CUTANEOUS CONTAMINATION AFTER A URANYL-NITRATE SKIN BURN - INCIDENT REPORT

The authors review the circumstances of a handburn incident by a mixtu re of dilute nitric acid and uranyl nitrate. The burn was localised on the thumb and three fingers of the left hand. After abundant washing, external direct measurements revealed the presence of uranium on the fingers. The injured employee was maintained under observation for ten days, and therapy was performed until all the activity disappeared. E xternal monitoring with various detectors, and measurements of the ban dages and skin showed a rapid decrease of uranium fixation. All urine was collected throughout the duration of the treatment. The study of t his case is interesting because it shows that all the activity was ret ained on the burnt skin, with very little systemic uptake. Rapid peeli ng eliminated the cutaneous retention. Internal and external dose asse ssments were calculated and the commited effective dose equivalent and the committed dose equivalent for the skin and bone surfaces were low .