Plutonium

Synonyms

Plutonium and compounds;

Category

Radionuclides

Description

"A heavy, radioactive, manmade metallic element with atomic number 94. Its most important isotope is fissile plutonium-239, which is produced by neutron irradiation of uranium-238. It exists in only trace amounts in nature." [NRC Glossary]

Sources/Uses

Used to generate heat and electricity; Used in pacemaker batteries; (Pu-238); Used as a fuel for nuclear reactors and bombs (Pu-239); [Merck Index # 7541] In 1948-1958, the Mayak Production Association produced plutonium nuclear weapons in the Soviet Union. About 21,500 workers were exposed to radiation with the highest dose >1000 rad and the average dose about 80 rad. A study found 16 osteosarcomas, 8 chondrosarcomas, and 9 soft tissue sarcomas. Most of these cancers occurred 20 or more years after first exposure. "The plutonium exposures received by the Mayak workers were enormous and much larger than experienced anywhere else in the world. Other studies of workers exposed to substantially lower plutonium doses have found no excess bone cancers." [Schottenfeld, p. 950]

Comments

In acute studies of laboratory animals, plutonium causes radiation pneumonitis and bone marrow injury. Surviving animals have increased risk for lung fibrosis and cancer. [HSDB] Plutonium workers exposed to >10 Sv after acute inhalation exposures had increased risk for lung fibrosis. The inhalation exposures were "readily traced back to accidents or equipment failure" and the "clinical significance of plutonium-induced fibrosis remains to be determined." [PMID 16038583] Plutonium is a toxic metal that may damage the kidneys. [EPA Radionuclides] "There is sufficient evidence in humans that inhalation of plutonium-239 aerosols causes lung cancer, liver cancer and bone sarcoma. Exposure to plutonium-239 also entails exposure to plutonium-240 and other isotopes." [IARC]
Most Important Radionuclide: Pu-239
Source: Neutron irradiation of Pu-238
Half-Life: 24,000 years
Effective Half-Life: 197 years
Specific Activity: 0.63 Ci/gm
Decay Mode: Alpha
GI Absorption: 0.05%
Lung Clearance Half-Time: Years for PuO2; Weeks for all other compounds;
Critical Organ: Bone
Internal Toxicity: Very High
Annual Limit on Intake: 0.000006 mCi
Radiation Energy (MeV): Alpha 5.16 (74%); Alpha 5.14 (15%)
Reported Radiation Accidents: 4 accidents with 6 injuries (Pu-239 and Pu-238) and 1 death (Pu-235);
[See Glossary for references.] See "Radiation, ionizing."

Reference Link #1

Biomedical References

Yes

Reference Link #2

Yes

Yes

Established

Diseases

Occupational diseases associated with exposure to this agent:

• Bone cancer
• Liver cancer
• Lung cancer