Estimation of the permissible time for human presence in the zone of an emergency release of uranium hexafluoride with inhalation

Abstract

This paper describes a complex model that allows one to calculate the mass of harmful substances that enter the human body in the conditions of an emergency release of uranium hexafluoride (UF₆) in a work space. It covers all parts of the process, from the pollution of the work environment by gaseous UF₆, before the penetration of toxic substances in the body. The model is built based on the available data in the literature about the research on this subject. On the basis of numerical calculations carried out within the framework of the constructed model it is concluded that the predominant harmful role belongs to inhalation. It shows the relationship between the residence time in an emergency and the amount of fluorine taken into the body, which is the most toxic to humans. The allowable residence time of a person in an emergency release zone is estimated.