You are here:
Evaluation of Low-Tech Outdoor Decontamination Methods Following Wide Area Radiological/Nuclear Incidents
Citation:
Lee, S., T. Boe, K. Hall, S. Hudson, M. Ierardi, P. Lemieux, M. Magnuson, A. Mikelonis, J. Mitchell, T. Stilman, J. Archer, M. Hannant, R. James, Z. Willenberg, AND K. McConkey. Evaluation of Low-Tech Outdoor Decontamination Methods Following Wide Area Radiological/Nuclear Incidents. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, EPA/600/R-19/001, 2019.
Impact/Purpose:
The project described in this report, which was completed in 2018, focused on the low-tech radiological decontamination method efficacy of outdoor surfaces as well as a related project (completed in 2017) that focused on the low-tech radiological method decontamination efficacy on indoor surfaces. The results of each of these projects indicate that there are some decontamination methods that are readily available, inexpensive, can be conducted by untrained people, that are effective at decontamination and are able to be accomplished without personal contamination or significant dose received. Results indicate that vacuum removal is an extremely effective low-tech decontamination technology for particle contamination onto hard surfaces with minimal pores. In addition, pre-wet wipes are also a very effective low-tech removal technology for particle and aqueous contamination for hard, smooth, non-porous surfaces. Several other technologies also provide consistent decontamination, but these two technologies stand out as very consistent decontamination methods.
Description:
This technology evaluation report included use of low-tech decontamination methods on surfaces common to outdoor residential environments and included evaluating the decontamination efficacy, method constraints, safety concerns, feasibility, waste generation, potential exposure, and cost. Prior to pilot-scale testing, literature containing pertinent information related to common outdoor cleaning and maintenance activities within the United States was compiled into a compendium including relevant information about multiple low-tech cleaning methods from the results of the literature search.