Doses to the human fetus from plutonium intakes during pregnancy

Following administration of 239Pu to pregnant rats and guinea-pigs, the plutonium concentration in foetal tissues was compared to the concentrations in material tissues, primarily maternal liver. Ratios measured in those animal studies at different stages of gestation were applied to equivalent stages in humans. In utero doses were estimated primarily for haemopoietic tissues but doses to foetal liver and skeleton were also calculated. The committed dose equivalent to the neck bone marrow of the child from birth to 70 years was then estimated. Finally, the leukaemia risk to mother and offspring was calculated. (U.K.)