Purpose : To compare tumour induction in CBA/H mice, principally osteosarcoma and acute myeloid leukaemia, resulting from exposure to the alpha-emitting nuclides, uranium-233, plutonium-239 and americium-241, and to relate differences between the three nuclides to the pattern of dose delivery within tissues. Materials and methods : Each nuclide was administered intraperitoneally in citrate solution to three groups of adult male CBA/H mice at levels of activity which gave estimated life-time average skeletal doses of about 0.25-0.3 Gy, 0.5-1 Gy and 1-2 Gy. Animals were carefully monitored and sacrificed as soon as they showed signs of ill health; tumours were identified by standard histopathological techniques. Results : Statistical modelling by Cox regression showed that, considering all three nuclides together, there was a highly significant increase in risk of death from osteosarcoma or myeloid leukaemia with increasing dose rate. For osteosarcoma, the effect was significantly greater for 239 Pu than 241 Am, while separate analysis for 233 U showed no significant increase with increasing dose rate. For example, the increase in relative risk of death from osteosarcoma for an increase in life-time average dose rate to bone of 1 mGy d -1 was 4.2 (2.7-6.5) for 239 Pu, 2.3 (1.4-3.4) for 241 Am and 1.1 (0.4-3.1) for 233 U. For myeloid leukaemia, there was no significant difference between 239 Pu and 241 Am in the effect of dose rate. The increase in relative risk from myeloid leukaemia for an increase in average dose rate of 1 mGy d -1 was 1.8 (1.1-2.8) for 239 Pu, 2.0 (1.4-2.9) for 241 Am and 1.5 (0.8-2.7) for 233 U. Significant increases in renal and hepatic carcinomas were also recorded in animals exposed to 233 U and 241 Am, respectively. Studies of the distribution of the nuclides within the skeleton, published separately, have shown differences in their retention in individual bones and within bone. The proportions of decays occurring near to endosteal bone surfaces and throughout bone marrow were in the order: 239 Pu > 241 Am > 233 U. Conclusions : For osteosarcoma, the relative effectiveness of the nuclides in terms of average bone dose, in the order 239 Pu > 241 Am > 233 U, is consistent with the proportion of dose delivered near to endosteal surfaces. For myeloid leukaemia, the greater effectiveness of 239 Pu and 241 Am than 233 U is consistent with their accumulation in marrow.
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