Solubility and Transferability of Several Industrial Forms of Uranium Oxides

• Published in: Radiation protection dosimetry 1994-01, Vol.53 (1-4), p.157-161
• Main Authors: Henge-Napoli, M.H., Ansoborlo, E., Donnadieu-Claraz, M., Berry, J.P., Gibert, R., Mondan, A., Pradal, B.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied radiobiology (equipment, dosimetry...); Biological and medical sciences; Biological effects of radiation; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Tissues, organs and organisms biophysics
• ISSN: 0144-8420; 1742-3406
• DOI: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.rpd.a082267

This study was aimed at determining the solubility of two uranium oxides (U3O8 and UO2+Umetal) produced by a new enrichment process using laser technology and at understanding some mechanisms involved in the intercellular particle transformation. The solubility of the two compounds is lower when they have been phagocytised by alveolar macrophages than in a medium without cells. The addition of new macrophages during the culture has permitted the solubility of U3O8 to be tested over 14 days in spite of the toxicity of this compound. The biokinetics of uranium after exposure of rates of UO2+Umetal have confirmed the in vitro results. The electron microscopy study and EELS analysis of alveolar macrophages from rates instilled with both compounds have shown the formation of very thin needles of uranyl phosphate within the lysosomes.