OSTI Document ID 174682
Local PDF osti/174682.pdf
Title The relative physiological and toxicological properties of americium and plutonium
Creators/
Authors
Carter, R.E.; Busch, E.; Johnson, O. [and others]
Publication Date 1951 Nov 15
Description/
Abstract
The relative physiological and toxicological properties of americium and plutonium have been studied following their intravenous administration to rats. The urinary and fecal excretion of americium was similar to that of plutonium administered as Pu(N0{sub 3}){sub 4}. The deposition of americium the tissues and organs of the rat was also similar to that observed for plutonium. The liver and the skeleton were the major sites of deposition. Zirconium citrate administered 15 minutes after injection of americium increased the urinary excretion of americium and decreased the amount found in the liver and the skeleton at 4 and 16 days. LD{sub 30}{sup 50} studies showed americium was slightly less toxic when given in the acute toxic range than was plutonium. The difference was, however, too slight to be important in establishing a larger tolerance does for americium. Survival studies, hematological observations, bone marrow observations, comparison of tumor incidence and the incidence of skeletal abnormalities indicated that americium and plutonium have essentially the same chronic toxicity when given on an equal {mu}c. basis. These studies support the conclusion that the tolerance values for americium should be essentially the same as those for Plutonium.
OSTI ID 174682
Report Numbers line line docnumall
Other ID Numbers ON: DE95013620
Document Type Technical Report
Research Organization Los Alamos National Lab., NM (United States)
Sponsor Organization USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
Bibliographic Source OSTI
Country United States
Language English
Pages/Size 61 p.
System Entry Date 1996 Feb 12
Subject Category Code 56 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE, APPLIED STUDIES
Descriptors AMERICIUM; TISSUE DISTRIBUTION; EXCRETION; BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS; PLUTONIUM; ZIRCONIUM COMPOUNDS; RADIOSENSITIVITY EFFECTS; RATS; LETHAL DOSES; BONE MARROW; SKELETON; INTRAVENOUS INJECTION; URINE; CHELATING AGENTS; CHLORIDES; NITRATES; CITRATES; ACUTE EXPOSURE; BLOOD; GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT; HEART; KIDNEYS; LIVER; LUNGS; SPLEEN; TESTES; SKIN; FECES; AUTORADIOGRAPHY
Format Other: PL:
Availability OSTI as DE95013620
Notes PBD: 15 Nov 1951
Reference Numbers SCA: 560162; PA: EDB-96:031465;NTS-96:008942; SN: 96001509651