Specific Isotopes Flashcards
What is the isotope of concern during a nuclear reactor accident?
Iodine-131
Iodine 131
Physical half life = 8 days
Biological half life = 7.6 days
Readily adsorbed through inhalation, ingestion, skin contact.
What category of people is most at risk for radioactive iodine uptake?
Pregnant women and children
One microcurie at peak concentration in the thyroid from acute exposure will produce a dose in the thyroid of approximately, how many mrem?
65 mrem
Approximately 50 percent uptake of radioiodine will occur how many hours after exposure?
6 hours after exposure
Approximately 90 percent of the peak uptake of
radioiodine will occur after how many hours?
24 hours
The maximum uptake of radioiodine and consequently the maximum readings will be observed about how many hours after exposure.
48 hours
When personnel are actually exposed to radioiodine, who is notified so a medical follow-up program can be recommended, based on the estimated dose to the thyroid.
BUMED
What is the purpose of administering Potassium Iodine (KI)?
To saturate the thyroid gland with stable Iodine so that radioactive iodine released in a nuclear accident cannot uptake and cause significant dose to the thyroid.
Who is KI provided for in the event of an accident where radioiodine exposure is likely?
(a) Emergency responders who may need to enter an area where there is a reasonable probability of inhalation of radioactive iodine, regardless of projected thyroid dose.
Emergency responders should be administered one 130 mg dose of KI before entering the area.
(b) All command personnel on the installation who may exceed threshold thyroid doses set by FDA.
How will administration of KI be documented?
The name, date of issue, and amount of KI issued to each individual must be recorded on an SF 600. The SF 600 must be maintained in the individual’s health care treatment record.
Possible side effects of taking KI?
Includes skin rashes, swelling of the salivary glands, and “iodism”
(metallic taste, burning mouth and throat, sore teeth and gums, symptoms of a head cold,
and sometimes stomach upset and diarrhea).
Side effects of KI are considered to be what, as it pertains to benefits of treatment?
Side effects are negligible
Administration of KI will provide substantial protective effect even taken_______hours after exposure?
3-4 hours after exposure
Administration of KI will continue to be of some value, even as long as ________hours after intake of radioactive iodine.
24 hours
How long should you consider giving daily doses of Potassium Chloride?
A daily oral dose of KI should be given until the risk of significant exposure to radioiodine no longer exists.
When should you adminster KI for Children 0-18 years of age?
Administer KI when the projected radiation dose to the thyroid from exposure to radioiodine is 5 rad (5 cGy) or greater.
What are the doses of KI for Children 0-18 years of age?
1) Birth – 1 month: 16 mg/day
2) 1 month – 3 years: 32 mg/day 3) 3 – 18 years: 65 mg/day
What is the dose guidance of KI for pregnant and lactating women?
Administer 130 mg/day KI when the projected radiation dose to the thyroid from exposure to radioiodine is 5 rad (5 cGy) or greater. Avoid repeat dosing in favor of evacuation or sheltering.
What is the KI dose guidance for adults up to 40 years of age?
Administer 130 mg/day KI when the projected radiation
dose to the thyroid from exposure to radioiodine is 10 rad (10 cGy) or greater.
What is the dose guidance of KI for adults over the age 40 years of age?
Administer 130 mg/day KI when the projected radiation dose to the thyroid from exposure to radioiodine is over 500 rad (500 cGy) to prevent hypothyroidism.
In case of a true emergency, expired potassium iodine tablets may be issued to personnel if?
There is no evidence of degradation, fragmentation, or irregular surfaces.
For ships, the amount of KI required to be maintained is defined in?
The Authorized Medical Allowance List
For U.S. nuclear-powered submarines, KI should at a minimum be stored where?
In the medical department offices and each watertight compartment adjacent to the reactor compartment with sufficient supplies to administer to watch standers and others normally expected to be in those spaces.
What isotopes are outlined in BUMEDINST 6470.10C
(a) Chromium
(b) Cobalt
(c) Depleted Uranium
(d) Plutonium
(e) Radium
(f) Tritium
How is Chromium (Cr-51) produced?
Produced by Neutron Activation of Cr-50 which is present in the Primary Shield Water Tank as a corrosion preventative.
What color is Chromium 51?
Has a distinct yellow appearance.
What is the contraindications when suspected internal contamination from Chromium 51?
Do not give antacids, as they increase chromium adsorption into the intestinal wall
What steps are required when determining internal contamination from Chromium 51?
- Verify with partial or whole body counting.
- Urine or fecal radio-analysis.
- Contact BUMED before collecting samples.
How can the amount of exposure to Co-60 be determined?
-Processing Personnel Dosimetry
-Dose estimate
-Reconstructing the exposure and taking measurements.
What is the primary concern as it pertains to Co-60?
Primary Concern is to prevent ingestion, absorption, or inhalation.
Thumb rules for Co-60?
(a) Cobalt salts and particularly corrosion products transit through the GI tract in
approximately 42 hours
(b) Swallowing 1 uCi of 60Co results in a committed dose to the GI tract of approximately 80 mRem and a CEDE of approximately 10 mRem, most accumulated in the first year.
(c) 1 uCi of 60Co remaining in the lungs for 24 hours after inhalation will result in a lung dose of approximately 6 rem and a CEDE of about 700 mrem, about a third is accumulated in the first year.
Unshielded DU material spent in contact with the skin delivers a skin dose of __________?
Approximately 200 mrem/hr
How is internalized DU assessed
By standard urine sample
What is the internal concern from exposure to Plutonium 239
LUNG, LIVER and BONE
What is the absorption rate of ingested Radium (Ra-226)
- 30% is absorbed after ingestion.
- Of that adsorbed 95-98 percent is eliminated in the feces.
- 2-5 percent is eliminated in the urine.
- Any remainder
