Decontamination and decorporation: the clinical experience
Decontamination and decorporation are quite interrelated when dealing with a contaminated person. Some clinical experiences from a transuranium production facility are offered. Skin decontamination is accomplished by washing with detergent and water. Stubborn cases are treated with sodium hypochlorite followed by rinsing, and emery cloth is used on more stubborn nail or finger pad contamination. If inhaled, the usual skin cleansing followed by nasal douche with normal saline decontaminates reachable areas and one of the DTPA salts given via aerosol both decontaminates and decorporates the inner recesses. Saline laxative reduces the time inhaled, and ingested particles remain in the gastro-intestinal tract. Conservatism prevails in general, but most persons found to have inhaled contamination are given a single chelation within the hour of discovery and if subsequently found to have over 10% M.P.P.B. of a soluble actinide are offered further chelation. Single dose chelation has been found to be relatively innocuous and usually sufficient. The longest case of chelation therapy spanned 2-1/4 years and encompassed 123 doses of CaNa-DTPA.
- Research Organization:
- Du Pont de Nemours (E.I.) and Co., Aiken, SC (USA). Savannah River Plant
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC09-76SR00001
- OSTI ID:
- 5168417
- Report Number(s):
- DPSPU-79-30-19; CONF-791085-4; TRN: 80-014626
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Radiation accident preparedness conference, Oak Ridge, TN, USA, 19 Oct 1979
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
The 1976 Hanford Americium Accident: Then and Now
Biomimetic Actinide Chelators: An Update on the Preclinical Development of the Orally Active Hydroxypyridonate Decorporation Agents 3,4,3-LI(1,2-HOPO) and 5-LIO(Me-3,2-HOPO)
Related Subjects
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
PERSONNEL
DECONTAMINATION
ACTINIDES
CHELATES
CHEMOTHERAPY
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
CLEANING
COMPLEXES
ELEMENTS
METALS
THERAPY
054000* - Nuclear Fuels- Health & Safety
560151 - Radiation Effects on Animals- Man