Surface Contamination Measurements As an Index of Control of Radioactive Materials

Abstract

The purpose and the objections to surface Contamination measurements are reviewed. The need for permissible values in this field is evident and the general basis of the derivation of the values in use in the United Kingdom is discussed. Surface contamination can provide an indicator of the degree of control which is being maintained over operations with radioactive materials and, in most cases, is a reliable indication of whether air monitoring is required.

Purpose and practice of radiation monitoring

“…The DWL is the level of widespread surface contamination that may be present continuously on surfaces, and which is such that (whatever the nature of the contamination and whatever the nature of the activities being undertaken in the area) there is no risk of people receiving doses from that source which exceed the ICRP dose limits. It was shown by Dunster [13] that this is the case if levels of surface contamination do not exceed the levels shown in Table 3. It will be noted that the derived limits are lower in uncontrolled areas, since members of the general public may be affected.…”

“…This is, in part, due to the fact that the numbers quoted were incorporated into UK legislation [14], whereas much of the associated philosophy spelled out at the time of their orginal derivation [13] was ignored. The way in which the DWLs were intended to be used, and should be used, are:…”

Environmental consequences of postulated plutonium releases from Exxon Nuclear MOFP, Richland, Washington, as a result of severe natural phenomena

“…1975;EPA 1977;Martin and Bloom 1975;Healy 1977;U.S. Code 1976;Healy 1974;Guthrie and Nichols 1964;Hazle and Crist 1975;Kathren 1968;Dunster 1962). The EPA has proposed a guideline of 0.2 ~Ci/m2 for plutonium in the general environment (EPA 1977).…”

Lead Analysis of House Dust: A Method for the Detection of Another Source of Lead Exposure in Inner City Children

“…A technique similar to those used to control surface contamination by radioactive materials (8) was selected in preference to the analyses of the content of lead in dust samples. This "smear and wipe procedure" more closely resembles what children might ingest than the simple concentrations of total lead in the particulate dust.…”