The most significant effects of plutonium exposure are bone cancers, which
have been produced in mice (Finkel, 1953, 1956; Finkel and Biskis, 1962) and
dogs (Jee et a)., 1962; Mays et al., 1969b) that were injected with plutoniun.
In dogs that inhaled 238Py (physical half-life © 88 years), bone cancers
were also important causes of death, but some dogs also died of tung carcinana
and from pneumonitis and fibrosis (ITRI, 1980).
Studies of dogs that inhaled
2py, many of whow are stil] under study, showed radiation pneumonitis and
ffdrosis as important causes of death, with some incident Jung cancers (ITRI,
1980).
Many other imestigators also reported bone cancers and lung cancers
im a nusber of species exposed to plutonium, as reviewed by Bair (1974).
Other bone changes were noted in dogs (Taylor et al., 1962, 1972) and pigs
(Clarke, 1962) injected with plutonium.
Liver degeneration was noted in mice
(Finkel and Biskis, 1962) and dogs (Taylor et al., 1973).
Acute hematological
changes were also noted in mice (Finkel ard Biskis, 1962), pigs (Bustad et al,
1962), and dogs (Dougherty, 1973).
Early lung changes (fibrosis, metaplasia)
from inhaled plutonium in dogs were noted (Park et al., 1962).
The role of these and other animal studies {n predicting risks to human
populations have been discussed (Thanpson et al., 1972; Barr, 1974; Thompson,
1975; Bair and Thomas, 1976).
The animal data are particularly important
Since data from human exposures, it {s hoped, will remain inadequate for the
Calculation of risks.
Generally risks for plutonium-induced bone cancer are derived from estiMates for the radium dial painters ‘Mays end Linyd, 1972. Rosenblatt et al.,
1976; Rowland et al., 1978), and mdified to account for the difference in the
distribution in bone hetween radium and plutonium, the former heing tratitianally considered a volucwe seeber yd the latter, a surface seeter (Marshytt,
1969).