Tracking the origin...30-mCi rule, part 2

[DWhitfil@kdhe.state.ks.us]

E.H. Quimby helped prepare NBS Handbook 56 and if he (or any of the authors
below) was also on The Advisory Committee on Isotope Distribution of the
Atomic Energy Commission, the answer may lie with a reference cited in
Handbook 56:

L.D. Marinelli, E.H. Quimby, and G.J. Hine, Dosage  determination  with
radioactive isotopes. II. Practical considerations in therapy and
protection. Am J. Roentgenol. and Radium Therapy 59, 260 (1948).

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This is a note I sent to Dr. Siegel in reference to his article Tracking
the Origin of the NRC 30-mCi Rule that was in The Journal of Nuclear
Medicine in October (Vol. 41, No. 10).

I have been looking through some of our archival materials (NBS handbooks
from as early as 1938) and did find a reference that predates those cited
in your article. It is in NBS Handbook 56 dated October 1953 (Safe handling
of cadavers containing radioactive isotopes). From the General
considerations, page 2:

"The Advisory Committee on Isotope Distribution of the Atomic Energy
Commission advises  that all patients receiving large doses  of
radioisotopes  be hospitalized  until the isotope content is not more than
30 mC."

I'll look a little longer, but it may now be easier to track the origin as
the specific committee that came up with it is known.

DJWhitfill

Opinions expressed are mine and do not reflect official policies or
positions of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.

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