re: Feline I-131 Release Criteria

["David L. Wannigman" <DWannigman@lanl.gov>]

Our municipal landfill had an interesting experience about a year ago when 
all their portal radiation monitors alarmed in response to a city garbage 
truck.  The source of the radiation was kitty litter laced with I-131.  
When the family cat was returned to the owners following an 1-131 thyroid 
treatment, they were informed to hold on to the litter for a couple weeks 
to allow for decay.  Unfortunately, they forgot and sent along the excreta 
with their regular trash.   The local HAZMAT team responded to the alarms, 
identified the radiation source, and segregated the waste and all it had 
contaminated until it decayed.  It was the "hot" story around here for over 
a week!

------------------------------------------------
David Wannigman
Los Alamos National Lab
e-mail:  dwannigman@lanl.gov
Phone:  (505) 667-0980
Fax:  (505) 667-1009