Irradiation of the skin from external contaminations occurring in medical application of radioactive materials

Radioactive skin contamination of medical personnel engaged in use of unsealed radioactive sources for radiation therapy and radioisotope diagnostics was studied. Data analysis concerned contamination of hand and face areas in handling radioactive compounds of iodine, gold, phosphorus, and some other isotopes. From measurements of the degree of radioactive contamination and from experimentally determined pattern of in-depth radioactivity distribution, estimates were made of radiation doses to the basal layer considered to be critical for skin. In a number of cases, dose rates to basal layer cells were found to attain excessive levels - up to tens and even hundreds of rad/hr - clearly indicating that problems involved in protection from radioactive contamination should be given full attention. (author)