RE: I-131 Therapeutic Waste

[gfeldman@uci.edu (Gerald Feldman)]

Peter:

We've tried Betadine (the most common iodine based disinfectant) without too 
much success (although, it does turn the porcelain a nice brownish-orange 
color).  What does seem to work, however, is to cover the rim of the bowl 
with self sticking plastic wrap and let it drape into the bowl a couple of 
inches.  The unglazed portion under the rim is protected from contamination 
and the toilet flushes just fine.  My tech started doing this and it works!  


.........................reply separator............................ 
> 
>Thought I'd share a "trick".  I have found I-131 contamination comes
>up off of the floor pretty easy if you can arrange for your house keep-
>ing staff to wax it just prior to papering it and admission of the
>patient.
> 
>Somebody at a VA Conference once told me about a product that could be
>applied to the under side of the toilet which, invariably gets cont-
>aminated, prior to the patient using it and would "fill up the iodine
>holes in the porcelain..." I assume that was with iodine but it's been
>a few years now.  I never managed to get back in touch with the person
>nor was I able to figure out what it was.  I have the vague idea it might
>have been an iodine based disinfectant of some kind.
> 
>Does anybody out there in Radsafe Land know of this or a similar trick
>to keep the I-131 out of the unglazed porcelain under the lip of a toilet?
>Inquiring minds want to know!->
> 
>REGARDS, Peter Vernig RSO, VA Med Center, Denver 
>vernig.peter@forum.va.gov
> 
> 
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>VA Medical Center, 1055 Clermont St. MS 115 - DISCLAIMER
>Denver, CO 80220; 303-399-8020 x2447 FAX 393-4656 Opinions = Mine
>FAX 303-393-4656, vernig.peter@forum.va.gov Opinions =/ VA or USA
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>
>
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  Gerald Feldman, M.S.
  Radiation Safety Officer
  UCI Medical Center
  101 City Drive South, Rt. 107
  Orange, California  92668
  Voice:  (714) 456-5607;     FAX:  (714) 634-8639
  E-mail: gfeldman@uci.edu
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