Gastrointestinal absorption and retention of polonium in adult and newborn rats and guinea pigs.

The gastrointestinal absorption of 210Po was determined by comparing tissue retention after oral and systemic administration. The results indicate an increase in absorption in adult rats for 210Po administered in liver compared with 210Po nitrate with estimated absorption of 5 and 13%, respectively. For 210Po citrate, values of about 7% were obtained in 1-day-old neonate and adult rats while absorption in guinea pigs was estimated to be about 23% in 1-day-old neonates, 17% in 5-day-old neonates, and 9% in adults. Gut retention of ingested 210Po in neonates was high in rats but not guinea pigs. In adult animals, but not neonates, the liver accounted for a greater proportion of 210Po reaching the bloodstream after ingestion than after systemic injection. The significance of these results is discussed in relation to current assumptions made in the calculation of doses from 210Po.