Excision - DOE-HDBK-1145-2001

Radiological Safety Training for Plutonium Facilities

DOEHDBK11452001

Instructor's Guide

To avoid long-term depletion, Ca-DTPA is

administered initially, then followed with Zn-

DTPA. Ca-DTPA should never be used in the

treatment of pregnant women since it could

cause birth defects.

Substantial dose reductions can be achieved if

DTPA is administered within a few hours

(recommended within one hour) of the intake.

Dose reductions from 10% to 90% have been

Insert site-specific policy here.

achieved for wound or burn cases and up to

30% for inhalation cases

2. Excision

Refer students to handout

Because it is difficult to detect contamination in

LL 3.

an injection/wound, a radiation measurement

Discuss (optional).

instrument called a wound counter is used. If

the wound counter reveals contamination,

Wound counters will be

excision is sometimes recommended. Excision

explained in more detail later

is the surgical removal of contaminated tissue.

in the lesson.

If a large amount of contamination is located at

the wound site, excision can dramatically

reduce the exposure. Dose reductions of up to

a factor of 100 have been achieved with

excision.

Insert site-specific policy here.

Usually, only a small amount of tissue is

removed. This does not present a significant

health hazard.

Obj. 6

VI. Radiological Controls

Identify the following hazard

control methods for plutonium:

A. Hierarchy of controls

External

Internal

The preferred hierarchy of controls is listed below:

Criticality

Engineered

Show OT 24.

Administrative

Personnel protective clothing/equipment