Emergency preparedness and response for work with
hazardous materials, including radiological materials, necessarily have to involve
injuries sustained by the workers. Removing
radionuclide contamination from
wounds in tissue is essential to minimizing the intake of radiological materials and the internal dose to the individual. This study compares the efficacy of common decontamination methods for removal of Co from contaminated
wounds inflicted in pig tissue. The decontamination procedures investigated include a commercially available, non-prescription,
surfactant-based, non-ionic
wound cleanser spray; a physiologic
saline solution spray; and a physiologic
saline solution pour. Three different types of
wounds are examined: smooth incision, jagged cut, and blunt force
trauma wounds. The cleanser and saline sprays are more effective at decontaminating all three
wounds than the saline pour. Within the statistical limitations of the study, the difference between the cleanser spray and the saline spray is not significant. However, the cleanser spray successfully decontaminates the
wound to a lower mean value. The most noticeable impact in the decontamination process appears to be due to the spray pressure employed with the cleanser and saline sprays.