Thursday, November 30, 2006, 0:23 EST (12:23 PM EST)
CDCHAN-00253-2006-11-30-ADV-N
Information
Regarding Polonium-210 Involved in Recent Events in the United Kingdom
Recent events in the United Kingdom
have brought attention to the radioactive material Polonium-210 (Po-210) as a
possible public health concern. The U.K. Health Protection Agency has
information about Po-210 and this event on their Web site: (www.hpa.org.uk/polonium/default.htm).
Additional information on this topic can be found on the U.K. National Health
Service site (www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/articles/article.aspx?articleId=2086).
The Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) developed the following basic questions and responses about
this topic.
What is Polonium 210?
Po-210 is a radioactive material
that occurs naturally at very low concentrations in the environment; although
it can be produced in university or government nuclear reactors, it requires
expertise to do so. The exposures to this radionuclide in London represent a
very rare event. Po-210 emits alpha particles, which carry high amounts of
energy that can damage or destroy genetic material in cells inside the body.
Po-210 is a particularly energetic radionuclide, giving off 5,000 times more
alpha particles than does the same amount of radium. Po-210 is used in some
industrial applications such as static eliminators, which are devices designed
to eliminate static electricity in processes such as paper rolling,
manufacturing sheet plastics, and spinning synthetic fibers.
Is Po-210 harmful to humans?
Po-210 is a radiation hazard only if
it is taken into the body through breathing or eating or by entering a wound.
This "internal contamination" can cause irradiation of internal organs, which
can result in serious medical symptoms or death. Po-210 is not an external
hazard to the bodyneither polonium nor its radiation will penetrate intact
skin or membranes. Most external traces of it can be removed through careful
washing. For more information about contamination and irradiation (exposure), see
CDC's fact sheet "Radiological Contamination and Radiation Exposure" (http://www.bt.cdc.gov/radiation/contamination.asp).
Are other people at risk if they
come into close contact with a contaminated person?
People will not be exposed to
radiation (irradiated) simply by being near a person who is internally
contaminated with Po-210. Health care workers who are providing care for a
contaminated patient will not be exposed to Po-210 unless they inhale or ingest
contaminated bodily fluids. Normal hygiene practices in hospitals for microbial
contamination will be sufficient to protect workers from radiological
contamination. For more information on
radiation protection for health care workers, see CDC's "Radiological
Terrorism: Tool Kit for Emergency Services Clinicians" (http://www.bt.cdc.gov/radiation/toolkit.asp).
What should you do if you have
concerns about possible exposure related to the London incident?
If you were an overseas visitor during early November 2006 and think you might have had contact with persons or locations involved in the London incident see http://www.hpa.org.uk/. Send an e-mail requesting information to the U.K. Health Protection Agency at overseasadvice@hpa.org.uk.
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