The Transport of Plutonium, Americium and Curium in the Blood of Rats

Abstract

The rates of disappearance from the blood of plutonium, americium and curium after intravenous injection in various chemical forms has been studied in rats. The rate of removal of plutonium is markedly influenced by the physicochemical form of the injected plutonium and especially by the presence of colloidal material. The plasma clearance rate of plutonium injected as a citrate solution which had been freed from polymeric species, by filtration through a 10 mμ pore diameter filter, is considered to afford a close approximation to the rate of disappearance of plutonium which enters the blood in soluble form from the lung, gastrointestinal tract, or through a contaminated wound. In contrast to plutonium, the plasma clearance rates of americium and curium are more rapid and much less influenced by chemical form.