Re: airborne U

[Elizabeth Brackett <ebracket@freenet.columbus.oh.us>]

It was my understanding that the chemical toxicity of U-238 was the
overriding concern when in the soluble form (as with class D) but not for
the more insoluble forms.  This is based on the fact that a particular
amount of U-238 must be maintained in the kidney over an extended period
of time for the chemically induced damage to occur.  An insoluble material
would not be removed from the lungs at a fast enough rate to achieve such
concentrations (unless it were a particularly large intake, but I thought
the radioactivity was the limiting factor in such a case).  Is this not true?

Liz Brackett

***  Elizabeth M. Brackett, CHP   ***
*** Internal Dosimetry Consultant ***
***        (614) 459-0695         ***
*  ebracket@freenet.columbus.oh.us  *