Dosimetric Assessment Following Chernobyl: Is Skin a Barrier or a Carrier?
In the event of a nuclear accident, there are several routes by which humans may receive a radioactive dose from material released to the environment. Historically it has been considered that inhalation of radioactive gas and airborne particles (aerosol) constitutes the major dose pathway, but dosimetric modelling indicates that a significant contribution may also arise from particulates deposited on the surfaces of the human body. However, until recently, there were no reliable data for deposition fluxes of these particles to human skin, hair and clothing and the accuracy of nuclear accident consequence models were therefore limited.

This seminar describes recent studies carried out to generate aerosol deposition data on skin, hair and clothing. Volunteers were exposed to tracer aerosol particles in test rooms and test chambers, and the skin, hair and clothing of the volunteers was subsequently analysed for deposited particles using neutron activation techniques. The dependence of aerosol deposition rate on a number of human and environmental factors was investigated, and the dosimetric implications were assessed. Additional studies involved an assessment of the efficiency of removal of particles from skin through various cleaning techniques, and an investigation of the rate of penetration of fine particles into human skin pores and hair follicles.