Medical Treatment and Dose Estimation of a Person Exposed to Tritium

Abstract

In this study, we aimed to investigate the damaging effects and clinical therapy of internal contamination with tritium to provide information and gain experience for medical treatments in case of an emergency due to a nuclear accident. Histories were taken by several doctors who observed and recorded the clinical symptoms of the patient described herein. The general health situation was evaluated by laboratory and equipment analyses. Tritium concentrations in the urine were estimated according to relevant standards during the monitoring period using a liquid scintillation counting method. Clinical observation revealed that the patient had symptoms of mild asthenia and sleep disorder with improvement after appropriate treatment. The last committed effective dose was determined through measurement of the urine tritium concentration and dose estimation and was estimated to be 0.123 mSv; the total effective dose was 14.536 mSv. The medical treatment and dose estimation in this patient with tritium contamination were successful and can provide a reference for similar cases in the future.

Medical Emergency Response and Management of Tritium-Related Accidents

“…Follow-up treatment is then performed following the principle of “treating patients with serious illnesses before dealing with patients with minor illnesses, and saving lives before dealing with localized injuries.” For tritium-contaminated personnel, measures should be taken as soon as possible to block absorption and promote drainage . For combined radioactive wound personnel, wound decontamination and dressing should be performed, and for other composite casualties, symptomatic treatment should be given according to the symptoms.…”

“…Based on our experience in emergency treatment, , clinical examination of tritium-contaminated personnel should be as comprehensive as possible, focusing on the condition of renal function, cardiopulmonary function, and electrolyte changes to guide the administration of water, diuretics, and micronutrient supplementation. Radiation genetic analysis may also have some significance.…”