Skin Contamination by Radioactive Isotopes, (II)

The investigation of the mechanism of skin contamination was carried out by a living rabbit skin in the same manner as that of pig skin†. The rabbit skin was contaminated with carrier free 90Sr-90Y or 32P. Consequently, the adhered contamination of epidermis (abbr.; the adhered contamination) or the permeated contamination of dermal (abbr.; the permeated contamination) was obtained in the like result as that of pig skin. In regard to 90Sr-90Y and 32P, the adhered contamination increased steeply within 30 min after contamination and then it increased gradually with an increase of contaminating time. Result obtained also showed that according to pH, 90Sr-90Y indicated the large difference but 32P almost all did not indicate such difference in the adhered contamination. On the other hand, the definite permeated contamination was obtained at the long time contamination without the case of acidic 32P, although there was no regularity in the tendency to the permeated contamination. Particularly, 90Y contributed considerably to the adhered contamination and the permeated contamination, if the contaminating solution of 90Sr-90Y is alkaline. Furthermore, the result obtained recommends an early decontamination-within 30 min after contamination-is of great advantage to a decontamination of human skin.