Re: I-131 MCA Patient Room Decon

[John Harvey <harveyj@mcmail.CIS.McMaster.CA>]

As a former chemist, I would like to suggest that Clorox may not be a 
wise choice. Surely this will oxidize the iodide to elemental iodine and 
release it to the room air. This may be a good way to clean up the toilet 
bowl, but it doesn't do much for the room air, walls, etc. Try a reducing 
agent, say sodium thiosulphate in a mildly basic NaOH solution.


=======================================================================
John Harvey                            | McMaster University
Senior Health Physicist                | NRB-110
(905) 525-9140 ext 24226               | 1280 Main St. W.
harveyj@mcmail.cis.mcmaster.ca         | Hamilton, Ont Canada L8S 4K1

On Tue, 13 Feb 1996 MCAMPBELL@healthsafe.uab.edu wrote:

> Our patient load has increased to the point to where we are seeking ways 
> to radiologically release our treatment rooms faster after the patient 
> has been released. We are primarily having problems with the toilet and 
> sink traps. We advise the patient to flush the toilet 3 times after use 
> and to rinse the sink for 30-45 seconds after use.We currently allow 
> Chlorox to remain in the bowl overnight. Is there any other methods we 
> might try or is anyone out there using any chemical means to expedite 
> cleanup. We currently allow Chlorox to remain in the bowl overnight.
> Mark E. Campbell
> Health Physicist Supervisor
> Radiation Safety Division
> University of Alabama at Birmingham
> 445 Community Health Services Building
> 933 South 19th Street
> Birmingham, AL. 35294-2041
> (205) 934-9345 - FAX (205) 934-7487
>