Internal exposure due to inhalation or ingestion of NORM   

Ingestion or inhalation of radionuclides may occur while

• working at open plant and equipment

• handling surface contaminated objects

• handling waste materials

• cleaning of contaminated equipment

Risk of Ingestion is typically low

Risk of inhalation can be high, particularly if

• dry abrasive techniques are used and

• no effective personal protective equipment (including respiratory protection) is used

• Internal dose from inhalation depends on

• • Diameter of inhaled aerosols (AMAD)

  • Solubility of inhaled material (lung absorption class)

Example: Committed dose per unit intake for inhalation of radionuclides in particles of NORM (5 µm AMAD, absorption type S)