Some Biological Effects Due to Nuclear Fission

Abstract

Colloidal uranium oxide, enriched with radioactive U235 was inj. into mice. Three days later the mice were bombarded with a sublethal dose of slow neutrons. All the bombarded mice died within 3 wks., some within 8 days. Fur was ruffled, backs were arched, and diarrhea occurred in most of the mice from 2 to 14 days after the bombardment. Neutron bombardment without U killed no control mice; neither did U that had not been subjected to fission by neutron bombardment. The mice lived even when roentgen rays were substituted for neutrons. Li and B also undergo nuclear disintegration. Whenever any fissionable substance is bombarded with slow neutrons, the action of the fission products and of induced radioactivity is superimposed on that of the neutrons. The specific effectiveness of fission products may be important in understanding the mechanism of radiation effects. Fission has possible application in radiation therapy, if fissionable elements can be put into compds. that localize at specific areas. This knowledge is also of interest from the standpoint of radiation health protection in atomic energy plants.