200
12 Health Hazards and Protection
be used or whenever possible, plastic tape and gloves should be taken off in
such a way that unprotected fingers do not touch the outside of the glove. It is
better to wash the gloves before they are taken off, and then monitored, or at
least a periodical washing should be done. It is noteworthy that the gloves do not
protect from radiation hazard (except for α-particles), but are used to prevent the
contamination of the hands, in case of any spill of radioactive materials.
3. Mouth operations, such as eating, drinking, smoking or even pipetting by mouth
etc., are strictly forbidden, in order to avoid the internal hazards. When leaving
the radioactive area, hands must be washed and monitored.
4. It is preferable to carry out radioactive experiments in shallow trays, so that
laboratory furniture does not get contaminated in the event of a spill or breakage
of apparatus.
5. Work with a volatile compound must be carried out in the fume cupboard.
6. The radioactive wastes, either liquid or solid, should be kept in a special container.
7. The laboratory should be periodically monitored against contamination.
8. While carrying out any new experiment with radioactive isotopes, a dummy experiment with non-radioactive material must be performed so that necessary precautions to avoid any accident can be thought off.
9. In the laboratory, there must be a Geiger counter monitor connected with a loudspeaker in order to regularly hear the background level.
Summary
Handling of radioactive isotopes needs the worker to be aware of the health
hazards associated with radioactive isotopes. There is a need to take care of the
disposal and contamination problems associated with some of the hazardous
radioactive isotopes like
137 Cs. Safety of the personnel working in the radiochemical laboratory is most essential. It is, therefore, necessary to understand
the reasons, which cause the health hazard. In this chapter, therefore, we studied these aspects and discussed to explain the various factors necessary to be
considered before launching to work with radioactive isotopes. The design and
necessary requirements of a radiochemical laboratory are also discussed.
12 Health Hazards and Protection
be used or whenever possible, plastic tape and gloves should be taken off in
such a way that unprotected fingers do not touch the outside of the glove. It is
better to wash the gloves before they are taken off, and then monitored, or at
least a periodical washing should be done. It is noteworthy that the gloves do not
protect from radiation hazard (except for α-particles), but are used to prevent the
contamination of the hands, in case of any spill of radioactive materials.
3. Mouth operations, such as eating, drinking, smoking or even pipetting by mouth
etc., are strictly forbidden, in order to avoid the internal hazards. When leaving
the radioactive area, hands must be washed and monitored.
4. It is preferable to carry out radioactive experiments in shallow trays, so that
laboratory furniture does not get contaminated in the event of a spill or breakage
of apparatus.
5. Work with a volatile compound must be carried out in the fume cupboard.
6. The radioactive wastes, either liquid or solid, should be kept in a special container.
7. The laboratory should be periodically monitored against contamination.
8. While carrying out any new experiment with radioactive isotopes, a dummy experiment with non-radioactive material must be performed so that necessary precautions to avoid any accident can be thought off.
9. In the laboratory, there must be a Geiger counter monitor connected with a loudspeaker in order to regularly hear the background level.
Summary
Handling of radioactive isotopes needs the worker to be aware of the health
hazards associated with radioactive isotopes. There is a need to take care of the
disposal and contamination problems associated with some of the hazardous
radioactive isotopes like
137 Cs. Safety of the personnel working in the radiochemical laboratory is most essential. It is, therefore, necessary to understand
the reasons, which cause the health hazard. In this chapter, therefore, we studied these aspects and discussed to explain the various factors necessary to be
considered before launching to work with radioactive isotopes. The design and
necessary requirements of a radiochemical laboratory are also discussed.