Contaminated Hosp Pipes

["A. Hancock" <a.hancock@s1.cxwms.ac.uk>]

Many thanks to all of you who responded to my iodine-131 in pipes query.

Yes we have labelled the pipes as a potential hazard. We have also 
written guidance into local safety rules regarding the pipes. Moving down 
the building was considered as too expensive.

We have now successfully purged one of the affected pipes. Before the 
next appropriate patient we will try the inactive iodine to bind and 
block possible contamination sites.

I also agree that the potential doses from this external radiation 
source are very small indeed, and because of this we have dismissed the 
shielding option, so far.

However..........our Estates and Maintenance people tell me that these 
pipes are prone to cracking, splitting, and leaking. Have I got a 
potentially serious contamination incident on my hands.......? (they 
think so, they also would like to know why 24yrs ago when the hospital 
openned they were not made aware of this source of radiation in their 
pipes!)

I may well wish to pick your brains again on a related subject in the 
future - when do we allow I-131 therapy patients to leave hoapital, and 
how do we determine this. I am a little worried about present UK 
guidance.

Regards

Andy H 
a.hancock@cxwms.ac.uk
Charing X Hosp

P.S. do e-mail addresses bother you as to location, well
cxwms = Charing Cross & Westminster Medical School, so there!