Date of Award

3-2021

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Department

Department of Systems Engineering and Management

First Advisor

Casey W. Cooper

Abstract

Radiological contamination from nuclear accidents or the terrorist use of a Radiological Dispersal Device (RDD) are events that first responders must be prepared for. It is currently assumed that removal of the victims clothing will remove 80-90 of contamination. Many RDD radioisotopes produce dense aerosols that would then contaminate victim clothing and re-aerosolize during clothing removal. A series of experiments were conducted during which clothing was contaminated with a dense aerosol simulating the radioisotope of Strontium 90. Compared to background, there was statistically significant re-aerosolization from the clothing. This demonstrates inhalation hazards from re-aerosolization of RDD contamination.

AFIT Designator

AFIT-ENV-MS-21-M-211

DTIC Accession Number

AD1134067

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