1976 Hanford americium accident

Technical Report · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1979

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6419623· OSTI ID:6419623

Heid, K R; Breitenstein, B D; Palmer, H E; McMurray, B J; Wald, N

This report presents the 2.5-year medical course of a 64-year-old Hanford nuclear chemical operator who was involved in an accident in an americium recovery facility in August 1976. He was heavily externally contaminated with americium, sustained a substantial internal deposition of this isotope, and was burned with concentrated nitric acid and injured by flying debris about the face and neck. The medical care given the patient, including the decontamination efforts and clinical laboratory studies, are discussed. In-vivo measurements were used to estimate the dose rates and the accumulated doses to body organs. Urinary and fecal excreta were collected and analyzed for americium content. Interpretation of these data was complicated by the fact that the intake resulted both from inhalation and from solubilization of the americium embedded in facial tissues. A total of 1100 ..mu..Ci was excreted in urine and feces during the first 2 years following the accident. The long-term use of diethylenetriaminepentate (DTPA), used principally as the zinc salt, is discussed including the method, route of administration, and effectiveness. To date, the patient has apparently experienced no complications attributable to this extensive course of therapy, even though he has been given approximately 560 grams of DTPA. 4 figures, 1 table.

• Research Organization: Battelle Pacific Northwest Labs., Richland, WA (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: EY-76-C-06-1830
• OSTI ID: 6419623
• Report Number(s): TID-28938
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ACCIDENTS
ACTINIDES
AMERICIUM
AMINO ACIDS
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BIOLOGICAL WASTES
BODY
BODY FLUIDS
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
CHELATING AGENTS
CHEMICAL EXPLOSIONS
CLEARANCE
DOSE RATES
DOSES
DRUGS
DTPA
ELEMENTS
EXCRETION
EXPLOSIONS
EXTRACTION APPARATUSES
EXTRACTION COLUMNS
FECES
HAPO
INHALATION
INTAKE
ION EXCHANGE
METABOLISM
METALS
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
PERSONNEL
RADIATION ACCIDENTS
RADIATION DOSES
RADIOPROTECTIVE SUBSTANCES
RESPONSE MODIFYING FACTORS
SKIN ABSORPTION
THERAPY
TRANSPLUTONIUM ELEMENTS
TRANSURANIUM ELEMENTS
UPTAKE
URINE
US AEC
US DOE
US ERDA
US ORGANIZATIONS
WASTES
ZINC COMPOUNDS