Comparative skeletal distribution of Am and Pu in man, monkey, and baboon

The skeletal distribution of Am and Pu in four human cases was compared with the skeletal distributions of these radioelements in baboons and monkeys. Excellent agreement was noted among the four human cases; data were available for Am in all four and Pu in three. A statistically significant correlation was found between the 241Am and 239Pu + 240Pu skeletal distributions in the humans and those in nonhuman primates. Trabecular bone had the highest concentrations of 241Am and 239+240Pu in humans, baboons, and monkeys. Scaling factors are proposed to convert the percentages of skeletal activity in animal bones to the corresponding percentages in the bones of the human skeleton.