CHP CHP Radiation Emergency Response & Incident Management 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the recommended first step when a person is suspected of being externally contaminated with radioactive material?
- Administer potassium iodide immediately
- Remove and bag contaminated clothing (Correct answer)
- Administer DTPA chelation therapy
- Perform whole-body counting in a detector
Correct answer: Remove and bag contaminated clothing
Removing contaminated clothing eliminates approximately 80-90% of external contamination and is the highest priority first-step action.
Question 2: Which solution is most commonly recommended as the primary agent for skin decontamination of radioactive materials?
- Hydrogen peroxide solution
- Dilute bleach solution
- Mild soap and lukewarm water (Correct answer)
- Isopropyl alcohol
Correct answer: Mild soap and lukewarm water
Mild soap and water is the primary decontamination agent for skin because harsher chemicals can damage the skin barrier and increase radionuclide absorption.
Question 3: What distinguishes 'fixed contamination' from 'removable contamination' in radiation protection?
- Fixed contamination cannot be removed by normal wiping techniques (Correct answer)
- Fixed contamination is attached to permanent building structures only
- Fixed contamination exceeds regulatory action levels
- Fixed contamination requires special permits to remediate
Correct answer: Fixed contamination cannot be removed by normal wiping techniques
Fixed contamination cannot be removed by wiping and poses primarily a direct radiation hazard, while removable contamination can be transferred and poses an uptake risk.
Question 4: What is the standard area wiped during a smear (swipe) survey to assess removable surface contamination?
- 10 cm²
- 100 cm² (Correct answer)
- 300 cm²
- 1,000 cm²
Correct answer: 100 cm²
Standard smear surveys use a 100 cm² wipe area to provide a consistent, reproducible basis for measuring and comparing removable surface contamination.
Question 5: Which chelating agent is the treatment of choice to enhance elimination of plutonium and other transuranic radionuclides after internal contamination?
- Prussian blue (ferric ferrocyanide)
- DTPA (diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid) (Correct answer)
- Potassium iodide
- Dimercaprol (BAL)
Correct answer: DTPA (diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid)
DTPA chelates transuranic elements like plutonium and americium by forming stable complexes, enhancing their elimination via urinary excretion.
Question 6: Per NRC Regulatory Guide 1.86, what is the removable surface contamination limit for beta/gamma emitters for unrestricted release of equipment?
- 100 dpm/100 cm²
- 1,000 dpm/100 cm² (Correct answer)
- 5,000 dpm/100 cm²
- 10,000 dpm/100 cm²
Correct answer: 1,000 dpm/100 cm²
NRC Regulatory Guide 1.86 sets 1,000 dpm/100 cm² as the removable contamination limit for beta/gamma emitters for unrestricted release of equipment.
CHP CHP Radiation Emergency Response & Incident Management 2
What is the recommended first step when a person is suspected of being externally contaminated with radioactive material?