Re: airborne U

[huntjb@ornl.gov (Jerry Hunt)]

At 02:28 PM 7/23/97 -0500, you wrote:
>July 23, 1997
>
>Dear Mike:
>
>Calculation of radiological risks from pure U-238 is meaningless since the
>actual risk depends on the chemical toxicity of uranium in the kidney not in
>the bone or lung, although both the bone and lung can be a reservoir of this
>potentially toxic element.
>
>Otto
>		*****************************************************
>		Prof. Otto G. Raabe, Ph.D., CHP
>                [President, Health Physics Society, 1997-1998]
>		Institute of Toxicology & Environmental Health (ITEH)
>		     (Street address: Old Davis Road)
>		University of California, Davis, CA 95616
>		Phone: 916-752-7754     FAX: 916-758-6140
>		E-Mail: ograabe@ucdavis.edu
>		******************************************************
>
>

The chemical toxicity of 238-Uranium is only controlling for soluble forms
(i.e., Class D) such as UF6 or Uranyl Nitrate.  For other classes, the
radiotoxicity controls the risk and allowable intakes.

*******************************************
Jerry Hunt, CHP
Office of Radiation Protection
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
P.O. Box 2008
Bldg. 4500-S, MS-6099
Oak Ridge, TN  37831-6099
Ph.-(423)576-5117, Mailto:huntjb@ornl.gov
*******************************************