Medical aspects of atomic warfare / The War Office.

Date:
1948
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Medical aspects of atomic warfare / The War Office. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    44/48 (page 42)
    Vill PUBLIC HEALTH ASPECTS OF THE ATOMIC BOMB t. Assessment of health hazard to be based on physical findings (type and degree of radioactivity) : — (a2) Contamination of area with alpha emitters will constitute a most serious hazard if such substances gain access to the interior of the body. None from external radiation. (b) Contamination with beta emitters constitutes both: external and internal radiation hazard (more serious per unit if internal). (c) Contamination with gamma emitters constitutes both external and internal radiation hazard (from a practical standpoint more serious external). ; (d) Contamination will almost certainly not be limited to one of the above types of radiation. 2. Advice as to the eating of food within the contaminated area. - (a) It must be assumed that all food found in the area is dangerous: — 1. Induced activity; 2. Deposited activity; 3. Canned or otherwise protected foods to be eaten only after careful inspection by expert. Rule: No food is to be eaten in a contaminated area. This rule must be tempered, interpreted and administered with tact and discretion. 3. Advice as to the drinking of water in the contaminated area. (a) May be a part of general area contamination or may have become contaminated upstream. (6) Take potable water in with you if possible. 1. Take precautions to prevent contamination. (c) Methods of decontamination. 1. Physical. (a) Boiling—useless or harmful. (b) Storage—not practical. (c) Filtration—-discuss. 2. Chemical. (a) Useless. 3. Physico-chemical. (a) Precipitaton and filtration—-discuss. 4. Prevention of dissemination. _ (a) Decontamination centre for area evacuation. . Clothing change and bathing facilities. . Laundry (decontamination) facilities. . Monitoring facilities, 7 . Eating and surgical dressing only on ‘‘ clean’’ side. BS OO N. oH