Dose assessment methodology and removal of a hot particle located in the nasal passage of a worker

This paper reports that on December 18, 1988, a worker at the Duane Arnold Energy Center was found to have a hot particle lodged in his nasal passage. A mild steam inhalation technique was used to expel the particle which proved to be 0.206 Ci of Co-60. This activity, along with the appropriate distance and shielding data, was used with the VARSKIN dose calculation program. A dose of 0.6 rad was calculated. The most interesting aspect of this case was determining which organ the dose should be assigned to. With the concurrence of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the dose was assigned to the skin of the whole body