Comparative biokinetics of plutonium and americium after inhalation of PuO2 and mixed oxides (U, Pu)O2 in rat.

Purpose: To compare the biokinetics of Pu and Am in rat after inhalation of PuO2 and two (U, Pu) mixed oxides (MOX), referred to as MIMAS and SOLGEL.

Materials And Methods: Lung clearance was measured in vivo by X-and y-ray spectrometry. Retention of Pu and Am in femurs, liver and kidneys was measured by alpha-spectrometry.

The effect of the mass and initial chemical form of neptunium on its molecular associations in blood and liver.

The present investigation was aimed at establishing the distribution of neptunium in blood and liver cells as a function of the mass and chemical form of the radionuclide injected. Four groups of rats received intravenous injections of 237Np(V), 237Np(IV), 239Np(V) or 239Np(IV). Twenty-four hours after injection of the radionuclide, subcellular structures of the liver were separated by ultracentrifugation and serum and liver cytosol were subjected to gel permeation chromatography.