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RE: Criteria for release of cats that received I-131 therapy



Lorna,



I urge you to  instruct the owners of patient cats to retain kitty litter

for decay prior to disposal.  In the last week I have responded to two

portal monitor alarms at municipal waste transfer stations that turned out

to be bags of I-131 contaminated kitty litter, presumably from veterinary

procedures.  I can also tell you that transfer station operators are very

interested in identifying the household responsible for the radioactive

waste so that they can be appropriately billed for the cost of the response,

typically $1500 plus idle time for equipment that has to be taken out of

service.  While the regulations on the use of radioactive material either

exempt or do not specifically regulate the disposal of excreta, those who

regulate municipal waste treat this as an unauthorized disposal of hazardous

material.



George J. Vargo, Ph.D., CHP

Senior Scientist

MJW Corporation

http://www.mjwcorp.com

610-925-3377

610-925-5545 (fax)

vargo@physicist.net





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

From: owner-radsafe@list.vanderbilt.edu

[mailto:owner-radsafe@list.vanderbilt.edu] On Behalf Of Lorna Hubble

Sent: Friday, April 09, 2004 11:07 AM

To: radsafe@list.vanderbilt.edu

Cc: nld2@CORNELL.EDU

Subject: Criteria for release of cats that received I-131 therapy





Hi all,



We are wondering what criteria other vet nuclear medicine facilities are 

being held to in terms of release of cats that have received I-131 

therapy.  We are held to a minimum stay time (5 days), a maximum dose rate 

at a foot from the thyroid (0.5 mrem/h) and a maximum activity remaining in 

the cat (200 uCi).  We would also like to know what regulatory agency is 

involved with that criteria.  Please respond directly to me, unless you 

feel that the whole group would be interested.  Thank you in advance for 

your input.  It will be greatly appreciated.



Lorna



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

Lorna Hubble                    Phone:  (607) 255-8816

Radiological Safety Specialist  Fax:  (607) 255-8267

Cornell University                      mailto:ljb1@cornell.edu

Department of Environmental Health and Safety

Laboratory and Radiation Safety Section

125 Humphreys Service Building,  Ithaca, NY  14853

http://www.ehs.cornell.edu/

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