Dissolution rates of uranium compounds in simulated lung fluid.

Maximum dissolution rates of uranium into simulated lung fluid were measured at 37 degrees C to estimate clearance rates from the deep lung. The materials tested included: ore and yellowcake, an airborne sample from an industrial site, and purified samples of (NH4)2U2O7, U3O8, UO2 and UF4. A batch procedure was developed to test samples containing as little as 10 micrograms of natural uranium. Values of dissolution halftimes varied from 0.01 day to several thousand days depending on the physical and chemical form of the uranium. Dissolution occurred predominantly by formation of the #UO2(CO3)3 ]4-ion; and as a result, tetravalent uranium compounds dissolved slowly. Dissolution rates of size-separated yellowcake aerosols were found to be more closely correlated with specific surface area than with aerodynamic diameter.