Internal Contamination by Actinides After Wounding
- 1 August 2012
- journal article
- Published by Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health) in Health Physics
- Vol. 103 (2), 187-194
- https://doi.org/10.1097/hp.0b013e31825aa202
Abstract
Internal contamination by actinides following wounding may occur in nuclear fuel industry workers or subsequent to terrorist activities, causing dissemination of radioactive elements. Contamination by alpha particle emitting actinides can result in pathological effects, either local or distant from the site of entry. The objective of the present study was to develop a robust experimental approach in the rat for short- and long- term actinide contamination following wounding by incision of the skin and muscles of the hind limb. Anesthetized rats were contaminated with Mixed OXide (MOX, uranium, plutonium oxides containing 7.1% plutonium) or plutonium nitrate (Pu nitrate) following wounding by deep incision of the hind leg. Actinide excretion and tissue levels were measured as well as histological changes from 2 h to 3 mo. Humid swabs were used for rapid evaluation of contamination levels and proved to be an initial guide for contamination levels. Although the activity transferred from wound to blood is higher after contamination with a moderately soluble form of plutonium (nitrate), at 7 d most of the MOX (98%) or Pu nitrate (87%) was retained at the wound site. Rapid actinide retention in liver and bone was observed within 24 h, which increased up to 3 mo. After MOX contamination, a more rapid initial urinary excretion of americium was observed compared with plutonium. At 3 mo, around 95% of activity remained at the wound site, and excretion of Pu and Am was extremely low. This experimental approach could be applied to other situations involving contamination following wounding including rupture of the dermal, vascular, and muscle barriers.Keywords
This publication has 15 references indexed in Scilit:
- LATE-OCCURRING PULMONARY PATHOLOGIES FOLLOWING INHALATION OF MIXED OXIDE (URANIUM + PLUTONIUM OXIDE) AEROSOL IN THE RATHealth Physics, 2010
- Characterisation of nasal swab samples by alpha spectrometryRadiation Protection Dosimetry, 2009
- Some elements for a revision of the americium reference biokinetic modelRadiation Protection Dosimetry, 2007
- Technical basis for using nose swab bioassay data for early internal dose assessmentRadiation Protection Dosimetry, 2007
- A new rodent model of hind limb penetrating wound injury characterized by continuous primary and secondary hyperalgesiaThe Journal of Pain, 2004
- Soft Tissue Concentrations of Plutonium and Americium in Occupationally-exposed HumansHealth Physics, 1994
- The Biokinetics of Plutonium-239 and Americium-241 in the Rat After Subcutaneous Deposition of Contaminated Particles from the Former Nuclear Weapons Site at Maralinga: Implications for Human ExposureHuman & Experimental Toxicology, 1993
- In Vitro Dissolution of Respirable Aerosols of Industrial Uranium and Plutonium Mixed-oxide Nuclear FuelsHealth Physics, 1983
- Relative Distribution of Plutonium and Americium Following Experimental PuO2 ImplantsHealth Physics, 1970
- A Dermal Lesion from Implanted PlutoniumArchives of Dermatology, 1962