Use of combined alpha-spectrometry and fission track analysis for the determination of240Pu/239Pu ratios in human tissue

Abstract

Plutonium and other actinides were determined in human autopsy tissues of occupationally exposed workers who were registrants of the United States Transuranium and Uranium Registries (USTUR). In this study, Pu was purified and isolated from Am, U and Th, after drying and wet-ashing of the tissues, and the addition of 238pu as a radiotracer. After electrodeposition onto vanadium planchets, the 239+240pu activity was determined by alpha-spectrometry. A fission track method was developed to determine 239pu in the presence of 238pu and 24~ using Lexan TM polycarbonate detectors. Combining the two techniques allowed the determination of the 240pu/239pu activity and atom ratios. Data from selected USTUR cases are presented.