Plutonium partitioning among internal organs.

An estimate of partitioning of plutonium among skeleton, liver, and other organs is needed to estimate the radiation dose to individual organs. This review was done to provide an analysis of the coefficients currently used for the translocation of plutonium from blood to other organs and excreta. Data from both experimental animals and human autopsy cases were used in our analysis. The analysis of data from 257 experimental animal and 169 human subjects led to a conclusion that a 70-30% split of plutonium distribution between skeleton and liver, respectively, would be appropriate for use in plutonium organ distribution models. Analysis of data from other organs and early excreta indicated that these other compartments generally comprised less than 3% of the total early body burden. The variability of plutonium distribution within all compartments is emphasized, with the conclusion that the coefficients of uptake to individual organs are adequate to estimate average organ doses for an exposed population but use for estimating doses for an individual will lead to uncertain results.