Factors Affecting the Mobility of Plutonium-238 Dioxide in the Rat

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Abstract
A major factor influencing the movement of 238Pu from lungs to blood after intubation of oxide suspensions is the presence of 0.001 .mu.m diameter particles. In a polydisperse suspension of particles this fraction increases with time, due it is thought, to fragmentation of larger particles induced by .alpha. decay. The rate of this process may account for greater transportability in vivo of 238Pu relative to 239Pu when the oxides are inhaled. In blood, 0.001 .mu.m diameter 238Pu oxide particles undergo a rapid reaction to form a low MW species before Pu is complexed with transferrin and citrate ions. Filtration of this species through the kidneys may explain observed enhanced urinary excretion of Pu relative to administered plutonium citrate. The mechanism of urinary excretion and relationship between cumulative urinary excretion and body content for 238Pu is similar to that previously observed for 239Pu, even though different methods of preparation of oxides were used.