Plutonium-240

Plutonium-240

Radioactive material

Atomic number: 94

Treatment reversing the effects of irradiation is currently not possible. Anaesthetics and antiemetics are administered to counter the symptoms of exposure, as well as antibiotics for countering secondary infections due to the resulting immune system deficiency. (L1852)

The alpha radiation plutonium emits does not penetrate the skin but can irradiate internal organs when plutonium is inhaled or ingested. Particularly at risk are the skeleton, where it is likely to be absorbed by the bone surface, and the liver, where it collects and becomes concentrated. The ionizing radiation produced by plutonium causes cellular damage that includes DNA breakage, accurate or inaccurate repair, apoptosis, gene mutations, chromosomal change, and genetic instability. This leads to loss of normal cell and tissue homeostasis, and development of malignancy. Ionizing radiation that does not directly damage DNA can produce reactive oxygen intermediates that directly affect the stability of p53, an important enzyme in cell-cycle regulation, and produce oxidative damage to individual bases in DNA and point mutations by mispairing during DNA replication. (L1837, L1841)

Exposure to high doses of ionizing radiation results in acute radiation syndrome, which can cause skin burns, hair loss, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, disorientation, low blood pressure, headache, fatigue, weakness, fever, birth defects, illness, infection, and death. (L1837, L1852)

Plutonium-240 can affect the body following ingestion or inhalation. When inhaled, Pu-240 distributes to the lungs, liver and skeleton. Ingested plutonium is found in the liver and bone. Plutonium metabolism consists primarily of hydrolytic reactions and formation of complexes with protein and nonprotein ligands, such as albumin, globulins, ferritin, citrate, and lactate. Plutonium is excreted in feces and urine. (L1841)

Plutonium-240 has a high rate of spontaneous fission, raising the background neutron radiation of plutonium containing it. Plutonium is graded by proportion of Pu-240. Lower grades are less suited for nuclear weapons and thermal reactors but can fuel fast reactors. (L1840)