Preliminary Study of Uranium Oxide Dissolution in Simulated Lung Fluid

摘要

Depleted uranium oxide aerosols prepared in the laboratory and collected in the field were tested to characterize their dissolution in simulated lung fluid and to determine how dissolution is affected by aerosol preparation histories. Respirable fraction samples of each study material were subjected to in vitro dissolution analysis. Particular trends regarding the physicochemical character of uranium oxides described by other investigators were supported by the data generated in this study. The data suggest that under some conditions a rapidly dissolving uranium fraction may be formed concurrent with the production of uranium dioxide. This fraction may play an important role in determining the hazard potential associated with inhalation exposure to certain uranium aerosols.