[ RadSafe ] Cardiolite Fate

[Hoffman, Daniel E]

All -- It is well documented that I-131 administration can cause direct
transfer of contamination from one individual to another; however, I
have not seen nor heard of such an instance from patients administered
with Tc-99m or Tl-201.  Our experience is that it may take several days;
even up to several weeks after a Tl-201 imaging procedure for an
individual to clear a portal monitor, depending on the dose and type of
procedure.  Our practice is to keep folks out of areas with potential
surface contamination issues until they can clear the monitors.

Dan Hoffman

Daniel E. Hoffman, CHP, CSP
Radiation Safety Officer 
Covidien
2703 Wagner Place
Maryland Heights, MO 63043
314-654-7906 (office)
314-625-1881 (cell)


-----Original Message-----
From: radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu
[mailto:radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu] On Behalf Of Glenn R.
Marshall
Sent: Wednesday, May 19, 2010 7:28 AM
To: Dan W McCarn; radsafe at agni.phys.iit.edu
Subject: Re: [ RadSafe ] Cardiolite Fate

Several years ago in a prior job we had a worker set off the alarm on
the PCM at our facility, showing facial contamination.  He swore that he
hadn't been in any production areas but merely walked through the
building and had to monitor on the way out.  After a lengthy discussion,
he remembered his wife had some medical procedure done earlier that day
and the doctor told them not to have any contact for a few days.  But he
kissed his wife on his way out the door as always.  So we had him spit
in a beaker and ran a gamma spec.  I-131.  He had to work in the office
until he cleared the monitors.  The poor guy was nicknamed Hotlips ever
since.  Quite embarrassing, although it could have been much more so if
you know what I mean....

So the moral of the story is this:
If your significant other can take a joke, get radioactive and fool
around.  Then send her to work in a radiological facility.

 
Glenn Marshall, CHP, RRPT

-----Original Message-----
From: radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu
[mailto:radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu] On Behalf Of Dan W McCarn
Sent: Tuesday, May 18, 2010 6:19 PM
To: radsafe at agni.phys.iit.edu
Subject: [ RadSafe ] Cardiolite Fate

Dear Group:

 

Yesterday I received both Tl-201 & Tc-99m as a intravenous cocktail
during a cardiac stress test.  The dose was 3 mCi Tl-201 and 20 mCi
"Cardiolite"
Tc-99m for imaging.  By the time I got home, I was quite radioactive,
with my Ludlum Model 19 measuring 5000 uR/Hr at a distance of 4 meters.
According to the information that I received, the test amounts to a 3.45
REM total effective dose.

 

Should I be avoiding my girlfriend for the next week or two?  She works
at Los Alamos and I don't want to "contaminate" her.

 

The good news is that no problems were found!

 

Comments?

 

Dan ii

 

--
Dan W McCarn, Geologist
108 Sherwood Drive
Los Alamos, NM 87544-3425
+1-505-310-3922 (Mobile - New Mexico)
 <mailto:HotGreenChile at gmail.com>  <mailto:HotGreenChile at gmail.com>
HotGreenChile at gmail.com (Private email) HotGreenChile at gmail dot com

 

 

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