Ceramic and non-ceramic forms of uranium dixoide, produced industrially, were administered to rats either by inhalation or as an aqueous suspension which was injected directly into the pulmonary region of the lungs. The results showed that:
1 both materials should be assigned to inhalation class Y as defined by the International Commission on Radiological Protection;
2 whilst the translocation of uranium to the blood for the non-ceramic UO2 was about twice that obtained for the ceramic form, the two dioxides were unlikely to be differentiated on the basis of their lung retention kinetics;
3 the distribution of uranium amongst body tissues and the relationship between systemic content and cumulative urinary excretion indicated that it was transported in the hexavalent form;
4 in addition to air sampling procedures, lung radioactivity counting measurements could be used to advantage for assessing occupational exposures;
5 the exposure limits should be based on radiation dose rather than chemical toxicity.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
West CMScott LMA comparison of uranium cases showing long chest burden retention . Health Physics1966; 12: 1545-55.
2.
West CM & Scott LMUranium cases showing long chest burden retention—an update . Health Physics1969; 17: 781-91.
3.
Hursh JB & Spoor NLData on man. In Uranium, Plutonium , Transplutonium Elements, eds HC Hodge, JN Stannard & JB Hursh, pp. 197-239. Berlin : Springer-Verlag, 1973.
4.
Stokinger HE , Steadman LT, Wilson HB, Sylvester GE, Dzinba S. & Labelle CWLobar deposition and retention of inhaled insoluble particulates. Archives of IndustrialHygiene1951; 4: 346-53.
5.
Morrow PE, Gibb FR & Leach LJThe clearance of UO2 dust from the lungs following single and multiple inhalation exposures. Health Physics1966; 12: 1217-23.
6.
Leach LJ, Maynard EA, Hodge HC, et al. A five-year inhalation study with uranium dioxide dust—I Retention and biologic effect in the monkey, dog and rat. Health Physics1970; 18: 599-612.
7.
Leach LJ, Yuile CL, Hodge HC, Sylvester GE & Wilson HBA five-year inhalation study with natural uranium dioxide (IO2) dust—II. Post-exposure retention and biologic effects in the monkey, dog and rat. Health Physics1973; 25: 239-58.
8.
Yuile CLAnimal experiments. In Uranium, Plutonium , Transplutonium Elements, eds HC Hodge, JN Stannard & JB Hursh, pp. 165-96. Berlin : Springer-Verlag, 1973.
9.
Durbin PW & Wrenn MEMetabolism and effects of uranium in animals. In Proceedings from the Conference on Occupational Health Experience with Uranium, pp. 68-129. Springfield, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, 1976.
10.
International Commission on Radiological Protection.Limits for intakes of radionuclides by workers, Publication 30. Oxford: Pergamon Press, 1979.
11.
Strong JC, James AC & Hodgson A.A facility for exposing rodents by inhalation to industrial actinide dusts . In Annual Research and Development Report 1976, pp. 19-21. Harwell : National Radiological Protection Board, 1977.
12.
Stather JW & Howden S.The effect of chemical form on the clearance of plutonium-239 from the respiratory system of the rat. Health Physics1975; 28: 29-39.
13.
Amiel S.Analytical applications of delayed neutron emission in fissionable elements . Analytical Chemistry1962; 34: 1683-92.
14.
Ide HM, Moss WD, Minor MM & Campbell EEAnalysis of uranium in urine by delayed neutrons. Health Physics1979; 37: 405-8.
15.
Dounce AL & Flagg JFThe chemistry of uranium compounds. In The Pharmacology and Toxicology of Uranium Compounds, eds C Voegtlin & HC Hodge, pp. 55-113. New York: McGraw Hill, 1949.
16.
Neuman WFThe distribution and excretion of uranium. In The Pharmacology and Toxicology of Uranium Compounds, eds C Voegtlin and HC Hodge. pp. 710-27. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1949.
17.
Blake CA, Coleman CF, Brown KB, Hill DG, Lowrie RS & Schmitt JMStudies in the carbonate-uranium system. Journal of American Chemical Society1956; 78: 5978-83.
18.
Neuman WF & Tishkoff GHChemistry. In The Pharmacology and Toxicology of Uranium Compounds , eds C. Voegtlin and HC Hodge pp. 1102-25. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1953.
19.
Cooke N. and Holt FBThe solubility of some uranium compounds in simulated lung fluid. Health Physics1974; 27: 69-77.
20.
Official Journal of the European Committee ( 1980). L246, vol. 23, 17 September 1980. Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities, 1980.
Bailey MR & Fry FAPulmonary retention of insoluble particles in man. In Current Concepts in Lung Dosimetry, ed. DR Fisher , pp. 104-14. Springfield Virginia: National Technical Information Service, 1983.
23.
Bailey MR, Hodgson A. & Smith H.Respiratory tract retention of relatively insoluble particles in rodents . Journal of Aerosol Science1985; 16: 279-93.
24.
Bailey MR, Fry FA & James ACLong term retention of particles in the human respiratory tract. Journal of Aerosol Science1985; 16: 295-305.
25.
Snipes MB, Boecker BB & McClellan RO. Retention of monodisperse or polydisperse aluminosilicate particles inhaled by dogs, rats and mice. Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology1983; 69: 345-62.
26.
Cuddihy RG, Boecker BB & Griffith WCModelling the deposition and clearance of inhaled radionuclides. In Biological Implications of Radionuclides Released from Nuclear Industries , vol. II, pp. 77-90. Vienna: IAEA, 1979.
27.
Griffith WC , Cuddihy RG, Boecker BB, Guilmette RA, Medinsky MA & Mewhinney JAComparison of solubility of aerosols in lungs of laboratory animals. Health Physics1983; 45: 233.
28.
Bailey MR, Kreyling WG, Andre S., et al. An interspecies comparison of the translocation of material from lung to blood. In Proceedings of the Second International Workshop on Lung Dosimetry. Cambridge, September 1985 (in press).
29.
Raabe OG, Yeh H., Newton GJ, Phalen RF & Velasquez DJDeposition of inhaled monodisperse aerosols in small rodents. In Inhaled Particles IV, ed. WH Walton. pp. 3-21. Oxford: Pergamon Press, 1977.
30.
Raabe OG, Al-Bayati MA, Teague SV & Rasalt A.Regional deposition of inhaled monodisperse aerosol particles in small laboratory animals. In Inhaled Particles VI, eds J Dodgson & RI McCallum.Oxford: Pergamon Press (in press).
31.
Heyder J., Gebhart J., Rudolf G., Schiller CF & Stahlhofen W.Deposition of particles in the human respiratory tract. Journal of Aerosol Science1986; 17: 811-25.
