Autopsy Studies of the Microdistribution of α-Active Nuclides in Lung Tissue

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Abstract
Alpha-particle autoradiography and associated quantitative analysis of α-particle tracks in CR-39 plastic have been used in a continuing study of the microdistribution of α-active nuclides in autopsy lung tissue. Data from 18 whole lungs are presented and constitute nine cases with a known history of smoking, six cases known to be nonsmokers and three lungs from coal miners. Detailed activity values have been found at a number of sites: the trachea, the right upper lobe near the periphery, and the lymph nodes. In each case single particle activity, which is presumed to be proportional to the level of 210Po present, was separated from that due to multiple-point decays, which was presumed to be proportional to the combined level of 238U and 232Th. The latter are present in natural mineral form. There was no evidence of greater activity in the lungs of smokers compared with nonsmokers. The activity values lay in the range expected from natural background, i.e. between 0.1 and 3.0 Bq kg–1. The low-level detection limit was < 0.04 Bq kg–1. In lymph nodes, activity values were 10–50 times higher, with a higher proportion due to multiple activity from single points. There was evidence of higher activity at the visceral pleura compared to that at points a few millimeters within the parenchyma itself. This observation was interpreted as due to the transport of particles by macrophages to the lung periphery.

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