Methods of using scrubs formed from water-soluble polymeric material

Abstract

Water-soluble products and methods of making and using water-soluble products are disclosed.

1 - 34 . (canceled)  
   
   
       35 . A method of protecting a human from radioactive material generated in the nuclear industry, said method comprising the steps of: 
 covering at least a portion of the human with water-soluble scrubs, wherein the water-soluble scrubs comprises water-soluble fabric formed from water-soluble fibers; and    exposing the human and the water-soluble scrubs to an environment containing radioactive material generated in the nuclear industry.    
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the method comprises covering at least a portion of the human with scrubs, wherein the scrubs comprise at least 50 parts by weight (pbw) of water-soluble fibers, based on a total weight of the water-soluble scrubs.  
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the method further comprises the steps of: 
 forming at least one contaminated product by exposing the water-soluble scrubs to radioactive material generated in the nuclear industry.    
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the method further comprises the steps of: 
 (a) washing the contaminated product in an aqueous bath under washing condition such that the at least one product does not become soluble, producing a washed product;    (b) using the washed product for an intended purpose in the nuclear industry; and    (c) optionally, repeating steps (a) and (b) one or more times.    
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 38 , further comprising: 
 (d) disposing of the washed product by placing the washed product in an aqueous bath under condition such that at least a portion of the product becomes soluble.    
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein after the scrubs are (i) exposed to one or more radioactive materials at an exposure level of at least 1,000,000 disintegrations per minute as measured by an automatic laundry monitor and (ii) subsequently washed, the washed scrubs having a contamination level of less than 5,000 disintegrations per minute as measured by the same automatic laundry monitor.  
   
   
       41 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the scrubs comprise (i) a smock-like, shirt having a V-neck, sleeves, and up to about six pockets, and (ii) a pair of pants having pant legs, and up to about four pockets.  
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the water-soluble fibers comprise polyvinyl alcohol fibers and form a water-soluble nonwoven fabric.  
   
   
       43 . A method of removing one or more radioactive contaminants generated in the nuclear industry from water-soluble scrubs comprising water-soluble fabric formed from water-soluble fiber, wherein said method comprises: 
 (a) washing the scrubs in an aqueous bath under washing condition such that the water-soluble fiber does not become soluble; and    (b) drying the washed scrubs.    
   
   
       44 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein said method further comprises: 
 (c) using the washed scrubs for an intended purpose that exposes the washed scrubs to one or more radioactive contaminants generated in the nuclear industry;    (d) optionally, repeating steps (a) to (c) one or more times; and    (e) disposing of the washed scrubs by placing the washed scrubs in an aqueous bath under condition such that at least a portion of the scrubs becomes soluble.    
   
   
       45 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein the water-soluble scrubs comprise fabric formed from water-soluble fibers, wherein the scrubs comprise at least 50 parts by weight (pbw) of water-soluble fibers, based on a total weight of the scrubs.  
   
   
       46 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein the scrubs comprise (i) a smock-like, shirt having a V-neck, sleeves, and up to about six pockets, and (ii) a pair of pants having pant legs, and up to about four pockets.  
   
   
       47 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein the water-soluble fibers comprise polyvinyl alcohol fibers.  
   
   
       48 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein the water-soluble fibers comprise polyvinyl alcohol fibers and form a water-soluble nonwoven fabric.  
   
   
       49 . A method of generating radioactive waste in the nuclear industry, said method comprising the steps of: 
 exposing water-soluble scrubs to an environment containing radioactive material generated in the nuclear industry to form a contaminated product.    
   
   
       50 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein the method comprises covering at least a portion of a human with scrubs, wherein the scrubs comprise at least 50 parts by weight (pbw) of water-soluble fibers, based on a total weight of the water-soluble scrubs.  
   
   
       51 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein the method further comprises the steps of: 
 (a) washing the contaminated product in an aqueous bath under washing condition such that the water-soluble scrubs do not become soluble, producing a washed product;    (b) using the washed product for an intended purpose in the nuclear industry; and    (c) optionally, repeating steps (a) and (b) one or more times.    
   
   
       52 . The method of  claim 51 , further comprising: 
 (d) disposing of the washed product by placing the washed product in an aqueous bath under condition such that at least a portion of the product becomes soluble.    
   
   
       53 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein after the scrubs are (i) exposed to one or more radioactive materials at an exposure level of at least 1,000,000 disintegrations per minute as measured by an automatic laundry monitor and (ii) subsequently washed, the washed scrubs having a contamination level of less than 5,000 disintegrations per minute as measured by the same automatic laundry monitor.  
   
   
       54 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein the water-soluble fibers comprise polyvinyl alcohol fibers and form a water-soluble nonwoven fabric.