Studies on the nasal clearance of 238PU and 241AM nitrates

C. P. Davies*, Alan Hodgson, G. N. Stradling, I. Wilson, M. J. Pearce, Michele Ellender

*Corresponding author for this work

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1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

Accidental intakes of Plutonium-238(238Pu) and Americium-241 (241Am) nitrates which occur by inhalation will result in partial deposition in the nose. In these experiments nasal clearance was examined in rats after instillation of a 3μl aliquot of the nitrate solution at three different sites in the nose (6, 12, 18mm beyond the nares), and after light or prolonged halothane anaesthesia. Total transfer and transfer rates to blood were also estimated, and compared with those for the lung. The overall clearance rate was significantly (P<0.05) different at each instillation site, and least at 18mm beyond the nares. The rate of nasal clearance did not appear to be affected by the duration of anaesthesia. Total transfer to blood did not vary between sites, with approximately 3% transfer of both actinides at 24h. Transfer rates to blood were significantly (P<0.01) less from the nose than from the lung.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)511-514
Number of pages4
JournalJournal of Aerosol Science
Volume23
Issue numberSUPPL. 1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1992

Keywords

  • americium nitrate
  • anaesthesia
  • nasal clearance
  • plutonium nitrate
  • transfer to blood

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