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Title: RADIATION HAZARD IN THE TREATMENT OF SKIN DISEASES WITH THORIUM X

Abstract

Possible hazards, particularly to the dermatologist and his assistants, in the use of local applications of thorium X (Ra/sup 224/) in salves and ointments for the treatment of skin diseases, such as psoriasis, nevus flammeus, and lichen ruber verrucosus, were assessed. The decay scheme of thorium X through its daughter products (thoron and thorium A, B, C, C', C", and D), the half lives of the products, and their emission characteristics are discussed. Studies in rats showed that topically applied ointment containing thorium X leads to measurable blood levels of radioactivity and deposition of daughter products in various tissues, including gonads. Radioautographs of rat lung and ovary demonstrated alpha -particle tracks in various tissue constituents. In humans receiving skin treatments with 1000 units thorium X (70 mu C/cm/sup 3/) the blood dose reached 2 rem, from which it was estimated that the whole-body dose would be approximates 3 rem/yr. In the treatment of a number of patients with a total of 30000 units thorium X, it was calculated that the whole-body to the person giving the treatment would be approximates 15 mr, although at chest level as much as 473 mr would be received. However, this is only 1/4 tomore » 1/7 the permissible weekly gamma dose. Use of film dosimeters by persons applying treatments showed that the permissible dose was not being exceeded. Measurements of the radiation dose received by the personnel showed that it is mostly from inhalation of air in the treatment room. (TCO)« less

Authors:
;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Universitats-Hautklinik, Hamburg-Eppendorf, Ger.
OSTI Identifier:
4687744
NSA Number:
NSA-17-027608
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Hautarzt (Austria)
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: Vol: 12; Other Information: Orig. Receipt Date: 31-DEC-63
Country of Publication:
Country unknown/Code not available
Language:
English
Subject:
HEALTH AND SAFETY; ADSORPTION; AIR; ALPHA PARTICLES; BISMUTH 212; BLOOD; BODY; DECAY; DISEASES; DOSEMETERS; DRUGS; FISSION PRODUCTS; GAMMA RADIATION; GONADS; HALF-LIFE; LEAD 208; LEAD 212; LUNGS; MATHEMATICS; MEASURED VALUES; MONITORING; PARTICLE TRACKS; PERSONNEL; PHOTOGRAPHIC FILM; POLONIUM 216; PSORIASIS; RADIATION DOSES; RADIATION EFFECTS; RADIOACTIVITY; RADIOAUTOGRAPHY; RADIUM 224; RADON 220; SAFETY; SKIN; STANDARDS; THALLIUM 208; TISSUES

Citation Formats

Wiskemann, A, and Janssen, U. RADIATION HAZARD IN THE TREATMENT OF SKIN DISEASES WITH THORIUM X. Country unknown/Code not available: N. p., 1961. Web.
Wiskemann, A, & Janssen, U. RADIATION HAZARD IN THE TREATMENT OF SKIN DISEASES WITH THORIUM X. Country unknown/Code not available.
Wiskemann, A, and Janssen, U. 1961. "RADIATION HAZARD IN THE TREATMENT OF SKIN DISEASES WITH THORIUM X". Country unknown/Code not available.
@article{osti_4687744,
title = {RADIATION HAZARD IN THE TREATMENT OF SKIN DISEASES WITH THORIUM X},
author = {Wiskemann, A and Janssen, U},
abstractNote = {Possible hazards, particularly to the dermatologist and his assistants, in the use of local applications of thorium X (Ra/sup 224/) in salves and ointments for the treatment of skin diseases, such as psoriasis, nevus flammeus, and lichen ruber verrucosus, were assessed. The decay scheme of thorium X through its daughter products (thoron and thorium A, B, C, C', C", and D), the half lives of the products, and their emission characteristics are discussed. Studies in rats showed that topically applied ointment containing thorium X leads to measurable blood levels of radioactivity and deposition of daughter products in various tissues, including gonads. Radioautographs of rat lung and ovary demonstrated alpha -particle tracks in various tissue constituents. In humans receiving skin treatments with 1000 units thorium X (70 mu C/cm/sup 3/) the blood dose reached 2 rem, from which it was estimated that the whole-body dose would be approximates 3 rem/yr. In the treatment of a number of patients with a total of 30000 units thorium X, it was calculated that the whole-body to the person giving the treatment would be approximates 15 mr, although at chest level as much as 473 mr would be received. However, this is only 1/4 to 1/7 the permissible weekly gamma dose. Use of film dosimeters by persons applying treatments showed that the permissible dose was not being exceeded. Measurements of the radiation dose received by the personnel showed that it is mostly from inhalation of air in the treatment room. (TCO)},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/4687744}, journal = {Hautarzt (Austria)},
number = ,
volume = Vol: 12,
place = {Country unknown/Code not available},
year = {Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1961},
month = {Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1961}
}