title: Plutonium in [99mTc] Pertechnetate for clinical use: concise communication.
abstract: Pertechnetate from 31 different Tc-99m generators was analyzed to determine if alpha-emitting radionuclides were present. Significant amounts of Pu(239 + 240) were found in the pertechnetate eluted from neutron-activated molybdenum distributed by one manufacturer. The Pu(239 + 240)/Tc-99m activity ratio in the first eluate from these generators varied between 1.3 . 10(-12) and 1.4 . 10(-11). The Pu(239 + 240) contamination is believed to originate from uranium impurities in the molybdenum batch. The build-up of Am-241, the daughter decay product of Pu-241, has also been demonstrated. The estimated Pu-241/Pu(239 + 240) activity ratio at the reference time was 8:1. It is strongly recommended that upper limits for the plutonium content of eluates from nonfission-produced molybdenum should be included in the various pharmacopoeias and that restrictions be placed on the uranium content of molybdenum used for the production of Mo-99 by neutron activation.
mesh_terms: D000576:Americium; D011005:Plutonium; D011786:Quality Control; D011876:Radionuclide Generators / Q000592:standards; D012016:Reference Values; D013667:Technetium; D014501:Uranium
chemical_list: D014501:Uranium; D011005:Plutonium; D013667:Technetium; D000576:Americium