122 Plutonium-239 Plutonium is an element with the symbol Pu and atomic number 94. It is a rare transuranic radioactive element that normally exhibits six allotropes and four oxidation states. It is also a radioactive poison that accumulates in bone marrow. Plutonium-239 is the most important isotope of plutonium, with a half-life of 24,100 years. It is fissile and can therefore sustain a nuclear chain reaction, leading to applications in nuclear weapons and nuclear reactors. Pu-239 is synthesized by irradiating uranium-238 with neutrons in a nuclear reactor, then recovered via nuclear reprocessing of the fuel. (L1840) 15117-48-3 61782 Pu 0.000000 Oral (L277) ; Inhalation (L277) The alpha radiation plutonium emits does not penetrate the skin but can irradiate internal organs when plutonium is inhaled or ingested. Particularly at risk are the skeleton, where it is likely to be absorbed by the bone surface, and the liver, where it collects and becomes concentrated. The ionizing radiation produced by plutonium causes cellular damage that includes DNA breakage, accurate or inaccurate repair, apoptosis, gene mutations, chromosomal change, and genetic instability. This leads to loss of normal cell and tissue homeostasis, and development of malignancy. Ionizing radiation that does not directly damage DNA can produce reactive oxygen intermediates that directly affect the stability of p53, an important enzyme in cell-cycle regulation, and produce oxidative damage to individual bases in DNA and point mutations by mispairing during DNA replication. (L1837, L1841) Plutonium-238 can affect the body following ingestion or inhalation. When inhaled, Pu-239 tends to accumulate in the lungs, though it also distributes to the liver and skeleton. Ingested plutonium is found in the liver and bone. Plutonium metabolism consists primarily of hydrolytic reactions and formation of complexes with protein and nonprotein ligands, such as albumin, globulins, ferritin, citrate, and lactate. Plutonium is excreted in feces and urine. (L1841) 1, carcinogenic to humans. (L135) Plutonium-239 is a key fissile component in nuclear weapons, due to its ease of fission and availability. (L1840) Plutonium's radioactivity can cause cancers of the bone, liver, and lungs if ingested or inhaled. Large amounts may also cause acute radiation poisoning. (L1840, L1841) Exposure to high doses of ionizing radiation results in acute radiation syndrome, which can cause skin burns, hair loss, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, disorientation, low blood pressure, headache, fatigue, weakness, fever, birth defects, illness, infection, and death. (L1837, L1852) Treatment reversing the effects of irradiation is currently not possible. Anaesthetics and antiemetics are administered to counter the symptoms of exposure, as well as antibiotics for countering secondary infections due to the resulting immune system deficiency. (L1852) 2009-03-06T18:58:07Z 2014-12-24T20:21:09Z Serum albumin (P02768) Serotransferrin (P02787) Ferritin light chain (P02792) Ferritin heavy chain (P02794) Ferritin, mitochondrial (Q8N4E7) (L1841) Plutonium-239 true Serum albumin (P02768) Serotransferrin (P02787) Ferritin light chain (P02792) Ferritin heavy chain (P02794) Ferritin, mitochondrial (Q8N4E7) (L1841) [239Pu] Pu InChI=1S/Pu/i1-5 InChIKey=OYEHPCDNVJXUIW-FTXFMUIASA-N 239.0522 239.052156519 Exogenous 55669