[ RadSafe ] Fukushima beta radiation burns

[Strickert, Rick]

Glenn,  Oops, yes, you're right about the two hours.  And such a dose rate of 8-9 rem/h came from gamma radiation in the area where they worked - at (or under) the turbine building.  So the concentration of beta-emitters in the water that seeped into the workers shoes would have to be high enough to give beta-radiation burns in approximately two hours.

Doug Huffman - Wearing rubber (or polyethylene boots) should have kept the contaminated water out.  If they were careless and let water get in or there was a tiny leak in the boots, then it would seem the water would have to be even more concentrated in beta-emitting radioisotopes.

Rick Strickert
Austin, TX 



-----Original Message-----
From: radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu [mailto:radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu] On Behalf Of Glenn R. Marshall
Sent: Thursday, March 24, 2011 3:55 PM
To: The International Radiation Protection (Health Physics) Mailing List
Subject: Re: [ RadSafe ] Fukushima beta radiation burns

10 AM to 12:10 PM is just over 2 hours.  So it's about 8 - 9 rem/hour on average.

 
Glenn Marshall, CHP


-----Original Message-----
From: radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu [mailto:radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu] On Behalf Of Strickert, Rick
Sent: Thursday, March 24, 2011 4:51 PM
To: The International Radiation Protection (Health Physics) Mailing List
Subject: [ RadSafe ] Fukushima beta radiation burns

Below are a couple of links on reports that three workers at the Fukushima No. 3 reactor got beta-radiation burns on their feet when they were laying electrical cables while standing in radioactively-contaminated water.  One report stated: "TEPCO said radioactive water may have seeped through the workers' radiation protective gear, causing radioactive materials in the water to stick to their skin."  

The workers also received radiation doses of 17 to 18 rem while working from 10 AM to 12:10 PM (suggesting a 1.2 - 1.3 rem/h average dose rate).  It's not clear whether the workers were standing in water the entire 14 hours.

Can one estimate (or WAG) the solution concentrations of beta-emitters (Ci/L) that would have to be in the water for the workers to get radiation burns from the water that seeped through the workers' radiation protective gear (e.g. Tyvex booties over work shoes?)?  

http://e.nikkei.com/e/fr/tnks/Nni20110324D24JF855.htm 
http://calgary.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20110324/japan-radiation-tapwater-110324/20110324/?hub=CalgaryHome 


Rick Strickert
Austin, TX
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