Occupational diseases associated with internal radioactive contamination

Abstract

In terms of professional activity, radiation injuries caused by internal radiation occur during ground and underwater explosions of nuclear devices, when together with dust and water, fission fragments of uranium nuclei enter the body. This might happen in case of destruction of the core of a nuclear reactor, accompanied by inhalation or oral ingestion of a fragments mixture of radionuclides fission into the body, in safety precautions breach when working with open radioactive substances, as well as in case of an overdose of radioisotopes introduced into the body for therapeutic or diagnostic purposes. Radiation disease caused by internal exposure is a collective concept to a certain extent, due to the variety of clinical manifestations of the disease, depending on the properties of incorporated radionuclides. For this reason, a number of researchers consider its several variants as independent clinical forms: «plutonium», «polonium», «radium», «tritium» disease, etc. Acute radiation disease caused by internal radiation as an isolated form is extremely rare. More often, chronic radiation disease develops due to prolonged contact of a person with radionuclides when they enter the body. The diagnosis of radiation disease caused by internal exposure is based on professional history, clinical manifestations and the results of dosimetric, radiometric and laboratory examinations. It is indispensable for the successful treatment of radiation disease caused by internal exposure to remove the victim from working with a source of ionizing radiation. Further treatment is carried out according to the same principles as the treatment of radiation disease due to external influences: it must be comprehensive, individual and appropriate to the severity of the disease. At the same time, conventional treatment is supplemented by medications and methods that limit the absorption and fixation of radioactive substances in organs and tissues and accelerate their excretion from the body. The medications used when radioactive substances enter the gastrointestinal tract are combined with gastric lavage, cleansing enemas, the use of laxatives, forcing diuresis, and with their inhalation, mucolytics and expectorant medications are used.

Keywords

radiation injuries / internal exposure / chronic radiation sickness / radioactive substances / ionizing radiation / professional contact / radiation safety / work examination

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