[ RadSafe ] I-131 Patients and Taxi driver

[Conklin, Al (DOH)]

In Washington State, our regulations state that:

Washington Administrative Code 246-240-122 (1)A licensee may authorize
the release from its control of any individual who has been administered
unsealed radioactive material or implants containing radioactive
material if the total effective dose equivalent to any other individual
from exposure to the released individual is not likely to exceed 5 mSv
(0.5 rem).
(2) A licensee shall provide the released individual, or the
individual's parent or guardian, with instructions, including written
instructions, on actions recommended to maintain doses to other
individuals as low as is reasonably achievable if the total effective
dose equivalent to any other individual is likely to exceed 1 mSv (0.1
rem).  

While this is not my program, I don't think we have any other
requirements limiting the treated individual or those that may be
exposed, or requiring the licensee to inform anyone other than the
treated patient. Note that under (2) above, the actions are
"recommended". The treated individual is not required to tell anybody.
They are not prohibited from using public transportation. (there are
other requirements for breast feeding though)

As our law enforcement officers become more equipped with personal
radiation detectors, they are beginning to find out how many
"radioactive" individuals there are out there. It causes some measure of
excitement, and on at least one occasion led to a concern over a
possible dirty bomb before it was figured out.

-----Original Message-----
From: radsafe-bounces at radlab.nl [mailto:radsafe-bounces at radlab.nl] On
Behalf Of Moshe Levita
Sent: Wednesday, February 13, 2008 5:49 AM
To: radsafe at radlab.nl
Subject: [ RadSafe ] I-131 Patients and Taxi driver


Dear Colleagues,

When I-131 treated patients leaves the hospital they are not allowed to
use public transportation for a few days.

Normally they return home with a member of their family, but if non is
available,

we allow them to take a taxi (as long as the traveling time is less than
1 hour).

IAEA BSS 115 Allows comforters of patients to receive a maximum dose of
5 mSv, and the

driver (is he a comforter ?) will not be exposed to that amount.


The question, do we have to inform the taxi driver that his passenger is
radioactive ?


Thank you,

Moshe Levita
Chief Physicist
Tel Aviv Medical Center

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