Re: Kr-85 and Medical Surveillance

[coogen_michael@hq2ccgw.hq.dla.mil]

I would recommend the NCRP Report No.44, Krypton-85 In The Atmosphere. This will
give you some information.  Mike Coogen sends


______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: Kr-85 and Medical Surveillance
Author:  radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu at hq2ccgw
Date:    7/20/95 10:05 AM


I have two questions I haven't had much luck with finding any answers on my 
own:

First, are there any health concerns for inhaled Kr-85. I would assume that it 
is excreted rather quickly from the body, but what is its biological half-life? 
Is it primarily exhaled? Does it have any specific target organs?

Second, what sort of medical surveillance of radiation workers (radioactive 
material and radiographers) is typically done? Although I imagine there is not 
much likelihood of detecting anything through medical surveillance when workers 
receive very low doses, I would think that about the only thing you can do is 
look at the eyes, skin, and blood. It seems like a pre-placement and annual 
medical exam is probably a good idea for anyone working around hazardous 
materials, but is there anything specific to monitor from a medical standpoint 
(with the exception of workers using radioiodine)?

I'd appreciated any information or references someone could give me. Thanks...

Michael Cappas
cappas@mdaw.mdc.com
McDonnell Douglas Aerospace