[ RadSafe ] DU not toxicologically identical to non D-U

Sun Nov 6 01:32:53 CST 2011

Hello:

The following is an excellent reference for the process causing U234/U238
disequilibrium in natural systems:

ROBERT L. FLEISCHER & O. G. RAABE (1978): Recoiling alpha-emitting nuclei
mechanisms for uranium-series disequilibrium, Geochimica et Cosmochimica
Acta, Vol. 42. pp. 973-978

Abstract ~ High-sensitivity experiments with particles that are strongly
enriched in alpha-emitting nuclei show that damaged regions are produced
that can be eroded by subsequent exposure to water. Direct ejection of
recoil nuclei from solid grains is also observed. These observations appear
to supply a basis for understanding disequilibria between 238U and 234U in
natural samples that have been exposed to water. The two mechanisms observed
are expected to act under different natural conditions.

References in the paper include: (possible typographical errors may exist
from conversion from image to digital form)...

REFERENCES 

CHALOV P. I. and MERKULOVA K. I. (1966) Comparative rate of oxidation of
234U and 238U atoms in certain minerals. Dokl. Akad. Nauk. SSSR 167,
146-148. 

CHERDYNTSEV V. V. (1955) Proc. Third Session Comm; Absolute Age
Determination of Geol. Formations p. 175. 

CHERDYNTSEV V. V. (1961) Abundance of the Chemical Elements, p. 111. Univ.
Chic. Press, Chicago. 

FLEISCHER R. L. (1975) On the 'dissolution' of respirable PuO2 particles.
Health Phys. 29, 69-73. 

FLEISCHER R. L., PRICE P. B. and WALKER R. M. (1975) Nuclear Tracks in
Solids. Univ. of Calif. Press, Berkeley. 

FLEISCHER R. L. and RAABE O. G. (1977) Fragmentation of respirable Pu02
particles in water by alpha decay-a mode of 'dissolution'. Health Phys. 32,
253-257. 

FLEISCHER R. L. and RAABE O. G. (1978) On the mechanism of 'dissolution' in
liquids of PuO2 by alpha decay. Health Phys. To be published. 

GAUDIN A. M. (1939) Principles of Mineral Dressing. McGraw-Hill. 

HUANG W. H. and WALKER R. M. (1967) Fossil alpha particle tracks: a new
method of age determination. Science 155, 1103-1106. 

KlGOSHI K. (1971) Alpha-recoil 234Th: dissolution into water and the
238U/238U disequilibrium in nature. Science 173, 47--48. 

KING E. A., JR., BUTLER J. D. and CARMAN M. F. (1972) Chondrules in Apollo
14 samples and size analysis of Apollo 14 and 15 fines. Proc. Third Lunar
Sci. ConI:. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta Suppl. 3, 673~686. 

KOTRAPPA P., WILKINSON C. J. and BOYD H. A. (1972) Technology for the
production of monodisperse aerosols of oxides of transuranic elements for
inhalation experiments. Health Phys. 22, 837-843. 

KRONFELD J. (1974) Uranium deposition and 234Th alpha-recoil: an explanation
for extreme 234U/238U fractionation within the Trinity aquifer. Earth
Planet. Sci. Lett. 21, 327-330. 

KRONFELD J., GRADSZTAJNE E., MULLER H. W., RADIN J., YANIV A. and ZACH R.
(1975) Excess 234U: an aging effect in confined waters. Earth Planet. Sci.
Lett. 27, 342-345. 

PRICE P. B. and WALKER R. M. (1963) A simple method of measuring low uranium
concentrations in natural crystals. Appl. Phys. Lett. 2, 23-25. 

RAABE O. G., KANAPILLY G. M. and BOYD H. A. (1973) Studies of in-vitro
solubility of respirable particles of 238Pu and 239Pu oxides and on
accidentally released aerosol containing 239Pu. Inhalation Toxicology Res.'
Inst. Ann. Rept., Lovelace Found. Rept. LF-46, UC-48. pp. 24-30. 

Dan ii

--
Dan W McCarn, Geologist
108 Sherwood Blvd
Los Alamos, NM 87544-3425
+1-505-672-2014 (Home - New Mexico)
+1-505-670-8123 (Mobile - New Mexico)
HotGreenChile at gmail.com (Private email) HotGreenChile at gmail dot com

-----Original Message-----
From: radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu
[mailto:radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu] On Behalf Of Conway, Ken C.
Sent: Thursday, November 03, 2011 06:02
To: The International Radiation Protection (Health Physics) MailingList
Subject: Re: [ RadSafe ] DU not toxicologically identical to non D-U

Another source of   similar data Is Health Physics Volume 48 Number 5
entitled Special Issue on Radioactivity in Drinking Water. (May 1985
page 564)
. "There have been many studies  of the isotopic composition of U in
natural waters which have shown that most contain more activity  from
U-234 than U-238. The U234/U238 ratio can be as high as 28/1 but usually
ranges between 1 and 3. " The stated cause is alpha recoil.

-----Original Message-----
From: radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu
[mailto:radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu] On Behalf Of Dan W McCarn
Sent: Thursday, November 03, 2011 5:11 AM
To: 'The International Radiation Protection (Health Physics)
MailingList'
Subject: Re: [ RadSafe ] DU not toxicologically identical to non D-U

Dear Ahmad:

Uranium mineral species tend to leach U-234 more easily than U-238
because crystal lattice dislocation is caused by alpha recoil when U-238
decays to Th-234.  As I recall, the alpha particle has about 4-5 MeV
energy, and the imparted kinetic energy in the recoil is around 50 KeV
to the Th-234 atom.
This is sufficient to dislocate the Th-234 atom.

For this reason, when Th-234 decays to U-234 within a mineral, the U-234
is no longer tightly bound to the mineral lattice and is therefore
significantly more leachable. This feature has been well documented in
uranium deposits especially redox-controlled roll-front sandstone
deposits and in environmental geochemistry measurements. Elevated U-234
values are typical of weak-leach conditions in near-surface vadose
zones.  Likewise, elevated U-234/U-238 ratios are characteristically
present in the leading edge of roll-fronts.  Yellowcake produced from
acid in-situ-recovery (ISR) in Central Asia characteristically has an
elevated U-234/U-238 ratio caused by various geochemical conditions
encountered during mining.  This has been reported on at the IAEA in
"Downstream constraints on product specification and ISL mining methods"
by G. Capus in IAEA TECDOC-1396.

http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/publications/PDF/te_1396_web.pdf

Note that for U-234 to reach secular equilibrium requires 1-2 million
years, so leachate containing elevated U-234/U-238 ratios likely comes
from natural mineralized sources.

I looked at the Fallujah data, and was quite surprised at how low the
total U concentrations were in soils - around 1 mg/Kg U.  Quite a bit of
the USA, Sweden and the mid-east is directly underlain by
uranium-bearing marine black shales (Kolm Shale, Chattanooga Shale,
Pierre Shale) and marine phosphorites not to mention elevated uranium in
granites such as the Reading Prong.  The soils associated with these
widespread formations tend to be much higher in concentration, up to 100
mg/kg U.

Respectfully,

Dan ii

--
Dan W McCarn, Geologist
108 Sherwood Blvd
Los Alamos, NM 87544-3425
+1-505-672-2014 (Home - New Mexico)
+1-505-670-8123 (Mobile - New Mexico)
HotGreenChile at gmail.com (Private email) HotGreenChile at gmail dot com

-----Original Message-----
From: radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu
[mailto:radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu] On Behalf Of Ahmad Al-Ani
Sent: Wednesday, November 02, 2011 23:18
To: radsafe at health.phys.iit.edu
Subject: Re: [ RadSafe ] DU not toxicologically identical to non D-U

On Mon Oct 31st, 2011 9:30 PM AST Brennan, Mike  (DOH) wrote:

>If you are saying that the chemical properties of U238 are sufficiently
>different from those of U235 and U234 as to be detectable in the way
>organisms are affected, I would like to see the model and the evidence.

Is there such a technique called Uranium Bio-Enrichment? It would be
interesting if farmed cells or organisms can selectively absorb U235 in
an efficient manner to compete with current methods.

Ahmad Al-Ani
Radiation Physicist

>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu
>[mailto:radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu] On Behalf Of James Salsman
>Sent: Monday, October 31, 2011 10:35 AM
>To: radsafe at health.phys.iit.edu
>Subject: [ RadSafe ] DU not toxicologically identical to non D-U
>
>Mark Sonter wrote:
>
>> DU *must* be toxicologically identical to non D-U.
>
>That is not consistent with the translocation graph shown in the Gmelin
>Handbook of Inorganic Chemistry, 8th Edition, English translation
>(Springer-Verlag, 1982), Title U -- Uranium, Supplemental Volume A7 --
>Biology, Section 3 -- Metabolism: Absorption, page 305, Figure 3-1,
>"Retention and translocation of inhaled uranyl nitrate,"
>from J.E. Ballou, R.A. Gies, and N.A. Wagman in BNWL-2500, Part 1, pp.
>379-380 (1978.)
>
>If I owe Bob Cherry an apology for not knowing about genotoxicity when
>he made statements to federal officials on the health aspects of
>uranium fume inhalation, or for getting his title wrong, then I
>apologize.  I remain of the opinion that a more appropriate title would
>involve a Quantico detainee number for decades followed by "Defendant"
>in a medical expense loss recovery class action suit, and I appreciate
>all the work the military does to defend my right to express such
>opinions.
>
>Sincerely,
>James Salsman
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