Feasibility and potential effectiveness of partial-body shielding for personnel protection against ionizing radiation. USNRDL-TR-67-39.

The feasibility of partial-body shielding is discussed from two points of viev. The first assumes that limited clinical and experimental data are extrapolable to the operational situations of interest and that it is possible to selectively protect against the neural, hemapoietic, and gastrointestinal components of the acute radiation syndrome. Under this assumption, it would appear that (a) neural syndrome symptomatology may be adequately controlled by means of drugs, (b) the hemapoietic syndrome may be controlled by a light-weight (under 10 lbs) lead epicondylar cuff, and (c) in many operational situations the gastrointestinal syndrome may be controlled by an abdominal shicixl sufficiently li^ht in weight to permit postattack personnel to efficiently perform their tasks. The second point of view discussed assumes that, at present, there is not an adequate basis for selective syndrome shielding, and that a metal shield covering all of the body from the hips to the neck is the only adequate form of protection» Under this assumption it would appear that weight limitations preclude the use of this type of shield in most situations in which personnel must enter the fallout field at specified times and remain until the completion of their mission. However, in the case of personnel who are not required to enter the field at any specified time and who miy be recalled after receiving a predetermined dose, trunk shields cf acceptable weights will significantly lower entry times and extend stay times. The use of a grid (sieve) trunk shield is discussed and it appears that a shield of this type, of acceptable weight, may be of benefit in many operational situations in which the solid shield was not. Drug protection in conjunction with both solid and grid shields is evaluated, and it is concluded that a marked reduction in the weight requirements of effective shields of both types could result from such a combination.