Re: crosspost: OEM: Carcinoid tumour of thymus / radioisotope exposure

[b.mckavanagh@cqu.edu.au (Byron McKavanagh)]

Louis:

 He was exposed to the following agents:
>
>>Iridium-192          10-20 mcuries       (seldom used)
>
>>Cesium-137             3 curies          (used 4-5 times/year)
>
>>Ammerisium-berylium    3-5 curies        (used everytime a well was
>>                                         logged, approximately 150-
>>                                         200 times/yr)
>>
>>Iodine-131             20 mcuries         (In liquid form, 100
>>                                          times/yr)
>
>>    He describes the workers attitude towards radioactive hazards as
>>"cavalier".  They used no protection whatsoever.  Isotopes would
>>spill on clothing, blow into their faces etc.  They would store them
>>in the trucks to prevent freezing.  When the patient took a safety
>>course on radioisotopes, he recognized the danger and quit this line
>>of work!