ABSTRACT
This chapter aims to provide additional understanding of the biokinetics of depleted uranium (DU) after inhalation of uranium oxide aerosols with varying degrees of solubility. Repeated, acute inhalations are compared to determine the legitimacy of using the chronic model described by the International Commission on Radiological Protection which postulates that chronic contamination can be modeled by iteration of successive and independent acute intakes. DU is a by-product of the nuclear industry, with two possible sources: the enrichment of natural uranium to manufacture nuclear fuel and the reprocessing of irradiated fuels. The percentages by mass and by activity of the uranium isotopes 234, 235, and 238 may vary in DU according to the technological process used. The particles collected by filters were characterized by x-ray diffraction to identify the phases present and the related crystalline structures. The form and element composition were determined by scanning electron microscopy coupled to an X analyzer.
