Proof-of-Principle Dermal Decontamination Experiments: Swine Skin
Abstract
A series of swine-skin decontamination trials were carried out to demonstrate a proof-of-principle for including a radiological detection and decontamination module in DRDC Suffield s Counter-Terrorism Technology Centre / First Responder Training Program (CTTC/FRTP). The radionuclides examined were 64Cu, 42K, 24Na, and 99mTc and the decontamination agents evaluated included Water, Soap, Fuller's Earth paste, and both Active and Non-Active Reactive Skin Decontamination Lotion (RSDL). Skin coupons (2 x 2 inches) were prepared from fresh swine skin and then contaminated with 20 L spots in a 5 x 5 grid for each radionuclide. Initial decontamination attempts reduced the residual contamination levels to about 50%. The lowest residual contamination achieved after multiple decontamination cycles was 20%. Fuller s Earth paste proved to be the best decontamination agent with an average final residual contamination level of 20% for all radionuclides except 99mTc. With 99mTc, the lowest residual contamination level achieved was ~40% after six decontamination cycles. RSDL (Active and Non-Active) did not prove to be an effective radiological decontamination agent, as Water alone resulted in lower residual contamination levels. These experiments will be repeated using living human skin in tissue culture before presenting a proposal to implement a radiological detection and decontamination module to the DRDC Suffield training program.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 2007
- Accession Number
- ADA633792
Entities
People
- Hillary M. Boulay
- Tamika M. Segura
- Tom Cousins
- Trevor Jones
Organizations
- Defence Research and Development Canada