Decontamination and decorporation: the clinical experience
Abstract
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.
- Authors:
- Publication Date:
- Research Org.:
- Du Pont de Nemours (E.I.) and Co., Aiken, SC (USA). Savannah River Plant
- OSTI Identifier:
- 5168417
- Report Number(s):
- DPSPU-79-30-19; CONF-791085-4
TRN: 80-014626
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC09-76SR00001
- Resource Type:
- Conference
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Radiation accident preparedness conference, Oak Ridge, TN, USA, 19 Oct 1979
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS; 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
Citation Formats
Poda, G A. Decontamination and decorporation: the clinical experience. United States: N. p., 1979.
Web.
Poda, G A. Decontamination and decorporation: the clinical experience. United States.
Poda, G A. 1979.
"Decontamination and decorporation: the clinical experience". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/5168417.
@article{osti_5168417,
title = {Decontamination and decorporation: the clinical experience},
author = {Poda, G A},
abstractNote = {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.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/5168417},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1979},
month = {Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1979}
}