Macro distributions of plutonium in the femur of the general population and comparisons to occupational cases and animal studies

The femur samples obtained from the general populations were dissected into five different parts: the distal end (DE), distal shaft (DS), middle shaft (MS), proximal shaft (PS) and proximal end (PE). The dissections were performed in the same manner as for the persons exposed to plutonium occupationally. The concentrations of plutonium in these sections were determined by a radiochemical procedure utilizing solvent extraction and alpha-spectrometry. The preliminary results indicate that the distribution of plutonium in the femur was nonuniform and was highest in the proximal end followed by distal end. (author) 5 refs.; 2 figs.; 2 tabs