Re: again DU and fire

["David Whitfill/Kdhe" <DWhitfil@kdhe.state.ks.us>]

Here is a primer on DU:

http://www.acq.osd.mil/ens/sh/HP.HTML

The information geared towards DU penetrator rounds, but still may of some
help. The following is a little snippet:

"External beta and gamma radiation exposures.

External beta and gamma radiation exposures may occur when personnel are
close to DU...

External radiation exposure may also occur from contact with the bare skin.
The current dose limit for skin would only be exceeded if unshielded DU
remains in direct contact with the skin for more than 250 hours.  This type
exposure is very unlikely.

In fires and during impact, DU forms both soluble and insoluble oxides.
The inhalation of the insoluble oxides presents an internal hazard from
radiation if they are retained in the lungs.  Sustained exposure to the
alpha and beta radiation from the material could damage lung tissue..."

Here is another link that has information on uranium toxicity:

http://antenna.nl/~wise/uranium/utox.html





Mike McKinnon <mmckinno.ndep-lv@ndep.carson-city.nv.us>
@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu on 10/27/99 10:03:03 AM

Please respond to radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu

Sent by:  radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu


To:   Multiple recipients of list <radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu>
cc:

Subject:  again DU and fire


======== Original Message ========
Hallo to you all.
I'm having again problems with DU used in civil aircraft as tailplane.
The question post by the firemen is:
what happens in case of a fire? what do the firemen risk in case
of extinguishing the fire of such an airplane? What about contamination
or inhalation?

Has anybody already faced this problem?
Thanks for suggestions.

Mauro.








*********************************************************************
Mauro Campoleoni
Health Physicist
Istituti Clinici di Perfezionamento
Via della Commenda, 12
20122 - Milano, Italy,
tel. +39 +0257992166  fax +39+0257992168
trentino@iol.it
*********************************************************************


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======== Fwd by: Mike McKinnon ========
General safety precautions used by the military when responding to aircraft
incidents/fires, especially when the aircraft may contain radioactive
material in the form of counterweights, etc:
1.  For the first responders, such as firefighters, wear full protection,
including bunker suits and SCBA;
2.  Approach from upwind, if at all possible.  Any suspended particulate
matter will most likely accompany the smoke;
3.  Establish an exclusion zone around the accident site;
4.  Radioactively monitor all personnel and vehicles leaving the exclusion
zone.


Mike McKinnon, PE, CHP
mmckinno.ndep-lv@ndep.carson-city.nv.us
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