Medical Radiology and Radiation Safety. 2026. Vol. 71. № 3

DOI:10.33266/1024-6177-2026-71-3-24-29

A.V. Efimov, S.A. Sypko, A.B. Sokolova, E.E. Aladova

Review of Actinide Intake Cases Through Damaged Skin in Workers of the Mayak Production Association for the Period from 2010 to 2024

Southern Urals Biophysics Institute of FMBA of Russia, Ozersk, Chelyabinsk region, Russia

Contact person: E.E. Aladova, e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

ABSTRACT 

Purpose: Analysis of the results of special dosimetric monitoring of acute actinides intake through the wound into the body for the Mayak PA workers that have occurred over the past 15 years.

Material and methods: Actinide dosimetry, both in current individual dosimetric monitoring and in cases of acute radionuclide intake, is based on the results of the nuclide body burden determination by two methods: direct human radiation spectrometry and the interpretation of the measurements results of the nuclide activity in excreta.

Results: During the period from 2010 till 2024, 68 cases of acute intake of actinides into the body for the Mayak PA workers were detected, both by inhalation (70% cases) and through damaged skin (30% cases),  the number of cases of intake through damaged skin prevails over the inhalation route of intake of actinides. With acute inhalation intake, in 25% of cases, the value of committed effective dose exceeded the limit of 20 mSv, and for wound intake, 11% of cases resulted in increased exposure, while for three cases of increased exposure, the value of committed effective dose exceeded 200 mSv. The effectiveness of specialized medical care and the effectiveness of treatment directly depends on the time of detection of skin damage.

Conclusion: When forming internal doses of Mayak workers, the intake of actinides through damaged skin is no less significant than inhalation. The optimal control system includes not only prompt examination of workers in the first hours after skin damage, but also ensures the detection of latent wounds contaminated with radionuclides. Early detection of wound cases and obtaining the required information on the internal radiation doses of workers is extremely important to improve the medical response and minimize the adverse effects of radiation as much as possible.

Keywords: internal exposure, actinide intake, damaged skin, individual dosimetric monitoring

For citation: Efimov AV, Sypko SA, Sokolova AB, Aladova EE. Review of Actinide Intake Cases Through Damaged Skin in Workers of the Mayak Production Association for the Period from 2010 to 2024. Medical Radiology and Radiation Safety. 2026;71(3):24–29. DOI:10.33266/1024-6177-2026-71-3-24-29

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 PDF (RUS) Full-text article (in Russian)

Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Financing. The work was financing by Federal Medical and Biological Agency within the framework of the Federal Target Program “Ensuring nuclear and radiation safety for 2016-2020 and for the period up to 2035”.

Contribution. Article was prepared with equal participation of the authors.

Article received: 20.02.2026. Accepted for publication: 25.03.2026.