Overview of plutonium toxicity

Data are reviewed from studies on the pathological effects of low exposure levels of Pu in dogs, mice, and rats. Emphasis is placed on the incidence of bone tumors following parenteral administration or ingestion of Pu at various concentrations and in various chemical forms and the incidence of lung and bone tumors following inhalation of Pu. Problems involved in the extrapolation of animal data to man and in the extrapolation of low-dose effects to the effects of extremely low doses involved in the environmental dispersion of transuranium compounds are discussed