Re: Decay in Storage of Aque

["Mike Bohan" <mike.bohan@yale.edu>]

        Reply to:   RE>Decay in Storage of Aqueous Waste

Have you considered one of the commericially available glutaraldehyde
disinfectant solutions like CIDEX.  As long as it doesn't chemically react with
the wastes, it might do the job.

I think we used to use sodium azide for out I-131 Rx urine collections years
ago, with great results after 80+ days of decay in storage.  As long as you kill
everything off at the beginning and retain a good seal on the container until
disposal, the wastes should remain sterile.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><
Michael J. Bohan, RSO   |  e-mail: mike.bohan@yale.edu
Yale-New Haven Hospital |    Tele: (203) 785-2950
Radiological Physics    |     FAX: (203) 737-4252
20 York St. - WWW 204   |    As usual, everything I say may be plausibly
New Haven, CT    06504  |    denied at my employer's convenience ...
><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>


--------------------------------------
Date: 25/06/97 2:18 PM
To: Mike Bohan
From: radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu
  We are about to start our own decay in storage of short lived isotopes.
While trying to think of everything before we start, we realized we may have
a problem with aqueous waste. That is, it can start to grow things REAL fast
which might lead to Environmental Health issues at the back end. Since I-125
in involved, adding bleach when the waste is collected is not an option.
Azide is not complete enough to stop all growth (and acid conditions that
might result would make this an added hazard). Colleagues in a similar
situation were told to "clean up their act" but with no assistance as to
HOW. What do people out there use to stop bacterial growth while waiting for
the isotopes to decay?

Thanks for any useful suggestions.

Naomi Esmon
Chair, Radiation Safety Committee
Okla. Medical Res. Fndn.

naomi-esmon@omrf.ouhsc.edu