[ RadSafe ] Cardiolite Fate

[Phil Rutherford]

Several years ago, I also had a cardiac stress test and took some post procedure measurements with Bicron microrem meter.   Seven hours after treatment, the exposure rate was 17 mR/hr on contact at stomach level and 20 microR/hr (twice background) at 30 feet. Exposure rate on contact at chest level after 2 days was ~2 mR/hr, and after 7 days was ~0.5 mR/hr.  After 3 weeks, exposure rates were indistiguishable from background.  Plots of the measurements are shown at http://www.philrutherford.com/Stress_Test_2003.pdf.  The two distinctive decays of the 6 hr Tc-99m and the slower 73 hour Tl-201 are readily apparent on chart 4.  Cumulative dose on contact was almost 600 mrem over a period of almost 3 weeks.  Several years later, I had a repeat test and wore a special-issued inward-facing TLD at stomach level 24 hours a day (except in the shower) for three weeks.  The measured exposure was 800 mrem.


Phil Rutherford
email at philrutherford.com
www.philrutherford.com 

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Dan W McCarn 
  To: radsafe at agni.phys.iit.edu 
  Sent: Tuesday, May 18, 2010 3:18 PM
  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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