RE: medical waste

["George J. Vargo" <vargo@physicist.net>]

John,



Add I-123 to the list, as it can be contaminated by up to 10% I-124, which

used to cause me problems with people getting through portal monitors, even

though all of the activity was supposed to have been eliminated.  The techs

at the local imaging center were either unaware of or unwilling to admit to

the presence of the contaminant and all but blamed it on an accidental

occupational exposure.



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 John Jacobus

Sent: Saturday, August 21, 2004 5:53 PM

To: Shawn Hughes (Road); radsafe-digest@list.vanderbilt.edu

Subject: re: medical waste





There are a number of medical tests and treatments

that leave patients radioactive for weeks, if not

months.  These include any implantation of radioactive

seeds, i.e., I-125. Pd-109, or Au-198, I-131

treatments for cancer or hyperthyroidism, and Tl-201

heart scans.

 

--- "Shawn Hughes (Road)" <srh@esper.com> wrote:



> This has been enlightening to me. It occurred to

> me.....   From a 

> regulatory standpoint, I believe they wouldn't be

> trying to prosecute the

> individual as a licensee. They would prosecute at

> the state (potentially 

> the Federal) level just like if the person was

> unlawfully dumping any other 

> waste stream considered hazardous. Dunno about your

> areas, but I live near 

> Oak Ridge. They don't want you dumping tree limbs

> over 4 foot long. ;)

> 

> I can imagine what it would be like if a private

> municipal waste handler

> here had to spend a few man-days (not hours)

> bringing the dump back into 

> compliance after a load tested hot. Someone would be

> paying. I think that 

> the dump would want to keep the hospital as a

> defendant, because they have 

> deeper pockets, but the saving grace would be in

> their policy and what they 

> gave to the patient in writing in reference to how

> to handle their wastes 

> and potentially contaminated items. Whether they

> would collect or not, I 

> suspect, would depend a great deal on how the local

> media spun the issue.

> 

> I wasn't aware there were medical therapies that

> caused the patient to

> remain active for a week.

> 

> -Shawn

> 

> >Enough on this thread.

> >PVE

> 

>

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=====

+++++++++++++++++++

"Everyone is ignorant, only on different subjects."

Will Rogers



-- John

John Jacobus, MS

Certified Health Physicist

e-mail:  crispy_bird@yahoo.com





		

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