2nd verse: Medical Waste in CA

[ehsnet!hps (HPS)]

Reply-to: Wes.Dunn@p2.f13.n233.z1.fidonet.org (Wes Dunn)
Fido-To: hps

(Sorry, I'm a touch typist, so I forget to force carraige returns 
let me know if this works any better - Wes)

Yes, it is a screwy situation.  Makes one wonder what CA is thinking 
of, since the medical facility can release patients with up to 30 
mCi.  That patient can piss where they please, and the waste goes 
wherever.  Note also that thispatient can be released from the 
licensed authorization and remain in the facility (or another).  The 
facility isn't required to worry about the waste, but may find it 
hard to prove.

My guess is someone got a bright idea during the contretemps about GL 
devices ending up as scrap metal being melted down.  These places are 
advised to get detectors, since 500 mCi of Cs-137 isn't something to 
ignore.  So if that's a good idea, what about medical incinerators, 
without realizing that almost all medical waste is short-lived.

However, I must toss in the caveat that Metastron (Sr-89), with its 
50 day half life starts to through out some of the old 
considerations.  The CRCPD (State Radiation Control Program 
Directors) proposed revision to the Part G (Medical) might end up 
causing plenty of grief to the medical licensees.  They are 
considering removing the "30 mCi or 5 mR/hr" medical release criteria 
to match the more stringent NCRP 37 guidelines (no more than 500 mrem 
to any member of the public).  I would be remiss not to point out 
that CRCPD Suggested State Regulations (SSR) can have grave inpact on 
your program if you are in an Agreement State, especially the smaller 
ones who tend to merely reprint the SSR verbatim.

My guess is the proposed Part G is intended to be presented at the 
May CRCPD meeting.  You might want to ingratiate yourself with your 
state regulatory program and get a copy.  It's about 60 pages.  

(A lot of stuff passes my desk that I have to review and comment on, 
and, believe it or not, even regulators can have too much work to 
do.  Forgive me for losing track and not bringing some of this to 
your attention)


Wes



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