Effects of Age and Mode of Ingestion on Absorption of Plutonium.

Abstract

The gastrointestinal absorption of plutonium was determined for rats age 1 to 84 days. Absorption ranged from 85 times the adult level for day old rats to near adult levels in animals 21 days of age or older. Tissue distribution in the 7 day old rat was similar to that in the adult. Deposition of plutonium administered to the tongue or fed in drinking water was comparable to that observed following gavage feeding.