Soil Contamination

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

Soil contamination - To be or nor to be - Understanding the meaning 
Fixed and Removable contamination:
Many times, once contamination gets on a surface, part of then can be
difficult to remove, and it is then called fixed contamination. For incident
as usually in lab, transport of medical product, or even for large amounts
of liquid iodine spilled, as urine or vomit, such contamination, no longer
presents a contamination hazard, but rather can be a radiation hazard. For
this reason, limits for fixed contamination are given in terms of a dose
rate (uSv/h or mSv/h), whereas limits for non-fixed contamination are
expressed in activity per unit of area (Bq/cm2  or Bq/m2 ).
However, in case of an  accident the approach for soil contamination can be
or not be  a complex situation. A short while ago, I sent an information and
reference on the procedures for soil contamination adopted in the
Radiological Accident in Goiania, where the environment was severely
contaminated, and  urgent action level was imposed to bring all potential
sources of contamination under control. The  significance of soil
contamination depends on the pathways for their exposure, and
countermeasures strongly depend on local soil type and weathering effect. 

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