LONG-TERM STUDY OF INHALED PLUTONIUM IN DOGS.
Abstract
To determine the long-term translocation and biological effects of inhaled plutonium, 40 beagle dogs were given a single 10- to 30-min exposure to (Pu(239)02 aerosols. Thirteen dogs died or were sacrificed when clinical signs indicated death was imminent 29 to 66 months postexposure. The body burdens at death ranged from 0.5 to 3 micro Ci with 40 to 75 per cent of the body burden in the lungs, and 20 to 50 per cent in the bronchial and mediastinal lymph nodes. The liver contained 2 to 21 per cent, and the skeleton, 1 to 7 per cent. Cardiopulmonary insufficiency and lymphopenia were the primary clinical signs. Pathology in the lungs consisted of severe fibrosis followed by alveolar cell hyperplasia, and bronchiolar and squamous types of metaplasia. Seven of the 13 animals showed bronchiolo-alveolar carcinomas, an incidence of 18 per cent as compared to a reported canine primary lung-tumor incidence of 0.2 per cent. The bronchial lymph nodes were composed of dense sclerotic connective tissue devoid of any lymphoid element. Metastases of the pulmonary tumor to the bronchial lymph nodes were seen in three animals. Twenty-three dogs with body burden of 0.3 to 1 micro Ci survived 4 to 6 yr after exposure. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 1966
- Accession Number
- AD0631690
Entities
People
- James F. Park
- William J. Bair
- William J. Clarke
Organizations
- Battelle Memorial Institute