URANIUM SKELETAL DOSIMETRY AND DISTRIBUTION IN YOUNG-ADULT BEAGLES - A GUIDE FOR CALCULATING URANIUM SKELETAL DOSES IN HUMANS

Uranium isotopes were given via single intravenous injection into 22 y oung adult beagle dogs of both sexes to determine the metabolism of th is element, Animals were given either U-232, U-233, U-238, or a combin ation of U-232+233. Calculations to assign a value of skeletal dose fo r each dog were performed using published radioactive properties of ea ch uranium isotope and the metabolic data (including measured retentio n and skeletal distribution) derived from this study during a period o f up to 2 y after injection. We believe that the procedures illustrate d in this communication can serve as a useful pattern for estimating s keletal radiation doses to humans contaminated with U-232, U-233, or U -238.