Translocation of 239Pu in mice following inhalation of sized 239PuO2

This study showed that when SAS/4 mice were exposed to sized 239PuO2 only about 0.5% of the 239Pu was translocated from lung to other organs. The fraction of 239Pu translocated appeared to be independent of the particle size of the administered 239PuO2 within the range of AMADs investigated (0.8-2.2 microns). The distribution of translocated 239Pu was similar to that observed with other species in that most of the activity was associated with the lung-associated lymph nodes followed by bone and liver. The fraction of 239Pu translocated was comparable to that found in studies with rats (ICRP72) but less than that found in more extended studies with beagle dogs.