Guidelines for handling radioactively contaminated decedents.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently issued guidelines for medical examiners, coroners, and morticians in dealing with decedents after detonation of an improvised nuclear device (IND) or radiological dispersal device (RDD) (). Partners in this effort included the New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner and the National Funeral Directors' Association. This paper describes the handling techniques required for loose surface contamination, radioactive shrapnel, and internal contamination caused by inhaling or ingesting radioactive materials from an IND or RDD, and provides suggested guidelines for medical examiners, coroners, and morticians to deal with these situations.
Wood
Charles M
CM
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (MS E-39), Executive Park Drive, Bldg 6, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA.
DePaolo
Frank
F
Whitaker
Doggett
D
D003334:Coroners and Medical Examiners; D003666:Decontamination; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006234:Handling, Psychological; D006801:Humans; D009027:Mortuary Practice / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D011834:Radiation Monitoring / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D011835:Radiation Protection / Q000379:methods*; D018788:Radioactive Hazard Release