All about radiation suits

The use of the atom for peaceful or military purposes has shown that its destructive effect on the human body is only partially stopped. The best protection is a thick layer of certain material or as far away from the source as possible. However, work is ongoing to protect living tissue, and there are already options out there. It is impossible to tell everything about costumes from radiation in a short publication. In addition, presumably, there are secret developments, information about which is not widely available.

The destructive effect of ionizing radiation on living tissues is a well-known fact, and since its discovery, mankind has been working to protect the population and the army in the event of the use of weapons of a certain type, accidents in industries operating on the energy of the atom, cosmic rays, which are dangerous. Simple clothing that could protect a person from radioactive radiation does not exist, but some success has already been achieved - people are able to defend themselves from the flow of ions in different ways.

Among the developments are biological and physical protection, distance, shielding, time and chemical compounds are applied.

The materials used in it against harmful radiation depend on the source of the hazard:

• simple and affordable means, such as a respirator and rubber gloves, protect against alpha radiation;
• the effects of exposure to beta particles can be prevented with the help of a protective suit used in the army - it includes a gas mask, special fabrics (glass and plexiglass, aluminum, light metal can reduce exposure);
• heavy metals are used from gamma radiation, some of them dissipate hazardous energy flows more efficiently, therefore lead is more often used than iron and steel;
• synthetic materials or the water column can save neutrons from neutrons; therefore, polymers, rather than lead and steel, are used for radiation protection.

A layer of any material used in the creation of a radiation suit is called a half-attenuation layer if it is able to halve the penetration of ions to living tissues. Any means of anti-radiation protection are aimed at creating an optimal protection factor (it is calculated by measuring the level of radiation that exists before the creation of the opposing layer, and comparing it with how intense the penetration is after the person is in any shelter).

At this level of human knowledge, it is impossible to create a universal suit against radiation that would protect against any kind of ions, hence the variety of options. But in addition to it, chemical protection agents can be used to prevent the development of damage to living cells.

The most common and well-known protective kit is used by the army.

Turning it inside out, you can disguise yourself in a snowy area, since it is white inside. The OZK set includes stockings, gloves and a raincoat, which are securely fastened with various devices - straps, pins, ribbons and fasteners.

OZK is available in several heights and sizes, it can be winter and summer, it can be used in combination with a respirator or gas mask. You cannot wear it for a long time, but in the first hours it can prevent the decay of body tissues, and then shelter, chemical protection or distance are used. This useful product is now sold in shops for hunting and fishing, it can be purchased and used both for utilitarian, everyday purposes, and in case of the threat of radioactive damage.

A special radiation protective suit (RPC) is designed to protect a person in areas where combined radiation is applied.

1. It offers excellent protection against beta particles and, to some extent, is able to prevent the effects of gamma radiation. Depending on the specifics of radiation damage, any of its types can be used, but modern advanced protective kits are able to prevent the destructive consequences of alpha and beta fluxes, neutrons.
2. Gamma particles are not completely neutralized, even if the suit is lead (the most common option), with plates of tungsten, steel or heavy metals. It limits freedom of movement, but is most effective in hazardous areas, where gamma radiation is the prevailing factor.
3. This suit includes a special insulating spacesuit, under which overalls, underwear are put on, it is equipped with an air supply system. The whole set weighs over 20 kg.

Theoretically, protective suits include all means capable of preventing the action of destructive particles on the skin, mucous membranes, organs of vision and respiration for some time.

Advances in science and the use of atomic energy for peaceful and military purposes have led to more advanced developments, but the gas mask is still in use, although it has been significantly modified.

The Institute for Nuclear Research has developed RZK for extinguishing fires at nuclear power plants... Its authors dedicated their development to the sailors of the nuclear submarine K-19 and the Chernobyl liquidators. When creating it, the sad experience of man-made disasters and the processing of data obtained after the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were used.

Protective suit L-1 - made of rubberized fabric. It includes a jumpsuit, jacket, mittens and bags. Galoshes are attached to the jumpsuit, it weighs a little and gives you the opportunity to protect yourself for a short time.

In addition to OZK and L-1, there are other types of similar equipment - "Pass", "Rescuer", "Vympel", widely used in everyday life, but their action is short-lived, and they do not save from gamma particles at all.

RZK, which helps to fully protect itself, due to its significant weight and inconvenience of movement, is used mainly in areas of man-made disasters. TFirefighters and liquidators simply have no other way to protect themselves, even if only for a short time.

OZK is in service with the army, but the breadth of access and the possibility of purchase led to its use even for fishing and hunting.

"Pass", "Rescuer", "Vympel" - in service with special forces. These suits have a different focus - protection from biological, thermal and chemical influences, but for a certain time they can also protect the body (skin, mucous membranes, eyes, subject to the presence of a gas mask) from all types of particles, except for gamma.

Today Kazan developed a new protective kit against chemical weapons used by Islamic militants in Syria... MZK use disinsectors, disinfectants, but in the list of its possible use and being in the zone of radioactive damage, the safety of the work of electricians, firefighters, people of hazardous professions.

An overview of the OZK suit in the video below.