The Reactions of 1·0 Nanometre Diameter Plutonium-238 Dioxide Particles with Rat Lung Fluid

Summary

The reactions of 1·0 nm particles of plutonium–238 dioxide with rat lung fluid have been studied both in vivo and in vitro. In both cases two products have been identified, (i) plutonium-labelled pulmonary surfactant and (ii) a heterogeneous plutonium-labelled material isolated by column chromatography.

The formation of plutonium-labelled pulmonary surfactant results in the rapid translocation of plutonium from lungs to blood and in a high urinary excretion relative to administered plutonium citrate.