Trash problems from kitty radiation: Vet treatment likely contaminationcause

[Susan Gawarecki <loc@icx.net>]

Trash problems from kitty radiation: Vet treatment likely contamination 

cause

http://ledger.southofboston.com/articles/2004/12/01/news/news03.txt

By KAREN GOULART

The Patriot Ledger



DUXBURY - Radioactive kitty litter is the reason a load of Duxbury trash 

was too hot to handle for an incinerator, according to state health 

inspectors.



Duxbury Fire Chief Kevin Nord, the town's emergency management director, 

said the tainted cat droppings and filler have been isolated and are not 

a danger to public health.



Nord said an inspector from the Department of Public Health determined 

yesterday a cat that had some kind of radiation treatment is likely the 

source. The radiation was enough to register over the acceptable level 

on SEMASS measuring devices at the incinerator in Rochester.



‘‘Our belief is whatever animal that kitty litter came from probably had 

some medical tests done,'' Nord said. ‘‘Radio isotopes probably passed 

from the animal into the kitty litter and that's what set it off.''



When the trailer load of trash was tested on Saturday, the radiation 

level was 0.155 millirems. The incinerator will not accept anything over 

0.050 millirems. The average American is exposed to about 360 millirems 

per year.



It takes a cat about two weeks to rid itself of radioactive material 

received from radiation treatment.



Veterinarians are required to instruct pet owners on how to care for the 

animal after treatment. That includes either flushing the cat waste or 

keeping it stored in a sealed container for 80 days, the time required 

for half of the radioactive atoms to disintegrate.



Nord said a pet owner either did not get the instructions or ignored them.



The situation at the incinerator was handled properly by everyone 

involved, he said.



‘‘In the future, the town might look to invest in some type of measuring 

device to detect this kind of thing before it goes in the hopper so we 

don't waste a day sifting through rubbish,'' Nord said.



The filler will stay in an isolated metal container at the Duxbury 

transfer station for 80 days, by which time it is expected that the 

radiation will drop to an acceptable level. It will then go back to 

Rochester.



Having trash turned away because of radiation levels is not particularly 

uncommon. Three loads were turned away last weekend for having too much 

radioactive material, Nord said.



Toxic cat box filler isn't all that uncommon, either. In 2002, a Whitman 

cat owner improperly tossed tainted filler and was found out when mail 

with his name on it was found in the same trash bag. The owner admitted 

his mistake and reimbursed the town the $2,800 it cost to deal with the 

waste.



Karen Goulart may be reached at kgoulart@ledger.com.

Wednesday, December 01, 2004



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