Metabolic dynamics in lungs and chest lymph nodes for ihhaled plutonium dioxide

Autoradiography and liquid scintillation were used in this experiment in order to observe metabolic dynamics of inhaled 239PuO2 in rats. Using mathematical models, the patterns of retention, distribution and clearance of Pu in lungs and chest lymph nodes are pressented. The results show that the distribution of Pu in lung varied with time intervals post inhalation and Pu was concentrated gradually to the periphery of lungs. The distribution of Pu in lymph nodes was also non-uniform, tending to deposit in the paracortex. After two weeks, the tendency of concentration appeared. Pu was distributed on one side of the node or along the trabeculae. The distribution pattern of Pu in whole lymph nodes may be expressed by a polynomial exponential function