INVESTIGATION OF AIR CONTAMINATION IN A NUCLEAR MEDICAL FACILITY

Journal Article · Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1962 · Radiobiol. Radiotherap.

OSTI ID:4142552

Bozoky, L

A light portable device consisting of 20 layers of gauze sewn together to make a pad 25 mm diameter was used tn measure air contamination in a medical radioisotope facility. The device filtered out only 50% of the aerosols, but its air resistance was low enough so that it could be used with a vacuum cleaner. Its efficiency was approximates 50% that of a commercial air filter. One m/sup 3/ of air was filtered each five min. Measurements of I/sup 131/ air contamination in a medical radioisotope ward were made before and after ventilation. After ventilation the I/sup 131/ air concentration decreased by one order of magnitude from and average of 1.1 x 10/sup -9/ mu C/cm/sup 3/. This is close to 10% of the msximum permissible concentration (MPC) for a 40-hr work week. The radioactivity of the samples decreased more rapidly than the half life of I/ sup 131/ and indicated that some of the radioisotope evaporated. In view of the frequency that personnel dosimeters have recorded exposure to 50% of the MPC the I/sup 131/ air concentrations may be significant. In other areas (laundry, treatment rooms, and laboratory spaces) the air specific activity of I/sup 131/, P/sup 32/, AU/sup 198/, and Na/sup 24/ varied between 10/sup -10/and 10/sup -9/ mu C/cm/sup 3/, but increa sed sharply in areas where radioactive solutions were contained in open vessels, where surfaces were contaminated, or sterilization procedures were improperly carried out. Thorough ventilation of rooms three times daily is absolutely necessary to reduce radioactivity concentrations of air to safe levels. (BBB)

• Research Organization: Central Inst. for Oncology, Budapest
• NSA Number: NSA-18-005158
• OSTI ID: 4142552
• Journal Information: Radiobiol. Radiotherap., Vol. Vol: 3; Other Information: Orig. Receipt Date: 31-DEC-64
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: German

Related Subjects

BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
AEROSOLS
AIR
CLEANING
CONTAMINATION
DISTRIBUTION
DOSEMETERS
EFFICIENCY
EVAPORATION
FILTERS
FLUID FLOW
GOLD 198
HALF-LIFE
IODINE 131
MEASURED VALUES
PERSONNEL
PHOSPHORUS 32
RADIATION DOSES
RADIOACTIVITY
RADIOISOTOPES
SAFETY
SODIUM 24
SOLUTIONS
STERILIZATION
SURFACES
VACUUM
VARIATIONS
VENTILATION
VOLUME