Reanalysis of gastrointestinal absorption factors for plutonium and other actinide elements

This project studies the gastrointestinal absorption of plutonium and other actinide elements relevant to nuclear power production, at concentrations at or below their respective maximum permissible concentrations (MPC's) in drinking water, using high specific activity isotopes. The gastrointestinal absorption of plutonium is measured in mice, rats, and dogs exposed to plutonium either via drinking water or by gavage. Plutonium concentrations are determined in liver and eviscerated carcass at 6 days (mice and rats) or 4 weeks (dogs). Administered solutions are 1 x 10-10 M in Pu (the molar concentration at MPC for 239Pu) and contain one of several high specific activity isotopes (237Pu, 47-day half-life; 236Pu, 2.8-year half-life; 238Pu, 86-year half-life). Fasted mice and rats, administered plutonium solutions that are: (1) low in concentration (10-10M); and (2) carefully prepared to assure a given oxidation state and to avoid hydrolysis and polymes, and major policy issues. The first HEED for near-term battery energy storage systems (lead/acid, nickel/zinc, and nickel/iron) astention being paid to potential releases of radionuclides at relatively short times after disposal