RE: 10CFR35.315 + your comment

[carol marcus <csmarcus@ucla.edu>]

At 09:04 AM 1/13/00 -0600, you wrote:
>I was just cited for that.  Although the inspectors indicated that they
>didn't see a problem with simply removing the linen from the bed, wrap from
>the toilet seat, and trash between iodine patients, they cited me because
>the reg doesn't make that distinction.  You can verbally request a waiver or
>exception.  The inspectors indicated they thought it highly likely that one
>would get the run around before getting an OK.  But you can request an
>exception to the rule as clearly it was meant for non-therapy patients.
>
>Peter G. Vernig,
>VA Medical Center, Denver
>peter.vernig@med.va.gov
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Malek Chatila [mailto:mc02@aub.edu.lb]
>Sent: Thursday, January 13, 2000 6:14 AM
>To: Multiple recipients of list
>Subject: 10CFR35.315 + your comment
>
>
>Dear Radsafers,
>
>I have a question concerning the release of hospital rooms that have been
>used by Iodine-131 patients (for therapeutic treatment) that I hope you can
>help me with.
>
>10 CFR 35.315, paragraph (7) states "Survey the patient's or the human
>research subject's room and private sanitary facility for removable
>contamination with a radiation detection survey instrument before assigning
>another patient or human research subject to the room.  The room must not
>be reassigned until removable contamination is less than 200
>disintegrations per minute per 100 square centimeter". 
>
>My interpretation of the above is that the limit of the removable
>contamination must be met even thus if the next patient who will be
>assigned the room is also an iodine patient undergoing therapeutic
>treatment.  Is this correct?
>
>I also would like to get your comment on the following:
>
>The hospital administration is thinking of dedicating a hospital room for
>only iodine patient.  Moreover, this room is in the middle of the hallway.
>I guess their thinking is that if the room is dedicated only to iodine
>patients, than they do not have to worry much about contamination levels
>and any special preparation for the room such as using absorbent papers to
>cover ....
>Do you think this is appropriate?  
>
>As always, thanks in advance for your assistance.
>
>Sincerely,
>
>Malek Chatila
>Health Physicist,
>Assistant RSO
>Environmental Health & Safety Center
>American University of Beirut
>Email: mc02@aub.edu.lb
>Fax: 961-1-749-198
>
>
>
>
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Dear Radsafers:

Sorry---I forgot to include my full name and e-mail address after my last
message.  By the way, in the draft (probably final) licensing nureg for
medical programs, the limit for removable contamination for I-125 and other
radionuclides has been reduced to 20 dpm/100 cm squared.....!

Ciao, Carol

Carol S. Marcus, Ph.D., M.D.
<csmarcus@ucla.edu>

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