Exposure Implications for Uranium Aerosols Formed at a New Laser Enrichment Facility: Application of the ICRP Respiratory Tract and Systemic Model

A pilot enrichment facility developed in France employs laser technology. The development of this process has resulted in three different types of aerosols identified as variable mixtures of U metal +UO 2 and U 3 O 8 . A procedure is described for assessing intakes and doses after inhalation of these dusts using site and material specific data in conjunction with the most recent ICRP biokinetic models. It is concluded that exposure control could be based on either radiotoxicity or chemical toxicity and that chest monitoring and urine assay could be useful, provided that measurements are made soon after a known acute intake.