TOXICOLOGICAL PROFILE FOR AMERICIUM

2,14
MB

333
stron

5555
ID Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry

2004
rok

CONTENTS

DISCLAIMER.ii

UPDATE STATEMENTiii

FOREWORD. v

QUICK REFERENCE FOR HEALTH CARE PROVIDERSvii

CONTRIBUTORSxi

PEER REVIEW xiii

CONTENTS. xv

LIST OF FIGURES xix

LIST OF TABLESxxi

1. PUBLIC HEALTH STATEMENT 1

1.1 WHAT IS AMERICIUM?. 2

1.2 WHAT HAPPENS TO AMERICIUM WHEN IT ENTERS THE ENVIRONMENT? . 3

1.3 HOW MIGHT I BE EXPOSED TO AMERICIUM? 4

1.4 HOW CAN AMERICIUM ENTER AND LEAVE MY BODY?. 5

1.5 HOW CAN AMERICIUM AFFECT MY HEALTH? 5

1.6 HOW CAN AMERICIUM AFFECT CHILDREN? . 6

1.7 HOW CAN FAMILIES REDUCE THE RISK OF EXPOSURE TO AMERICIUM?. 7

1.8 IS THERE A MEDICAL TEST TO DETERMINE WHETHER I HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO

AMERICIUM? 8

1.9 WHAT RECOMMENDATIONS HAS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MADE TO PROTECT

HUMAN HEALTH? 8

1.10 WHERE CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION? . 10

2. RELEVANCE TO PUBLIC HEALTH .11

2.1 BACKGROUND AND ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURES TO AMERICIUM IN THE UNITED

STATES 11

2.2 SUMMARY OF HEALTH EFFECTS 12

2.3 MINIMAL RISK LEVELS (MRLs) . 14

3. HEALTH EFFECTS. 15

3.1 INTRODUCTION 15

3.2 DISCUSSION OF HEALTH EFFECTS BY ROUTE OF EXPOSURE 17

3.2.1 Inhalation Exposure 19

3.2.1.1 Death 19

3.2.1.2 Systemic Effects . 19

3.2.1.3 Immunological and Lymphoreticular Effects. 23

3.2.1.4 Neurological Effects. 24

3.2.1.5 Reproductive Effects 24

3.2.1.6 Developmental Effects . 24

3.2.1.7 Cancer 24

3.2.2 Oral Exposure. 24

3.2.2.1 Death 25

3.2.2.2 Systemic Effects . 25

3.2.2.3 Immunological and Lymphoreticular Effects. 25

3.2.2.4 Neurological Effects. 25

3.2.2.5 Reproductive Effects 25

3.2.2.6 Developmental Effects . 25

3.2.2.7 Cancer 25

3.2.3 Dermal Exposure. 25

3.2.3.1 Death 25

3.2.3.2 Systemic Effects . 25

3.2.3.3 Immunological and Lymphoreticular Effects. 26

3.2.3.4 Neurological Effects. 27

3.2.3.5 Reproductive Effects 27

3.2.3.6 Developmental Effects . 27

3.2.3.7 Cancer 27

3.2.4 Other Routes of Exposure . 27

3.2.4.1 Death 27

3.2.4.2 Systemic Effects . 27

3.2.4.3 Immunological and Lymphoreticular Effects. 28

3.2.4.4 Neurological Effects. 29

3.2.4.5 Reproductive Effects 29

3.2.4.6 Developmental Effects . 29

3.2.4.7 Cancer 30

3.3 GENOTOXICITY . 31

3.4 TOXICOKINETICS. 32

3.4.1 Absorption 32

3.4.1.1 Inhalation Exposure 32

3.4.1.2 Oral Exposure. 38

3.4.1.3 Dermal Exposure 43

3.4.1.4 Other Routes of Exposure 44

3.4.2 Distribution . 44

3.4.2.1 Inhalation Exposure 44

3.4.2.2 Oral Exposure. 49

3.4.2.3 Dermal Exposure 49

3.4.2.4 Other Routes of Exposure 50

3.4.3 Metabolism. 51

3.4.4 Elimination and Excretion. 51

3.4.4.1 Inhalation Exposure 51

3.4.4.2 Oral Exposure. 53

3.4.4.3 Dermal Exposure 54

3.4.4.4 Other Routes of Exposure 54

3.4.5 Physiologically Based Pharmacokinetic (PBPK)/Pharmacodynamic (PD) Models . 55

3.5 MECHANISMS OF ACTION 79

3.5.1 Pharmacokinetic Mechanisms. 79

3.5.2 Mechanisms of Toxicity 83

3.5.3 Animal-to-Human Extrapolations .83

3.6 TOXICITIES MEDIATED THROUGH THE NEUROENDOCRINE AXIS 84

3.7 CHILDREN’S SUSCEPTIBILITY. 85

3.8 BIOMARKERS OF EXPOSURE AND EFFECT 88

3.8.1 Biomarkers Used to Identify or Quantify Exposure to Americium 89

3.8.2 Biomarkers Used to Characterize Effects Caused by Americium. 90

3.9 INTERACTIONS WITH OTHER CHEMICALS 90

3.10 POPULATIONS THAT ARE UNUSUALLY SUSCEPTIBLE. 91

3.11 METHODS FOR REDUCING TOXIC EFFECTS. 91

3.11.1 Reducing Peak Absorption Following Exposure 92

3.11.2 Reducing Body Burden. 92

3.11.3 Interfering with the Mechanism of Action for Toxic Effects . 93

3.12 ADEQUACY OF THE DATABASE 93

3.12.1 Existing Information on Health Effects of Americium. 93

3.12.2 Identification of Data Needs . 95

3.12.3 Ongoing Studies 101

4. CHEMICAL, PHYSICAL, and RADIOLOGICAL INFORMATION . 103

4.1 CHEMICAL IDENTITY. 103

4.2 PHYSICAL, CHEMICAL, AND RADIOLOGICAL PROPERTIES. 103

5. PRODUCTION, IMPORT/EXPORT, USE, AND DISPOSAL 113

5.1 PRODUCTION . 113

5.2 IMPORT/EXPORT . 116

5.3 USE. 116

5.4 DISPOSAL. 117

6. POTENTIAL FOR HUMAN EXPOSURE . 121

6.1 OVERVIEW. 121

6.2 RELEASES TO THE ENVIRONMENT 125

6.2.1 Air 126

6.2.2 Water 128

6.2.3 Soil . 129

6.3 ENVIRONMENTAL FATE 130

6.3.1 Transport and Partitioning. 130

6.3.2 Transformation and Degradation 148

6.3.2.1 Air 148

6.3.2.2 Water 148

6.3.2.3 Sediment and Soil. 148

6.4 LEVELS MONITORED OR ESTIMATED IN THE ENVIRONMENT. 149

6.4.1 Air 149

6.4.2 Water 151

6.4.3 Sediment and Soil . 154

6.4.4 Other Environmental Media 158

6.5 GENERAL POPULATION AND OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE . 170

6.6 EXPOSURES OF CHILDREN. 176

6.7 POPULATIONS WITH POTENTIALLY HIGH EXPOSURES . 177

6.8 ADEQUACY OF THE DATABASE 178

6.8.1 Identification of Data Needs . 178

6.8.2 Ongoing Studies 182

7. ANALYTICAL METHODS . 183

7.1 BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS. 183

7.1.1 Whole or Partial Body Measurements 183

7.1.2 Assay of Excreta . 188

7.2 ENVIRONMENTAL SAMPLES 190

7.2.1 Field Measurements of Americium. 190

7.2.2 Laboratory Analysis of Environmental Samples. 191

7.3 ADEQUACY OF THE DATABASE 198

7.3.1 Identification of Data Needs . 198

7.3.2 Ongoing Studies 199

8. REGULATIONS AND ADVISORIES .201

9. REFERENCES . 209

10. GLOSSARY . 259

APPENDIX A. ATSDR MINIMAL RISK LEVELS AND WORKSHEETS.A-1