Toxicological/Biological Effects

DOE-HDBK-1113-98

Module 101 Properties of Uranium

Lesson Plan

Instructor's Notes

The Chernobyl disaster resulted

Larger fires, such as with storage drums, are more

in a graphite reactor core fire

difficult to extinguish. Submersion in water will

that burned for days.

eventually work once the metal cools down.

However, continuous water addition is necessary to

make up for losses due to boiling and evaporation.

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Toxicological/Biological Effects

The principal entry of uranium into the human

system is due to either inhalation or ingestion.

Inhalation occurs either from release of volatile

uranium compound or from suspension of volatile

uranium-laden aerosols. Ingestion can occur when

the uranium is introduced into water for

consumption or the food chain by plant uptake.

When uranium is either ingested or inhaled, it is

removed from the body with a biological half-life

varying between 6 and 5000 days, depending on

which organ has become contaminated. Uranium

tends to concentrate in the kidneys and the bones.

Additionally, if inhaled, the lungs are exposed.

Internal exposure to uranium is controlled by

limiting the ingestion and inhalation of this

element. These methods, along with measurement

techniques, are discussed in Module 104.

Most heavy metals, such as uranium, are toxic to

humans depending on the amount introduced into

the body. For short-term (acute) exposures, the

toxicological effects are the primary concern, and