Answer to Question #1339 Submitted to "Ask the Experts"

Category: Alpha Emitters — Plutonium

The following question was answered by an expert in the appropriate field:

I need to find information on health effects on humans due to plutonium radiation. I am especially interested in the problem of plutonium inhalation and the associated risk of developing lung cancer and other diseases. Also, what are the LD50 and the Rdf, . . . and how can this risk can be minimized?

There are many publications—articles and monographs and information
sheets—at all different levels that discuss plutonium and its hazards.
A good place to start would be the Health Physics Society position
paper "What about Deadly Plutonium." You might also wish to consult the following papers in the journal Health Physics:
Vol 73, October 1997, p. 66, by G. L. Voelz and coworkers; Vol 75,
September 1998, p. 236 by R. L. Kathren and B. Gold; Vol 76, May 1999,
p. 477, and articles in the July 2000 special issue dealing with the
more highly exposed Russian population.

Ronald L. Kathren, CHP

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