Nasal Swabs

  • Swab each nostril with moistened cotton-tipped swab. Use only one swab per nostril.
  • Survey swabs for the amount of radioactivity present.
  • Radioactivity measured from survey swabs is one way to estimate pulmonary contamination. Pulmonary contamination usually requires decorporation treatment.
  • Lung contamination is estimated to be about 5% of total radioactivity measured in both nares.
  • Caveats:
    • Data supporting accuracy of the 5% estimate is uncertain.
    • Delays in swab collection may influence reliability of the estimate.
    • Swab collection should occur before nasal decontamination, sneezing, nasal trauma, etc.
    • Presence of radioactivity in only one nostril suggests non-respiratory source of contamination.
    • Presence of alpha-emitting radioisotopes will be masked by the water on the cotton swab. Swabs must therefore be allowed to dry fully when surveying for alpha emitters.
  • Conclusion: During a mass casualty event, there will NOT be time to obtain or perform this type of analysis; alternate methods of estimating levels of internal contamination via the respiratory route will then need to be employed.

Reference:
Management of Persons Accidentally Contaminated with Radionuclides, National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements, NCRP Report No. 65, Bethesda, MD, 1980. (Page 26)


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