Chemical-radioactive-biological

The physical and health hazards associated with chemicals should be determined before working with them This determination may involve consulting literature references. Laboratory Chemical Safety Summaries (LCSSs), Matmal Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs), or other reference materials (see also Chapter 3, section 3.B) and may require discussions with the laboratory supervisor and consultants such as safety and industrial hygiene officers. Every step of the waste minimization and removal processes should be checked against federal, state, and local regulations. Production of mixed chemical-radioactive-biological waste (see Chapter 7, section 7.C.1.3) should not be considered without discussions with environmental health and safety experts. 

Multihazardous waste, (a) Chemical-radioactive waste, or mixed waste," (b) chemical-biological waste, (c) radioactive biological waste, and (d) chemical-radioactive biological waste. 

Certain waste treatments reduce multiple hazards in one step. For example, incineration can destroy oxidizable organic chemicals and infectious agents, waste feed rates can be controlled to meet emission limits for volatile radionuclides, and radioactive ash can be disposed of as a dry radioactive waste. Likewise, some chemical treatment methods (e.g., those using bleach) both oxidize toxic chemicals and disinfect biological hazards. Such treatment could convert a chemical-radioactive-biological waste to a radioactive waste. 

UV radiation oxidation hydrolysis chemical radioactive biological temperature... 

In the past, hazardous wastes were often grouped into the following categories (1) radioactive substances, (2) chemicals, (3) biological wastes, (4) flammable wastes, and (5) explosives. The chemical cate-goiy included wastes that were corrosive, reactive, and toxic. The principal sources of hazardous biological wastes are hospitals and biological-research facilities. 

Personal sampler A collection device attached to a person that obtains samples of air to be tested for radioactive, chemical, or biological agents. 

Labeled Compound—A compound containing one or more radioactive atoms intentionally added to its structure. By observations of radioactivity or isotopic composition, this compound or its fragments may be followed through physical, chemical, or biological processes. 

FIGURE 88 Dating methods. Shortly after the discovery of radioactivity, at the beginning of the twentieth century, it was found that the decay of radioactive elements could be used to keep track of time. Many of the dating techniques developed since then are, therefore, based on radioactive decay phenomena, but others, such as the hydration of obsidian, amino acid racemization, and dendrochronology, are based on other physical, chemical, or biological phenomena. 

Cerium, an element in the lanthanide series, has a number of radioactive isotopes. Several of these are produced in abundance in nuclear fission reactions associated with nuclear industry operations or detonation of nuclear devices. This report summarizes our present knowledge of the relevant physical, chemical, and biological properties of radiocerium as a basis for establishing radiation protection guidelines. 

Develop robust and reliable sensors for detection of chemical agents, biological agents, radioactive materials, and explosives. 

The threat described in the first part of this chapter spurred increased investment in research and development technologies to prevent, detect, and respond to terrorist attacks. One specific area of research, sensors, particularly for chemical and biological agents and radioactive materials, in addition to radar and sonar, is the subject of this book. After describing the threat, this chapter goes on to discuss the use of sensors, fielded sensor capabilities, and existing gaps in sensor capabilities. 

Treatment of life-threatening injuries should almost always take precedence over measures to address radioactive, chemical, or biological contamination or exposure. Injured individuals should be stabilized if possible and immediately transported to a medical facility. It is recommended that an individual with training in the areas of radioactive, chemical, and biological hazards accompany the first patients to the hospital and serve as an advisor to the medical team. 

How much radioactive, chemical, or biological material is potentially involved (use nasal smears to estimate radionuclide intake) ... 

Defining potential incidents involving radioactive materials and chemical and biological agents... 

Identifying how exposure to radioactive materials and chemical and biological agents can impact human health, human genetics, or an unborn fetus... 

Potassium iodine tablets can be used to reduce radioactive iodine exposure to the thyroid gland. According to the National Council of Radiation Protection and Measurement (NCRP), taking 130 milligrams of potassium iodine at or before exposure to radioactive iodine effectively blocks nearly 100% of radioactive iodine from reaching the thyroid (1977). See Table 3.3 for a summary of antidotes for various chemical and biological agents. 

When an explosive device is used to disperse radioactive, chemical, or biological materials, the treatment of casualties is more difficult because of the presence of contamination. In this situation, emergency responders could face a life-threatening situation unless appropriate precautions are taken. These precautions include using screening instruments (see Section 6.12) to assess hazard conditions before responding, then selecting the appropriate level of personal protective equipment (see Section 6.7) to provide protection from the hazard. 

Radioactive unstable atomic nuclei spontaneously emitting particles and energy Radioactive Tracer a radioactive substance used to monitor the movement and behavior of a chemical in biological processes and chemical reactions... 

CARRIER. (I) A neutral material such as dialomaceous earth used to support a catalyst in a large-scale reaction system. (2) A gas used in chromatography to convey the volatilized mixture to be analyzed over the bed of packing that separates the components. (3) An atomic tracer carrier a stable isotope or a natural element lo which radioactive atoms of the same element has been added for purposes of chemical or biological research. 

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