Biomaterial Database

1976 Hanford americium exposure incident: accident description. 1983

B J McMurray

An accident is described which involved the explosion of an ion-exchange column containing about 100 g of 241Am. A chemical operator was injured in this accident, receiving acid burns and superficial cuts on the upper part of his body. From 1 to 5 Ci of 241Am is estimated to have been deposited on the injured worker and on his clothing.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D009688	Nuclear Reactors	Devices containing fissionable material in sufficient quantity and so arranged as to be capable of maintaining a controlled, self-sustaining NUCLEAR FISSION chain reaction. They are also known as atomic piles, atomic reactors, fission reactors, and nuclear piles, although such names are deprecated. (McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 4th ed)	Nuclear Reactor,Reactor, Nuclear,Reactors, Nuclear
D011832	Radiation Injuries	Harmful effects of non-experimental exposure to ionizing or non-ionizing radiation in VERTEBRATES.	Radiation Sickness,Radiation Syndrome,Injuries, Radiation,Injury, Radiation,Radiation Injury,Radiation Sicknesses,Radiation Syndromes,Sickness, Radiation,Sicknesses, Radiation,Syndrome, Radiation,Syndromes, Radiation
D001753	Blast Injuries	Injuries resulting when a person is struck by particles impelled with violent force from an explosion. Blast causes pulmonary concussion and hemorrhage, laceration of other thoracic and abdominal viscera, ruptured ear drums, and minor effects in the central nervous system. (From Dorland, 27th ed)	Injuries, Blast,Blast Injury,Injury, Blast
D002057	Burns, Chemical	Burns caused by contact with or exposure to CAUSTICS or strong ACIDS.	Chemical Burns,Burn, Chemical,Chemical Burn
D003666	Decontamination	The removal of contaminating material, such as radioactive materials, biological materials, or CHEMICAL WARFARE AGENTS, from a person or object.
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000062	Accidents, Occupational	Unforeseen occurrences, especially injuries in the course of work-related activities.	Accidents, Industrial,Industrial Accidents,Occupational Accidents,Accident, Industrial,Accident, Occupational,Industrial Accident,Occupational Accident
D000576	Americium	A completely man-made radioactive actinide with atomic symbol Am, and atomic number 95. Its valence can range from +3 to +6. Because of its nonmagnetic ground state, it is an excellent superconductor. It is also used in bone mineral analysis and as a radiation source for radiotherapy.