Optimizing decontamination strategies for radionuclide-contaminated wounds

The proposed procedure involves careful cleaning to remove radioactive materials effectively and in quick step from wounds on skin surface caused by aggressive chemical solutions. 99mTc and 152Eu isotopes were added to acid (HNO3), alcohol (EtOH), alkali (NaOH) and distilled water (for comparison) solutions for prepare standard and normalized contaminations on pig skin surface. The aim of the study is to assess the influence of factors determining the effectiveness of decontamination, in order to obtain the best decontamination procedure. These factors included the problem of drying of contaminants on the skin surface, the presence of aggressive compounds in the form of which the isotope contaminated the skin and caused a wound or irritation, and as a result penetrated much deeper into the skin, and the physical form and composition of the decontamination solution. Methods: Aggressive chemical reagents cause wounds and influenced the introduction of the radionuclides into the deeper layers of the skin in 37 oC. After 40 min contamination were cleaned different hybrid methods for efficient remove of isotopes. Results: Drying of contamination, type of isotope mixture with aggressor, and type of decontamination mixture are of significant importance for decontamination efficiency. Decontamination solution with added detergent, DTPA complexing agent and using absorbent nonwoven swab based on polyester and polyamide proved to be the most efficient decontamination kit. Conclusion: A number of problems: drying of contaminants on the skin, the problem of coexisting chemical contamination, or wounds and irritations are rarely addressed in research and publications due to the serious deterioration of the effectiveness of the standard decontamination approach. Understanding these mechanisms is necessary to develop effective decontamination strategies that can minimize the absorption of radionuclides and improve the removal process from affected surfaces, ultimately contributing to public health safety.