RE: Article: How I set off the subway radiation meter

[Jack_Earley@RL.GOV]

Daren Perrero wrote:



<<The most impressive portion of the news story, IMHO, is the fact that the

policeman knew the right question to ask and knew that the radiation level

wasn't a threat.>>



But only because we're in this country. Since she had no documentation

(subsequently offered by the radiology department), she could have been

creating the bone scan story and gotten away w/ a terrorist act or illegal

transportation. I think some other countries might have responded

differently. We tend to demand privileges as though they were rights--people

like me who got somewhat sarcastic when the airport inspector confiscated my

one inch sewing kit scissors last night before I boarded a plane. I'm sure I

wouldn't say that ("Fine--whatever makes you happy") aloud anywhere else. 



Jack Earley

Radiological Engineer





-----Original Message-----

From: Perrero, Daren [mailto:Perrero@IDNS.STATE.IL.US]

Sent: Friday, February 01, 2002 7:15 AM

To: RadSafe

Subject: RE: Article: How I set off the subway radiation meter





Bill, John, et al.



The most impressive portion of the news story, IMHO, is the fact that the

policeman knew the right question to ask and knew that the radiation level

wasn't a threat.





The thoughts expressed are mine, mine, all mine!

I'm with the government, I'm here to help........

Daren Perrero, Health Physicist

perrero@idns.state.il.us





-----Original Message-----

From: Jacobus, John (OD/ORS) [mailto:jacobusj@ors.od.nih.gov]

Sent: Friday, February 01, 2002 8:46 AM

To: RadSafe

Subject: RE: Article: How I set off the subway radiation meter





Bill,

If you look at Reg Guide 8.39, which gives guidance on release criteria for

patients.  A patient may be released if they have received 760 mCi of Tc-99m

(Yes, the number is 760)  The corresponding dose rate is 58 mrem/hr at one

meter.  Instructions on precautions are required if the patient received

over 150 mCi of Tc-99m and is being released.  Since most nuclear medicine

scans are around 5 to 25 mCi of Tc-99m, patients are never help for "decay."





As you say, and I agree with:

It's not about dose, it's about trust.

Let's look at the real problem, for a change.



-- John 

John Jacobus, MS

Certified Health Physicist 

3050 Traymore Lane

Bowie, MD  20715-2024



E-mail:  jenday1@email.msn.com (H)      



-----Original Message-----

From: William V Lipton [mailto:liptonw@dteenergy.com]

Sent: Friday, February 01, 2002 8:03 AM

To: Jacobus, John (OD/ORS)

Cc: RadSafe

Subject: Re: Article: How I set off the subway radiation meter





Presently 10 CFR 35.75(b) requires written instructions to released nuc med

patients only if the expected dose is likely to exceed 0.1 rem.  I assume

that this patient was under the regulatory threshold.



IMHO, this requirement should apply to ALL nuc med patients, due to the

situation described, here.

. . .

************************************************************************



************************************************************************

You are currently subscribed to the Radsafe mailing list. To unsubscribe,

send an e-mail to Majordomo@list.vanderbilt.edu  Put the text "unsubscribe

radsafe" (no quote marks) in the body of the e-mail, with no subject line.

You can view the Radsafe archives at http://www.vanderbilt.edu/radsafe/

************************************************************************

You are currently subscribed to the Radsafe mailing list. To unsubscribe,

send an e-mail to Majordomo@list.vanderbilt.edu  Put the text "unsubscribe

radsafe" (no quote marks) in the body of the e-mail, with no subject line. You can view the Radsafe archives at http://www.vanderbilt.edu/radsafe/