Effects of radioactive hot particles on the skin

The presence, in the working environment, of small radioactive particles, ranging in size from a few micrometres to a millimetre or two, has been recognised as a problem for workers in the nuclear power industry. They are referred to as ''hot particles'' due to their relatively high specific activity and small size. A brief review is given of studies of the response of the skin to high and intermediate energy beta emitters and then the response to lower beta energy emissions. (UK)