[ RadSafe ] SSKI for inpt I-131 therapy room

Wed Feb 15 14:44:19 CST 2006

That is what I thought as well (nonsense) but to clarify.  My RSO was looking to cut down on the exposure from the sink after use.  I got a really good explanation from another gentleman that I will cut and paste here

(from Pete)
I don't know if you've ever had to remove a trap from a sink but there is usually a buildup of protein and grease on the inside. Iodine is very reactive and attaches to tyrosine in the proteins (that's how proteins are labelled for RIA, etc.) If you put cold iodine in the sink, the cold iodine will react with the protein and hopefully will leave very few tyrosines available for the hot iodine to react with. The hot stuff should then just go down the drain.

Every once in a while we put Drano down the drain to remove the protein and grease.

Pete

Peter Fear
SUNY Upstate Medical University
Radiation Safety Office
636 UH
750 E. Adams St.
Syracuse, NY 13210

Phone: (315)464-6510
FAX:     (315)464-5095
fearp at upstate.edu

So maybe that helps as it did help me

Larry

Larry W Ratliff BS, RT(N)(R)(CT)
EGSMC Nuclear Medicine Team Lead
303-689-4147 (Office)
303-897-2737 (Pager)
303-689-4186 (FAX)

 "Don't fight the problem; decide it."--General George C. Marshall 

-----Original Message-----
From: Franz Schönhofer [mailto:franz.schoenhofer at chello.at] 
Sent: Wednesday, February 15, 2006 1:26 PM
To: Ratliff, Larry; RADSAFE
Cc: dnorth at lifespan.org
Subject: AW: [ RadSafe ] SSKI for inpt I-131 therapy room

Dear Larry, dear David,

Thank you for the clarification. Hopefully I can provide not a solution but
food for thought.

I have been involved in the aftermath of the Chernobyl accident on Austria,
even written the official report. I have been a member of the subcommittee
of the radiation protection committee on the use of potassium iodide for
emergency preparedness. --- This information is not intended to impress
anybody, but to scientifically legitimate my contribution to this thread.

I know that "Lugol", a solution of KI was given to persons (children) in
certain parts of Poland shortly after the Chernobyl accident. Most radiation
protection professionals think that this was not necessary, but a universal
rule says, that "afterwards you are more clever". Not only in my country
(Austria), but in all European countries I have knowledge about, KI pills
are not only recommended to be taken after the authorities announce the
necessity, but they are also stockpiled for the case of a nuclear accident.

So much about use of KI, but I cannot see any connection to the question of
what it should help in waste disposal via sewage water. The amount of and
also the concentration of I-131 and other iodine isotopes will be exactly
the same, whether you use the SSKI or not. 

There is no doubt, that KI helps in blocking the thyroid from uptake of
I-131 and other I-isotopes, but to decrease the acitivity (concentration) in
waste is in my humble opinion simply nonsense. 

Best regards,

Franz

Franz Schoenhofer
PhD, MR iR
Habicherg. 31/7
A-1160 Vienna
AUSTRIA
phone -43-0699-1168-1319

> -----Ursprüngliche Nachricht-----
> Von: Ratliff, Larry [mailto:RatliffL at exempla.org]
> Gesendet: Mittwoch, 15. Februar 2006 18:41
> An: Franz Schönhofer
> Betreff: RE: [ RadSafe ] SSKI for inpt I-131 therapy room
> 
> Super Saturated Potassium Iodide.  It is what is given to pts, kids or
> adults, when you want to block the thyroid.  IE in a case like Chernobyl
> you would give it to the surrounding community to saturate their thyroid
> gland and prevent uptake of Iodine isotope for the Nuclear Accident.
> 
> The thought is that...  heck I am not sure what the thought here is, as to
> why it would help decrease the exposure from the sink from toothpaste spit
> 
> Thanks
> Larry
> 
> Larry W Ratliff BS, RT(N)(R)(CT)
> EGSMC Nuclear Medicine Team Lead
> 303-689-4147 (Office)
> 303-897-2737 (Pager)
> 303-689-4186 (FAX)
> 
>  "Don't fight the problem; decide it."--General George C. Marshall
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Franz Schönhofer [mailto:franz.schoenhofer at chello.at]
> Sent: Wednesday, February 15, 2006 10:38 AM
> To: Ratliff, Larry; radsafe at radlab.nl
> Subject: AW: [ RadSafe ] SSKI for inpt I-131 therapy room
> 
> Larry,
> 
> If you would specify, what SSKI is, the chance for a helpful comment might
> increase.
> 
> Best regards,
> 
> Franz
> 
> Franz Schoenhofer
> PhD, MR iR
> Habicherg. 31/7
> A-1160 Vienna
> AUSTRIA
> phone -43-0699-1168-1319
> 
> 
> > -----Ursprüngliche Nachricht-----
> > Von: radsafe-bounces at radlab.nl [mailto:radsafe-bounces at radlab.nl] Im
> > Auftrag von Ratliff, Larry
> > Gesendet: Mittwoch, 15. Februar 2006 14:59
> > An: radsafe at radlab.nl
> > Betreff: [ RadSafe ] SSKI for inpt I-131 therapy room
> >
> > Can anyone tell me the proper way to use SSKI to cut down on exposure in
> > the sink basin and the toilet?
> >
> > It seems to me that if SSKI binds iodine that it may help bind that
> > iodine to the sink instead of help wash it down?  Is it slippery like
> > baby oil so that it would run off into the sink and down the drain
> > easier?
> >
> > Any help or comments would be appreciated
> > Larry
> >
> >
> >
> > Larry W Ratliff, BS, RT(N)(R)(CT)
> > EGSMC Nuclear Medicine Team Lead
> > 303-689-4147 (Office)
> > 303-897-2737 (Pager)
> > 303-689-4100 (Clinic)
> > 303-689-4186 (FAX)
> >
> > Power cannot stand against Knowledge.  Power is completely dependent
> > upon Ignorance
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