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Description:
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As radiation specialists , one of our primary objectives in the Navy is protecting
people and the environment from the effects of ionizing and non -ionizing radiation .
Focusing on radiological dispersal devices (RDD ) will provide increased personnel
protection as well as optimize emergency response assets for the general public . An
attack involving an RDD has been of particular concern because it is intended to spread
contamination over a wide area and cause massive panic within the general population .
A rapid method of triage will be necessary to segregate the unexposed and slightly
exposed from those needing immediate medical treatment . Because of the aerosol
dispersal of the radioactive material , inhalation of the radioactive material may be the
primary exposure route . The primary radionuclides likely to be used in a RDD attack
are Co -60 , Cs -137 , Ir -192 , Sr -90 and Am -241 . Through the use of a MAX phantom
along with a few Simulink MATLAB programs , a good anthropomorphic phantom was
created for use in MCNPX simulations that would provide organ doses from internally
deposited radionuclides . Ludlum model 44 -9 and 44 -2 detectors were used to verify the
simulated dose from the MCNPX code . Based on the results , acute dose rate limits were
developed for emergency response personnel that would assist in patient triage . |