-
39
-
Positive counts were obtained for 14 of 21 persons
measured.
These counts suggested chest burdens ranging
from 3 to about 10 nCi.
However, in no case did the
estimated chest burden excced the MDA at tne 95° confidence level.
Seven of the 14 subjects with pcsitive
chest counts had estimated chest burdens of 7 nCi or
greater and may be considered (at the 68% level of
confidence)
to have statistically significant chest
burdens of from 7 to 10 nci.®8
Since the plutonium is still in the
post-exposure,
it
lung cavity,
27 years
is correct to assume that it was initially
in the insoluble form and hence pertinent here.°?
At the time
of this measurement, however, most of the material would be
expected to be
in the lymph nodes.
Nevertheless, .we
could
estimate the initial particle burden in these subjects from
these data if we knew the initial particle size at the time
of contamination.
This particle size data is unavailable.
The nature of the contaminating events suggest that the
particle size midaht have been somewhat larger than those that
result from plutonium fires where most of the respirable
activity resides on particles in the size range of 0.1
.
>
:
0.5 u in diameter.’
0
;
.
Hemplemann, L.H.,
69/
ICRP Publication 19,
Op.
cit.,
J.R.
and A.R.
p.
474.
The Metabolism of Compounds of
Plutonium and Other Actnides,
Mann,
.
Much of the contamination of the
68/
70/
.
u to
Pergamon
Kirchner, Op.
Press,
cit.,
New York,
p.
880.
1972,
p.
7.