Cytogenetic analysis following internal deposition of plutonium

Chromosome analyses have been conducted on peripheral blood lymphocytes from 55 men with estimates of plutonium body burdens in excess of 296Bq. Both stable and unstable aberrations were scored using a banding technique. In discussing the significance of the results account has been taken of external radiation dose. In spite of the approximate nature of both the classification and the interpretation of the effect of external radiation it is suggested that significant depositions of plutonium do cause an increase in chromosome aberrations. (author)