Inhalation Toxicology of 238 PuO 2 and 239 PuO 2 in Syrian Golden Hamsters

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Male and female, young adult, Syrian golden hamsters were exposed to high fired, freshly prepared, aerosols of 238PuO2 or 239PuO2. Initial alveolar depositions of Pu ranged from .apprx. 3-200 nCi. The fate of inhaled PuO2 in the hamster was similar to that previously described in the rat. Only in male hamsters exposed to large amounts of 239PuO2 was there significant shortening of life span. The incidence of adenomatous metaplasia in the lung was as high as 16% in unexposed controls and increased with increasing radiation dose to a maximum of 58% at the highest deposition of Pu. Only 3 hamsters developed malignant tumors in the lung, all adenocarcinomas, and all at initial alveolar depositions > 160 nCi. The hamster was resistant to the induction of lung tumors following inhalation of insoluble particles containing .alpha.-emitting radionuclides.