Problems Associated with Setting Safe Levels for Working with Plutonium

Abstract

A brief review is given of the problems of choosing a critical organ for use in the radiological protection of workers and populations exposed to plutonium. Mathematical models to represent lung clearance and retention, transfer from the blood to body organs and organ retention are summarized. From these models values of (MPC), and MPBB are calculated and a value of pCi/cm3 is proposed as an appropriate value for adequately protecting workers using both class Y and class W compounds.

Plutonium safety training course

“…In large animals, with life spans of several years, lung cancers, tumors of the lung capillaries, bone tumors, nasal tumors, and liver tumors have been observed. 68 , 71 , 7 2 These late effects in general are produced by large doses.…”

“…The high levels of exposure used in these studies may produce a spectrum of cancers that would differ from that found at low levels. 71 For this reason, present long-term dog experiments are underway at low levels. These levels are in the range from 1 to 30 times the present body burden.…”

Environmental Radiation and the Lung

“…In beagle dogs (92), 85% of the material deposited in the lower respiratory tract or alveoli was retained after 9-10 yr. The ICRP Task Group assumes 90% retention of pulmonary deposits is permanent although some recent work suggest 10% permanent retention and that the other 90% has a long biological half-life of 1000 days (93). Two exposure incidents involving soluble and insoluble plutonium have allowed half-life determinations in the human body (94).…”

Environmental radiation and the lung

“…In beagle dogs (92), 85% of the material deposited in the lower respiratory tract or alveoli was retained after 9-10 yr. The ICRP Task Group assumes 90% retention of pulmonary deposits is permanent although some recent work suggest 10% permanent retention and that the other 90% has a long biological half-life of 1000 days (93). Two exposure incidents involving soluble and insoluble plutonium have allowed half-life determinations in the human body (94).…”