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THE
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Safety
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Safety Manual
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 Decontaminating
Radioactive Material
When radioactive
material is in an unwanted or unplanned location, it is called contamination.
This may be floors, equipment, work areas, storage areas, people or
areas outside the authorized radiation use laboratory. Fortunately,
most radioactive contamination and/or spills are easy to clean to
background levels in a reasonable time and with reasonable cost. Some
methods of decontamination are as follows:
Liquid Radioactive
Decontaminant: Concentrated liquid decontaminating agents are
available from General Stores and most scientific suppliers. This
detergent is diluted with water and rapidly and easily cleans radioactive
contamination without excessive effort. Mild wiping or scrubbing
will remove most contamination using this detergent. Note that these
detergents contain a carcinogen, so the Material Safety Data Sheet
should be read by new radiation users so that they are aware of
the hazards. In dilute liquid form, radioactive decontaminants do
not present a significant hazard to handlers unless ingested or
splashed in eyes. Avoid prolonged skin contact with the concentrated
material.
Foam Spray
Decontaminant: A variety of foam spray decontamination products
are available which are marketed as radioactive decontaminants.
However, many other foam cleaning products accomplish decontamination
just as effectively at a much lower cost; most of these are marketed
in any store as bathroom or kitchen cleaning agents. Spray the foam
on the contaminated areas, let sit for a few minutes, then wipe
off with a dry paper towel.
Other Decontaminating
Agents: Many other agents will work to clean radioactive contamination
that has been resistant to the above methods. Contact a Health Physicist
for assistance with difficult to remove contamination. We will help
identify a method of decontamination which will work for your particular
surface, nuclide, chemical form and location. Depending on these
factors, effective solutions to the problem will be identified.
Contamination
on Skin: Use lukewarm (not hot or cold) water and a mild cleaning
agent, such as soap. Do not rub hard or scrub with abrasives, which
may break the surface of the skin. Clean the affected area in a
downwards fashion, with the grain of the skin and hair, not against
it, and towards the tips of extremities, not upwards. Check the
area after gentle drying. If still contaminated, use a cream hand
cleaner which contains no abrasives. Remember to notify the
Radiation Safety Officer immediately if personnel contamination
occurs or is suspected. Also, note the readings of radioactive
contamination detected with the survey instrument and the times
that it was discovered and then removed.
Radiation
Safety Manual Table of Contents
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