Purpose: To assess in utero sensitivity to x-rays, alpha-emissions from plutonium-239 and beta-emissions from tritium in terms of induction of chromosomal aberrations in bone marrow cells.
Materials and methods: CBA/H mice were exposed to a single dose of X-rays (0.5Gy) on either day 7 or day 14 of pregnancy or given (239)Pu (100 kBq kg(-1)) by intraperitoneal injection on either day 6 or day 13. Tritium was administered to mice throughout pregnancy as either tritiated water, ad libitum in drinking water (total intake averaged 130 MBq), or as homogenized tritiated cress, administered by gastric intubation (total 60 MBq). Irradiated and unexposed control mice and their offspring were sacrificed at 2-8 weeks after birth. Direct metaphase preparations from femoral bone marrow cells from mothers and offspring were used for G-band analysis.
Results: The incidence of stable aberrations was significantly and similarly increased in neonatal and maternal marrow samples after exposure to X-rays, (239)Pu or (3)H. The estimated average bone absorbed doses from (239)Pu in pregnant females were similar to the X-ray dose of 0.5 Gy, suggesting a low RBE for alpha-irradiation in adults. The similar levels of damage observed in neonates after X-irradiation and 239Pu exposure are indicative of greater in utero sensitivity to alpha-irradiation since the overall estimated in utero alpha-particle doses to haemopoietic tissue were much lower. In utero doses from (3)H and corresponding maternal doses were around 0.5Gy, showing no evidence of greater in utero sensitivity, no significant difference between the effects of the two forms of tritium, and were consistent with an RBE value of 1-2.
Conclusions: Comparison of stable aberration yields in haemopoietic cells suggests a greater sensitivity to alpha-particles from (239)Pu than X-rays or beta-particles from (3)H for irradiation in utero but a low RBE value in adults.