Table 5 -13. Health Effects from Acute Intake of Soluble Uranium(a)

DOE-STD-1136-2004

Guide of Good Practices for Occupational Radiological Protection in Uranium Facilities

Table 5 -13. Health Effects from Acute Intake of Soluble Uranium(a)

URANIUM per kg BODY

URANIUM IN 70 kg

URANIUM INTAKE BY 70

HEALTH EFFECTS

PERSON

kg PERSON

(mg U kg-1)(b)

(mg)(c)

(mg)

50% Lethality

1.63

114

230

Threshold for permanent

0.3(d)

renal damage

Threshold for transient

0.058

4.06

renal damage

No effect

0.03

2.1

(a) (ANSI 1995); based on review (McGuire 1991).

(b) Based on review (Just and Emler 1984), except where noted.

(c) For this table, intake is defined as the total amount of material inhaled into the body. It includes material immediately

exhaled in addition to material absorbed within the body. For small uranium particles in soluble form, about half of

the intake will be absorbed by the body according to ICRP 30 (1979).

(d) See discussion in (Just and Emler 1984).

The Canadian guidance (Health and Welfare Canada 1987) suggests chemical toxicity is the dominant

consideration over radiological toxicity only for more soluble class D compounds. The higher specific

activity over natural uranium (2.5 x 107 Bq/kg) could bring the equilibrium mass burden equivalent to 6.5

Bq above the lowered permissible chemical burden. Then, under continuous exposure conditions, both

classes D and W natural uranium could exceed permissible chemical levels in the body after some months

of continuous exposure at 0.3 DAC levels (ANSI/HPS 1995).

Also, it has been shown that below an enrichment of 20% 235U by weight, a 900-mg kidney burden

could be exceeded in a single intake without exceeding the ALI. For a 900-mg kidney limit, radiological

considerations limit the DILs for enrichments greater that 20%, although possible chemical toxicity in the

long-term must also be considered even for these higher enrichments (ANSI/HPS 1995).

5.6.5 Natural Uranium Balance in Man

Uranium is present in trace quantities throughout the environment. As a result, man ingests about 2

g of natural uranium each day in food and fluids. A similar quantity is excreted each day in the feces and

urine. The uranium balance for reference man is presented in Table 5-14.

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