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USTUR 0034: Rocky Flats — 1965 Acute Inhalation (Fire) — Refractory 239Pu
Intake
This registrant worked at the Rocky Flats Plant for about 10 y. In 1965, he was involved in an extensive plutonium fire incident. This was his only recorded intake.
1965: Studies of the plutonium fire aerosol showed that the material was highly refractory, and thus retained in the lungs and not responsive to intravenous chelation treatment. Surface contamination indicated small particle sizes: 0.12 µm count median diameter (0.4 µm CMAD) and 0.32 µm mass median diameter (1.0 µm AMAD). Plutonium air contamination in the Registrant’s work area was >90,000 dpm/m3 (1.5 kBq/m3) based on an 8-hour sampling period. The Am:Pu mass ratio was 1830 ppm.
Health Physics
While employed at Rocky Flats, this worker submitted 27 urine samples, which were analyzed for 239Pu, 241Am, and/or uranium. The results rarely exceed the minimum detectable activity.
Three chest counts (of 241Am) were performed using a NaI detector. The results are within the background range.
The Registrant’s total external (penetrating) radiation dose was 10.67 rem (107 mSv).
Autopsy and Pathology
The Registrant died at age 50 y from an acute myocardial infarction. The first contributing cause of death was a pulmonary embolism.
A portion of left and right lungs, thoracic lymph nodes, liver, kidneys, spleen, sternum and a rib were taken at autopsy.
Contemporary Dose Estimates
The last plutonium body burden estimates made by Rocky Flats Plant personnel were as follows:
| % of Maximum Permissible Burden | Maximum Permissible Burden | Extrapolated Burden | |
| Systemic Burden | 6.4% | 40 nCi | 2.56 nCi |
| Lung Burden | Background | 16 nCi | - |
To use USTUR narrative data, please cite:
TITLE: Narrative. United States Transuranium and Uranium Registries. DATE UPDATED. Washington State University: College of Pharmacy. Accessed 23 November 2009. Available at: http://www.ustur.wsu.edu/Case_Studies/Narratives/0034_Narrative.php.
This page was last updated on July 8, 2009. usturwebmaster@tricity.wsu.edu