Detector Photon Response and Absorbed Dose and Their Applications to Rapid Triage Techniques

摘要

As radiation specialists, one of our primary objectives in the Navy is protectingpeople and the environment from the effects of ionizing and non-ionizing radiation.Focusing on radiological dispersal devices (RDD) will provide increased personnelprotection as well as optimize emergency response assets for the general public. Anattack involving an RDD has been of particular concern because it is intended to spreadcontamination over a wide area and cause massive panic within the general population.A rapid method of triage will be necessary to segregate the unexposed and slightlyexposed from those needing immediate medical treatment. Because of the aerosoldispersal of the radioactive material, inhalation of the radioactive material may be theprimary exposure route. The primary radionuclides likely to be used in a RDD attackare Co-60, Cs-137, Ir-192, Sr-90 and Am-241. Through the use of a MAX phantomalong with a few Simulink MATLAB programs, a good anthropomorphic phantom wascreated for use in MCNPX simulations that would provide organ doses from internallydeposited radionuclides. Ludlum model 44-9 and 44-2 detectors were used to verify thesimulated dose from the MCNPX code. Based on the results, acute dose rate limits weredeveloped for emergency response personnel that would assist in patient triage.