Radioactive fission products can also present a hazard through direct contact with the exposed individuals.

Contact with a plume can result in contamination of a person's clothing or skin.

Airborne radioactive materials may also present an internal exposure hazard if inhaled by individuals exposed to the passing radioactive plume. Inhaled material, in addition to directly providing a dose, contains certain elements that concentrate in particular organs (e.g., lungs, bones, or thyroid) and thus become a special threat to those organs.

When taking shelter from a radioactive plume, one should take care to prevent unnecessary exposure to airborne radioactive material by closing windows and turning off air conditioners and ventilation fans.

Additional protection actions may be recommended by the local authorities.