100 RADIOISOTOPES IN BIOLOGY AND AGRICULTURE 



scrub the hands with a soft brush using a heavy lather and tepid water. 

 This scrubbing is primarily to agitate the cleansing agent, and hence pro- 

 longed scrubbing without change of reagent is of questionable value. 

 For this reason, at least three washes, including rinses, should be made 

 within 8 min of which at least 6 min should be devoted to scrubbing. 

 Only light pressure should be applied to the brush — not sufficient to bend 

 the bristles out of shape or to scratch or erode the skin. Rinse thoroughly 

 and monitor. 



3. Apply lanolin or hand cream to prevent chapping. 



Rigorous Hand Washing. Mix precipitated titanium dioxide (a very 

 thick slurry, never permitted to dry) with a small amount of lanolin. 

 Apply a Hberal portion to the hands. Work this paste over the affected 

 surface and adjacent areas of the skin for at least 2 min. Use water, 

 sparingly, to keep the paste moist. Rinse with warm water, and follow 

 by thorough washing with soap, brush, and water. Be sure that no paste 

 is allowed to remain around the nails. Monitor. Repeat the entire 

 process if necessary. 



If this procedure is unsuccessful, the following two-step method may be 

 used: 



Step 1. Mix equal volumes of a saturated solution of potassium per- 

 manganate and 0.2 N sulfuric acid. Pour this over the wet hands, rub- 

 bing the entire surface and using a hand brush for not more than 2 min. 

 (Note: This application will remove a layer of skin if allowed to remain 

 in contact with the hands too long. Consequently the times stated here 

 should not be exceeded for any single application.) Be sure that all areas 

 are thoroughly covered. Rinse with warm water and proceed as follows: 



Step 2. Apply a freshly prepared 5 per cent solution of sodium acid 

 sulfite (NaHSOs) in the same manner as above, using a hand brush and 

 tepid water for not more than 2 min. Wash with soap and water, and 

 rinse thoroughly. 



The above two-step procedure may be repeated several times so long 

 as the permanganate solution is not applied for more than 2 min during 

 any one washing. Applications to other parts of the body than the hands 

 may be facilitated by the use of swabs steeped in the solutions. Lanolin 

 or hand cream should be applied after washing. 



Clothing. Contaminated laboratory coats or coveralls should not be 

 worn in clean areas, nor should they be sent to public laundries if they 

 exceed the above-mentioned levels of activity. They may be stored for 

 removal by radioactive decay or laundered in laboratory facilities. A 

 3 per cent citric acid rinse in addition to regular laundering procedures is 

 sometimes effective. 



Rubber goods are easily decontaminated by ordinary washing or by 

 using dilute nitric acid. Leather is notoriously hard to decontaminate. 



