general, ICP-MS and alpha-spectrometry results were in good agreement. The presence of anthropogenic radionuclides ((236)U, (239)Pu,(240)Pu, (241)Am, and (237)Np) in the penetrators indicates that at least part of the uranium originated from the reprocessing of nuclear fuel. Because the concentrations of radionuclides are very low, their radiotoxicological effect is negligible.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1996

Isotopic abundance measurements on solid nuclear-type samples by glow discharge mass spectrometry.

A double-focusing Glow Discharge Mass Spectrometer (GDMS) installed in a glovebox for nuclear sample screening has been employed for isotopic measurements. Isotopic compositions of zirconium, silicon, lithium, boron, uranium and plutonium which are elements of nuclear concern have been determined. Interferences arising from the matrix sample and the discharge gas (Ar) for each of these elements are discussed. The GDMS results are compared with those from Thermal Ionization Mass Spectrometry (TIMS). For boron and lithium at microg/g-ng/g levels, the two methods gave results in good agreement. In samples containing uranium the isotopic composition obtained by GDMS was in agreement with those from TIMS independently of the enrichment. Attempts for the determination of plutonium isotopic composition were also made. In this case, due to the interferences of uranium at mass 238 and americium at mass 241, the GDMS raw data are complementary with those values obtained from physical non-destructive techniques.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1998

Lung cancer in nuclear workers of Mayak. A comparison of numerical procedures.

Lung cancer mortality was analyzed among 4279 nuclear workers of the Mayak facilities in the former Soviet Union, who were exposed to chronic irradiation both externally and internally from incorporated plutonium. The analysis was carried out in terms of a relative risk model. It was shown that an earlier estimate of the excess relative risk for lung cancer, that exceeds the value employed by ICRP by a factor of roughly 2, as well as an earlier estimated latency period of 24 years for lung cancer induction were the result of the numerical procedure chosen. In another recently published case control study, a purely quadratic, threshold-type dose response to incorporated plutonium was deduced. In the present calculations, no evidence for a departure from linearity in dose response was suggested. Principal aim of this study has been the comparison to methods used in the earlier cohort analysis. More detailed risk modelling on the basis of the most recent follow-up will be required.

Colorado↗
PubMed2006

Determination of the Pu240/Pu239 ratio by alpha spectrometry using the WinALPHA program.

The isotopic ratio of 240Pu to 239Pu is an important parameter in identifying the origin of plutonium in a given radioactive sample. High-resolution mass spectrometry is generally accepted as an accurate technique for determining this ratio, but this is a very costly method. Alternatives to this method are alpha- and gamma-spectrometry studies but the problem with these low-cost method lies with the analysis of the spectrum. Recently, Noy et al. [2004. Nucl. Instrum. Methods in Phys. Res. A 525, 522-528] developed a computer program code called WinALPHA to quantitatively analyze the alpha spectrum; the program is available from the IAEA website. In this paper, we report the results obtained from the analysis of the alpha spectrum of plutonium from power bearing product samples from power reactor fuel reprocessing plant using the WinALPHA program. The results are found to be in good agreement (within 1-2%) with results from mass spectrometry.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2004

239+240Pu, 90Sr and 137Cs inventories in surface soils of Vietnam.

Fallout 239+240Pu, 238Pu, 90Sr and 137Cs inventories in surface soils were measured for 20 locations in northern Vietnam yielding the mean values (+/- standard error) of 26.5+/-3.8 Bq m(-2) for 239+240Pu, 1048+/-143 Bq m(-2) for 137Cs and 212+/-28 Bq m(-2) for 90Sr. The concentrations of 137Cs and plutonium isotopes strongly correlate with each other resulting in a stable 239+240Pu/137Cs inventory ratio of 0.025+/-0.002. Among soil parameters, organic matter and fulvic acids strongly correlate with caesium and plutonium isotopes, especially in the 0-10 cm layer. 137Cs and 239+240Pu are distributed rather similarly over the 0-10 cm and 10-20 cm layers. At locations with high contents of sand (82-93%) along the South China Sea coast, the downward percolation by rainwater results in a higher accumulation of 239+240Pu and 137Cs in the 10-20 cm layer. The mean 137Cs/ 90Sr inventory ratio is 9.3+/-2.2, and the correlation is weak between these isotopes.

Environmental Monitoring↗