What is a contaminated soil?

["J. J. Rozental" <josrozen@netmedia.net.il>]

In the  Radiological Accident in Goiania (Cs-137), various remedial actions
were undertaken, including removal of contaminated soil. The dose criterion
adopted was that the dose to the critical group in the first year should not
exceed 5 mSv. Considering  the pathways for exposure, that value was
divided as follow:
1 -- external exposure, inside houses, 1 mSv;
2 -- pathways from contaminated soil, outside houses, broken down into 3 mSv
due to external irradiation and 1 mSv to internal exposure, such as by way
of contaminated food.
Please look for all the adopted criteria in the IAEA - The Radiological
Accident in Goiania, STI/PUB 815, 1988, in your specific question chapter 7,
par.7.3.2. Also you will find more details in the Health Physics -- The
Radiological Accident in Goiania, Special Issue,  Volume 60, Number 1,
January 1991. In special: Distribution of Cs-137 in soils due   to the
Goiania Accident and Decisions for Remedial Action During the Recovery
Phase, page 91
To advice in the selection of Generiic Intervention Level, you should read
the IAEA -Intervention Criteria in a Nuclear or Radiological Emergency,
Safety Series 109, 1994

J.J. Rozental <josrozen@netmedia.net.il>
Consultant, Radiation Safety,
for Developing Country

Managed in Goiania as General Coordinator during the Radiolocal Accident in
that Brazilian city, Capital of State of Goias