a
A cell whose nucleus is intercepied by the path of such a par-
ticle suffers sufficient injury that its capacity for cell division is usually
r
Jost (Bary eedcen, A.W., 1962 and Blocre, W., 1959).
i
ween eee
One
.
millionth of a gram injected intradermally in rice has caused cancer
a similar amount injected into the blood system
'
of dogs has induced a substantial incidence of Bone cancer lays, C.W.,
et al., 1947), because of plutenium's tendency to seek bone tissue.
|
Fortu-
nately the body, maintains
n
a relatively effective barrier against the entry
|
‘of plutonium into the blood system.
| .
Also, because of the short range of
the emitted helium nuclei, the radiation from plutonium deposited on the
surface of human skin does not usually reach any relevant tissue.
t
f
h
|
Unfor-
tunately the lung is more vulnerable.
?
Before I describe why this is, I'd like to say something about the
TTS Eve Te <
prenes
An aerosol is physically like cigarette
smoke, or fog, or cement dust. "Because of their small size, the particles
“comprising an aerosol remain suspended in air for long periods of time.
.
Se,
CSTE TT ae
If an aerosol is inhaled, then, depending on its physical characteristics, it:
y
“may be deposited at different sites in the respiratory tree (Health_Physics,
1966).
Larger aerosol sizes are usually removed by turbulence in the nose
.
Lo
f
particles deposited in the bronchial tree are cleared upward in hours by the
clliated mucus blanket that covers the structure.
This clearance system
4
@ucs nat panstrate into the deep respiratory structures, the alveoli, where
tie basic exygena-carbon dioxide exchanye of the lung lakes pluce.
Srnaller
eS
~
es eer
ee ee ee ee
Se ne rene ee
characteristics of an aerosol.
Oe we ere eemm te
Parr aren
we
..
.
*
ee ie ee eee ee eo
-
Oe eee eee
(lises, t7.. et al., 1947);
eetraeee eet
The cancer inducing potential of plutonium-is well known.
ep Oncere Ser ee Me Oe ee 6 emer ee oe ge eee
A ont ewee eee ewes ee ee Be a eee eee
= me ey sete
rr ee
ee ememe eee meee toot ae tew tn wees Aw wees
vate
me ee ee ee eee
sale Oe ted ae Bee eea a
“Nps
tne wpe weer Rees wanes mF te
1/10 of that.
&%
br dug
A os tr oem et rete Ree eet ome
'
C.
.