Metabolism of Americium-241 in Man: An Unusual Case of Internal Contamination of a Child and His Father

Abstract

The metabolism of americium-241 has been studied during an 8-year period in an adult male and his son who, at the ages of 50 and 4 years, respectively, were accidentally and unknowingly contaminated within their home by means of inhalation. Chelation therapy with calcium trisodium pentetate was more effective in enhancing the removal of americium-241 from the child than from the father.

ICRP Publication 141: Occupational Intakes of Radionuclides: Part 4

“…After 1 month, only 5–6% ILD was left in the lungs, suggesting Type F behaviour. Analysis of the data here was complicated by DTPA therapy and by the pooling of urinary and faecal excretion, but gave values of f r = 0.6, s s = 0.04 d −1 , and f b = 0.03; and f r = 0.8, s s = 0.03 d −1 , and f b = 0.02, respectively, for the two researchers, both consistent with assignment to Type F. (916) Cohen et al. (1979) reported 8 y of follow-up of a father and son who were unknowingly contaminated in their home ∼6 y before, at the ages of 50 and 4 y. In-vivo measurements of the 241 Am burden in the lungs, liver, and skeleton were performed.…”

“…(916) Cohen et al. (1979) reported 8 y of follow-up of a father and son who were unknowingly contaminated in their home ∼6 y before, at the ages of 50 and 4 y. In-vivo measurements of the 241 Am burden in the lungs, liver, and skeleton were performed.…”

Models of Am Metabolism in Beagles and Humans

“…INFORMATION is available on the retention, distribution, excretion and dosimetry of 24'Am after inhalation of 241Am02 by Beagle dogs (Th72; Cr79; Me82) and by humans (Ca66;Ma68;Je71;Wh72;Sa74;Fr76;Ed76;Ye77;Co79;To8O;He79). This information differs from predictions made using the metabolic model for 241Am proposed by the International Commission on Radiological Protection in Publication 30 (ICRP30).…”

“…This causes the underprediction of doses to liver and skeleton shown in Table 6 at 730 days post exposure. Human exposures to 241Am have been reported for five cases with measurements of lung retention near the exposure time (Je71; Sa74; Ed76; He79) and five cases with long term measurements of lung and skeleton retention (Fr76;Co79;To80). These data are used to evaluate predictions of the surface area model as developed from several Beagle studies already cited (Fig.…”

Bilan des accidents d'exposition interne

“…Un cas de contamination par de I'américium 241 de toute une famille aux Etats-Unis, dû au "bricolage" d'une expérience qu'un chercheur poursuivait dans son propre garage ne s'est soldé par aucun effet, malgré les niveaux élevés relevés chez un jeune enfant [9]. La plupart des contaminations de personnes du public sont, en fait, dues, le plus souvent, à des surdosages lors de prescriptions médicales pour des examens pratiqués en médecine nucléaire.…”