Grant: Idea to Innovation

One of the greatest health risks from terrorist use of a radiological dispersal device (RDD) is from inhalation of radionuclide aerosol particulate after a high energy event (explosive, water or powder release). Additionally, a nuclear facility accident can release quantities of airborne radionuclides under certain accident conditions. Exposure to airborne radionuclides can lead to inhalation, and subsequent uptake of radionuclides into the body. Uptake leads to biological radiation dose and potential health risk. The risk from uptake can be reduced by administering appropriate treatment (such as decorporation therapy). Treatment assumes that (a) it is possible to detect the uptake rapidly, and (b) the radioisotope(s) can be identified, as therapy is element specific. As noted, the appropriate therapeutic treatment regime depends primarily on the rapid identification of the radioisotope involved, however first response personnel (EMS, Fire Fighters, Police, Nurses, etc) do not have the equipment and, more importantly, the expertise to perform rapid radionuclide assessment in the field. Rapid diagnosis is critical as treatment must begin within hours, not days, of exposure in order to ensure the best chance for recovery and risk mitigation. This radiological triage mask (RTM) invention involves development of a half-face mask device with alpha, beta and gamma detectors built into it that, utilizing appropriate hardware processing and software algorithms, can determine the presence of contamination, and also identify the radionuclides present in the orofacial area of a person suspected to have been exposed to airborne contamination. From this, an estimate of the quantity of inhaled material can be made. The mask concept was desirable as it is an ideal geometry for detecting facial contamination, and it is a geometry that is extremely familiar to first response personnel. This technology will be of great benefit to Canada and the World in response to radiological emergencies involving airborne threats.