Skin contamination monitor

What measurements were made at the site of the incident (by air monitors, smears, fixed radiation monitors, nasal smear counts, and skin contamination levels) ... 

This paper reports on research involved the design, construction, and evaluation of a portable instrument, a "luminoscope", for detecting skin contamination by coal tars via induced fluorescence. The instrument has been used in the laboratory to measure the fluorescence of various coal tars and recycle solvents from liquefaction processes spotted on filter paper on rat and on hamster skin. The practical use of the devices in field test measurements to monitor skin contamination of workers at coal gasifier is discussed. The paper also discusses the practicality and usefulness of the luminescence method for detecting skin contamination. 

Monitoring skin contamination at a coal gasifier. Recently the luminoscope was field tested at a coal gasifier facility. The purpose was to evaluate the performance of the prototype apparatus in a real-life workplace environment and to test the applicability of the instrumental concept in actual measurements. The skin contamination survey was carried out on six workers during two work-shifts. All measurements were carried out before and after washing. The portions of the workers bodies most likely to be directly exposed to coal and tar are those not protected by clothing, e.g., hands, arms, and faces. The measurements performed during this field trip were restricted only to arms and hands. 

This paper describes the luminoscope, a simple laboratory-constructed, portable luminescence detector designed specifically for monitoring occupational skin contamination. The instrument design is based upon a fiberoptics waveguide. The instrument is suitable for detecting trace amounts of various coal tars and has recently been field tested at a coal conversion facility. 

Vo-Dinh, T. Gammage, R. B. The Lightpipe Luminoscope for Monitoring Occupational Skin Contamination (to be published). 

A radiological incident may be as dramatic as a terrorist attack or as mundane as mild skin contamination from a minor spill. Radiological incidents have resulted in death from radiation sickness, but the vast majority of cases simply require decontamination and monitoring. 

Only symptomatic treatment is available. An airway should be established and if necessary assisted ventilation provided. The cardiac rhythm should be monitored and treatment for arrhythmia should be given if required. For eye exposure eyes must be flushed immediately with water or saline and irrigation maintained during transport. For ingestion, oral administration of activated charcoal is indicated. For skin contamination, the exposed area should be washed with soap and water. 

Bioassay measurements are subsequently taken at periodic intervals and at termination to detect if unsuspected intakes have occurred. If an intake is suspected, additional special monitoring should be used. An intake may be suspected if the individual has entered an airborne radioactive material area, has contamination on the face or nose, other skin contamination, or other unusual event. 

Has the employer conducted any objective monitoring (i.e., of contamination of the skin or work clothes) to evaluate the effectiveness of PPE selected [OSHA Reference. 120(g)(3)]... 

Air monitoring will be required, e.g., when volatiles are handled in quantity, where use of radioactive isotopes has led to unacceptable workplace contamination, when processing plutonium or other transuranic elements, when handling unsealed sources in hospitals in therapeutic amounts, and in the use of hot cells/reactors and critical facilities. Routine monitoring of skin, notably the hands, may be required. 

Certain skin diseases of flounder are known to be general indieators of stress, ineluding chemical contaminants in estuarine environments (Vethaak and Jol, 1996). However, skin lesions such as ulcers were not monitored in our study, beeause sueh indiees require larger sample sizes. However, a parallel study conducted in the Port of Amsterdam transeet in September 1996 showed that up to 6.5% of flounder were afflieted with skin uleers and a signifieant eorrelation was found between the odds for ulcers and the eoneentration of PCBs and eadmium in flounder liver (Pieters et al., 2000). 

Photograph showing the use of the luminoscope to monitor tar and oil contamination on rat and hamster skin... 

Low-level contamination, intact skin, cleaning possible. EXTERNAL CONTAMINATION No likely consequences, possible mild radiation burns. Decontaminate skin, monitor medical condition. 

If the victim has ingested aluminum phosphide, emesis should not be induced. Phosphine gas will be produced in the stomach when aluminum phosphide contacts the resident gastric fluids. A slurry of activated charcoal may be administered at 1 g charcoal per kg body weight. Any victim who has ingested aluminum phosphide should be immediately transported to a medical facility for treatment and monitoring. Rescuers need to be aware of any solid phosphide contamination on the victim s clothing, skin, or hair which will produce phosphine following contact with water, as well as any vomitus which could off-gas phosphine. 

In case of inhalation, the victim should be moved to fresh air and emergency medical care called. If not breathing, artificial respiration should be administered. In case of direct contact, the skin and eyes should be flushed with running water for at least 15 min to remove the chemical as soon as possible. Contaminated clothing and shoes should be removed and isolated at the site. Normal body temperature should be maintained and the victim kept quiet. Vital signs should be monitored as the onset of toxic effects of endosulfan might be delayed. 

The airway, breathing, and circulation should be monitored and vital functions restored if necessary. All contaminated clothes should be removed. The chemical should be washed out of the eyes with clear water for at least 15 min, and off the skin with soap and water. If hexachlorobenzene has been ingested, milk, fat, oil, or lipid should not be given by mouth. If a very large amount of hexachlorobenzene has been ingested, gastric lavage should be performed. Activated charcoal can be administered. Convulsions should be controlled and treated like any other symptoms. 

Oxygen should be provided if there is respiratory distress. Providing life support quickly may be critical to patient survival in certain cases. Administration of naloxone and dextrose may be indicated. For irritation, contaminated clothing should be removed and contaminated skin washed. Medical attention should be sought immediately for all symptomatic exposures. Patients who have had significant exposures should be closely monitored in a hospital. 

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