Re: Acceptable P-32 monitoring methods

["Sue M. Dupre" <dupre@arundel.Princeton.EDU>]

We had an accident here back in the 80s in which a minute 
jet of P-32 shot out of a unexpectedly pressurized bottle and 
contaminated much of the clothing of  a researcher.  The researcher
did not realize he had been contaminated and did not immediately 
survey himself.  By the time the contamination was discovered six hours 
later, he had accumulated enough of a skin dose to exceed NRC dose 
limits.  I don't think this kind of incident would be readily 
detected with wipes, and I have a hard time imagining that we would 
approve the use of P-32 in a lab that did not have G-M survey meters 
on hand.

Regards,
Sue M. Dupre, Health Physicist

Office of Occupational Health and Safety       
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