title: Measurement of U and Pu isotope ratios in hair and nail samples using extraction chromatography and multi-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.
abstract: A bioassay capable of monitoring occupational or environmental exposure to special nuclear materials would be a useful tool for nuclear nonproliferation programs. Hair and nail are potential biomonitors of exposure to U and Pu. A method is described to measure isotope ratios of ultra-trace concentrations of U and Pu in hair and nail samples. The method uses multiple extraction chromatography resins to separate U and Pu fractions from the sample matrix. The U recovery was quantitative while the Pu recovery ranged from 81% to 109%, with a U decontamination factor of 5×10(4). Following the separation (234)U/(238)U, (235)U/(238)U and (240)Pu/(239)Pu were measured in human hair and hair and nail samples using multi-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (MC-ICPMS). The human hair and nail samples had elevated ratios of (234)U/(238)U which could reflect exposure to naturally fractionated U.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, United States.
authors.forename: J N W
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, United States; Research Reactor, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, United States.
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Robertson
authors.affiliation: Research Reactor, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, United States. Electronic address: brockmanjd@missouri.edu.
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Brockman
mesh_terms: D001681:Biological Assay; D002681:China; D002845:Chromatography / Q000379:methods*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis; D006197:Hair / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D057230:Limit of Detection; D013058:Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*; D008923:Missouri; D009262:Nails / Q000737:chemistry*; D011005:Plutonium / Q000737:chemistry*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014501:Uranium / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D014501:Uranium; D011005:Plutonium
keywords: Actinide; Biomonitor; Extraction chromatography; MC-ICPMS; Nuclear forensics; Plutonium; Uranium