Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Rapid response in vitro bioassay method for the determination of Pu isotopes in urine samples

  • Published:
Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The plutonium rapid response in vitro bioassay method described here was designed to determine 238Pu, 239Pu, and 240Pu concentration in urine samples from workers with potential internal contamination. Results provide quick and actionable information about the level of contamination necessary to assist making further medical decisions, including chelation therapy. The radiochemical procedure can be performed within approximately 48 h, including sample preparation, measurement(s) by alpha spectrometry and/or inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), and data evaluation.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Klumpp JA Bioassay Monitoring at Los Alamos National Laboratory – booklet - LA-UR-18-25219

  2. Kumar R, Rao DD, Dubla R, Yadav JR (2017) A rapid method for estimation of Pu-isotopes in urine samples using high volume centrifuge. Appl Radiat and Isotopes 125:176–179

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Ni Y, Zheng J, Guo Q, Men W, Tagami K, Uchida S (2018) Rapid determination of ultra-trace plutonium isotopes (239Pu, 240Pu and 241Pu) in small-volume human urine bioassay using sector-field inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Anal Chim Acta 1000:85–92

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Hang W, Zhu L, Zhong W, Mahan C (2004) Separation of actinides at ultra-trace level from urine matrix using extraction chromatography-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. J Anal At Spectrom 19:966–972

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Dulanska S, Bilohuscin J, Remenec B, Galanda D, Matel L (2015) Determination of 239Pu, 241Am and 90Sr in urine using pre-filter material and combined sorbents AnaLig Pu-02, AnaLig Sr-01, DGA Resin J. Radioanal Nucl Chem 304:127–132

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Hernandez Gonzales C, Bercedo IS (2019) Rapid procedure for actinides and 90Sr analysis in emergency urine spot samples applied in the GHSI-RNWG emergency intercomparison exercise. Appl Radiat and Isotopes 144:19–23

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Maxwell SL, Jones VD (2009) Rapid determination of actinides in urine by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and alpha spectrometry: A hybrid approach. Talanta 80:143–150

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Maxwell SL, Culligan BK (2009) New column separation method for emergency urine samples. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 279 1:105–111

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Zagyvai M, Vajda N, Groska J, Molnar Zs, Bokori E, Szeredy P (2017) Assay of actinides in human urine by rapid method. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 314:49–58

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Maxwell SL (2008) Rapid analysis of emergency urine and water samples. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 275 3:497–502

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Vasile M, Jacobs K, Bruggeman M, Van Hoecke K, Dobney A, Verrezen F (2018) On the sequential separation and quantification of 237Np, 241Am, thorium, plutonium, and uranium isotopes in environmental and urine samples. Appl Radiat and Isotopes 134:455–460

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Dai X, Kramer-Tremblay S (2011) An Emergency Bioassay Method for Actinides in Urine. Health Phys 101 2:144–147

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Eppich GR, Macsik Z, Katona R, Konegger-Kappel S, Stadelmann G, Koepf A, Varga B, Boulyga S (2019) Plutonium assay and isotopic composition measurements in nuclear safeguards samples by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. J Anal At Spectrom 34:1154–1165

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Harris MN, Hudston LA, Macsik Z, Lopez DM, Eaton SJ, Zazueta JA, Zuniga MM, DeBacker KB, Baca J, Margiotta C, Inglis JD, LaMont SP, Steiner, R E (2022) A Method for Identifying and Re-establishing Equilibrium Between Tracer and Analyte Within Plutonium Bioassay. International Conference on Methods and Applications of Radioanalytical Chemistry (MARC), 2022-04-02/2022-04-09 Kona, Hawaii, United States

  15. Begley IA, Sharp BL (1997) Characterisation and Correction of Instrumental Bias in Inductively Coupled Plasma Quadrupole Mass Spectrometry for Accurate Measurement of Lead Isotope Ratios. J Anal At Spectrom 12:395–402

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Curie LA (1968) Limits for qualitative detection and quantitative determination. Application to radiochemistry. Anal Chem 40 3:586–593

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Gerber GB, Thomas RG(1992) Guidebook for the treatment of accidental internal radionuclide contamination of workers.Radiat. Protect Dosim.41(1)

  18. U.S. Department of Energy (2013) Good practices for occupational radiological protection in plutonium facilities. USDOE; DOE-STD-1128‐2013, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  19. Los Alamos National Laboratory. Responding to Radiological Incidents, RP-SVS-ID-DP-06.DATS

  20. Glover L, Bertelli L, Dumit S, Poudel D, Smith L, Waters T, Klumpp J(2022) Side effects and complications associated with treating plutonium intakes: a retrospective review of the medical records of LANL employees treated for plutonium intakes, with supplementary interviews. Health Phys. Published Ahead of Print

  21. International Commission on Radiological Protection (1993) Age dependent doses to the members of the public from intakes of radionuclides. Pergamon Press, New York. ICRP Publication 67; Ann. ICRP 23(3/4)

    Google Scholar 

  22. Miller G (2010) Biokinetic models for plutonium. Los Alamos. Los Alamos National Laboratory, NM. Radiological Dose Assessment Technical Issue Paper 003

    Google Scholar 

  23. Fleischer RL, Raabe OG. Fragmentation of respirable PuO2 particles in water by alpha-decay: a mode of ‘dissolution’(1978) Solid State Nuclear Track Detectors ed F Grancer, H Patezke and E Schopper. Oxford, UK: 663–668 2d4. Diel J H, Mewhinney J A. Breakup of inhaled 238PuO2 particles in the lungs of hamsters and dogs. (1980) Inhalation Toxicology Research Institute Annual Report 1979-90, LMF-84; Albuquerque, NM 17–19

  24. National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (2006) Development of a biokinetic model for radionuclide contaminated wounds and procedures for their assessment, dosimetry and treatment. NCRP, Bethesda, MD. Report No. 156

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Los Alamos National Laboratory, P.O. Box 1663, 87545, Los Alamos, NM, USA

    Zsuzsanna Macsik, Stephen P. LaMont, Annelise M. R. Cardon, Lisa A. Hudston, Deepesh Poudel, Allison M. Wende, Jeremy D. Inglis & Robert E. Steiner

Authors
  1. Zsuzsanna Macsik
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Stephen P. LaMont
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Annelise M. R. Cardon
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Lisa A. Hudston
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Deepesh Poudel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Allison M. Wende
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Jeremy D. Inglis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Robert E. Steiner
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Zsuzsanna Macsik.

Additional information

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Macsik, Z., LaMont, S.P., Cardon, A.M.R. et al. Rapid response in vitro bioassay method for the determination of Pu isotopes in urine samples. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 331, 5359–5369 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-022-08616-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-022-08616-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation