Radioactive Material in the Body. Detection and Treatment
Radioactive material may enter the body by inhalation, ingestion, or through a break in the skin. Early diagnosis depends to some extent upon an environmental analysis but more directly upon measurements of the radiation from the deposits within the body or in excretions from the body. The hazard from such deposits depends upon such factors as the amount and site of deposition in organs, the half-life of its radiation and time of retention in the critical organ, the type and energy of the radiation emitted, the essentiality of the organs affected, and the sensitivity of the critical organ or tissue to radiation injury. Surface contamination may usually be removed by washing with a copious supply of water and detergent. Traumatically embedded radioisotopes will usually require surgical removal. If the radiation from such deposits is extensive and of a penetrating type, protection must be afforded medical attendants. Decontamination of the gastrointestinal tract is similar to that for inactive chemical poisons which are swallowed. ln some cases elimination of a radioactive material may be hastened by treatment with its inactive isotope. There is no effective method for increasing the elimination of insoluble isotopes from the luags. DTPA, a newly developed chelating agent, appears promising in increasing the elimination of plutonium from the body via the urine. Limited studies indicate that it may be similarly useful in increasing the elimination of other transuranium elements and fission products with the exception of strontium.
- Research Organization:
- General Electric Co., Richland, Wash.
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- NSA Number:
- NSA-16-031451
- OSTI ID:
- 4777103
- Journal Information:
- Archives of Environmental Health, Vol. 5, Issue 2; Other Information: Orig. Receipt Date: 31-DEC-62; ISSN 0003-9896
- Country of Publication:
- Country unknown/Code not available
- Language:
- English
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BIBLIOGRAPHY
BODY
CHELATES
DECONTAMINATION
DETERGENTS
DIAGNOSIS
DTPA
ENERGY
ENVIRONMENT
FISSION PRODUCTS
HALF-LIFE
INTESTINE
LUNGS
MAN
MEASURED VALUES
METABOLISM
PERSONNEL
PLUTONIUM
RADIATION INJURIES
RADIATION PROTECTION
RADIATIONS
RADIOISOTOPES
RADIOSENSITIVITY
SKIN
STOMACH
SURGERY
TISSUES
URINE
WATER