Abstract
Default values for the solubility of various compounds in the lung are provided in publications of the International Commission on Radiological Protection as absorption types to characterizes the potential uptake of radionuclides to blood. The default assignments are conservative and reflect compounds likely to be encountered in the workplace. In practice, solubility profiles for many compounds, both natural and man-made, are complex, with a fraction of the compound in each absorption type, denoted as F, M, or S. Only soluble compounds of tritium and iodine can be reasonably assumed to be of one absorption type. The assumption of a single absorption type for airborne distributions of solid particulate matter can introduce order of magnitude errors in internal dosimetry calculations. The problem is particularly acute for isotopes with dual toxicity (e.g. uranium which is both nephrotoxic and radiotoxic), and when a dose estimate must be derived with only a single bioassay measurement. For inhalation exposures during an accident, treatment decisions frequently must be made quickly to be effective. While much work has been done to develop rapid bioassay methods that will provide data in a clinically useable timeframe, little consideration has been given to the magnitude of the error in the dose estimate resulting from the assumption of the default solubility profiles.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
ICRP (1995) Dose coefficients for intakes of radionuclides by workers, ICRP Publication 68, Ann ICRP 24(4)
NCRP (2010) Population monitoring and radionuclide decorporation following a radiological or nuclear incident, NCRP Report No. 166, NCRP Press, Maryland
NCRP (2010) Responding to a radiological or nuclear terrorism incident: a guide for decision makers, NCRP Report No. 165, NCRP Press, Maryland
Eckerman KF, Leggett RW, Cristy M, Nelson CB, Sjoreen AL, Ward RC (2006) User’s guide to the DCAL system, ORNL/TM-2001/190. Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge
James AC, Birchall A, Marsh JW, Puncher M (2004) User manual for IMBA expert™ USDOE-edition (phase II). ACJ & Associates, Inc., Richland
ICRP (1994) Human respiratory trace model for radiological protection, ICRP Publication 66, Ann. ICRP 24(1–3)
Eidson A, Mewhinney J (1981) In vitro dissolution of respirable aerosols of industrial uranium and plutonium mixed oxide nuclear fuels, NUREG/CR-2171 USGPO, Washington
Metzger R, et al. (1996) Solubility testing of actinides on breathing zone and area air samples, NUREG/CR-6419 USGPO, Washington
Metzger R et al (1997) Health Phys 72(3):423–428
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Metzger, R.L., Eckerman, K.F. The case for fractional solubility profiles. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 296, 227–231 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-012-1973-x
Received:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-012-1973-x