Stable tracer investigations in humans for assessing the biokinetics of ruthenium and zirconium radionuclides

Biokinetic models for group IVB elements

The International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) is updating its biokinetic models in a series of reports titled Occupational Intakes of Radionuclides (OIR series). This paper provides an overview of biokinetic data for the group IVB elements hafnium (Hf) and titanium (Ti), compares these data with findings for the more extensively studied Group IVB element zirconium (Zr), and proposes biokinetic models for systemic Hf and Ti for use in the OIR series. The biokinetic model for systemic Zr adopted in OIR Part 2 (ICRP, 2016a) is proposed for application to Hf in view of the nearly identical chemical and physical properties of these two elements, their closely similar behavior in the environment, and their nearly identical biokinetic properties suggested by available comparative data. The model structure applied to Zr and Hf is also applied to Ti, but a separate set of transfer coefficients is proposed for Ti.

The biokinetics of ruthenium in the human body

The International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) is updating its biokinetic and dosimetric models for workers and subsequently will revisit its models for members of the public. This paper summarises the biokinetic database for ruthenium and proposes a new biokinetic model for systemic ruthenium. In contrast to the ICRP's current model, the proposed model depicts recycling of ruthenium between tissues and blood and a non-uniform distribution of systemic ruthenium. The paper also points out inconsistencies between the ICRP's respiratory model for RuO(4) vapour and reported data, and inconsistencies between the ICRP's default gastrointestinal (GI) uptake value and data for some forms of ruthenium. Dosimetric implications of the proposed systemic model and the findings for inhaled RuO(4) vapour and GI uptake of ruthenium are examined.

Influence of the chemical form on the plasma clearance of ruthenium in humans

The radioisotopes of ruthenium (103Ru and 106Ru) are abundant fission products and represent a radiological risk for the population in case of nuclear accidents. Few biokinetic studies have been performed on humans up to now and consequently the current model recommended by ICRP for ruthenium is derived mainly by extrapolation from animal data. The stable isotope 101Ru and proton activation analysis have been used to study the biokinetics of Ru in blood plasma samples taken during 8 studies in three healthy volunteers. The results obtained demonstrated that complexed Ru (in the form of citrate Ru(IV) complexes) is cleared from blood plasma very rapidly (characteristic half time of 17+/-2 min), while inorganic Ru remains longer in the systemic circulation, and is transferred to other organs and/or excreted with a biological half time of 23+/-2h. Good reproducibility of the clearance curves indicated no evidence of inter- or intra-individual variability when the same Ru solution was injected in repeated experiments to different subjects.

A re-evaluation of the biokinetics of zirconium in humans

There is much interest in understanding the biokinetics of zirconium in humans due to the potential radiological risk represented by the radionuclide 95Zr and by its daughter 95Nb. Despite the significance of zirconium, few data are available on the actual biokinetics of zirconium in humans. Accordingly the biokinetic model currently recommended by ICRP for this element is based mainly on data from animal experiments. In this study, the use of the stable isotopes 90Zr and 96Zr as tracers has enabled the conduct of 6 biokinetic investigations in 3 healthy volunteers. These studies have provided new valuable information about intestinal absorption and kinetics in blood plasma of zirconium and have been used for the set-up of a more realistic compartmental model with possible applications for dosimetric purposes.