Medical Support - doe-std-1128-98

DOE-STD-1128-98

Because the dose from intake of long-lived radionuclides like plutonium is

delivered over a period of many years, the dose increment actually received

in any given year is a small fraction of the total dose commitment. The

Introduction to the Emergency Management Guide (DOE, 1997) and related

guidance authorize use of the 5 rem protective action threshold for planning

and hazards assessment purposes when a large fraction of the dose from a

radionuclide mixture will be delivered over a period of years following the

exposure.

(g)

Medical Support. If the potential exists for large intakes of plutonium, the

emergency management program should include specific planning for the

quantification of exposure, diagnosis of health effects, and treatment.

Medical facilities providing emergency medical support should be provided

with references relating to plutonium toxicity and treatment protocols.

Criteria for implementing treatments such as surgical excision of

contaminated tissue, lung lavage, or use of chelating agents should be

discussed with the medical staff and sources of real-time advice and

assistance should be identified.

(h)

Recovery and Reentry. The specific properties of the hazardous material do

not significantly affect the content of this program element.

(i)

Public Information. The specific properties of the hazardous material do not

significantly affect the content of this program element.

(j)

Emergency Facilities and Equipment. Except for instruments and analysis

methods used in consequence assessment, little by way of specialized

facilities and equipment will be required to meet the emergency management

program needs of plutonium facilities. Equipment and analytical techniques

for detection and measurement of plutonium in environmental sample media

should have sufficient sensitivity to measure levels at or below those

corresponding to decision criteria. Whereas larger sample sizes, chemical

processing, or longer counting times may be used to reduce the limit of

detection for routine environmental surveillance, time constraints may dictate

that more sensitive techniques be available to meet the information needs of

emergency response.

(k)

Training, Drills and Exercises, Program Administration. The specific

properties of the hazardous material do not significantly affect the content of

these program elements.

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