I-131 treated pets (cat)

[Lester.Slaback@nist.gov]

There was some discussion a while back about vetinary use of I-131, and
release criteria.  Here is a bit more info, something different from the
usual controversial topics .......

I had the opportunity to survey a friend's home following treatment of his
22 year old male cat.  I have not gotten the administered dose yet.
  Cat was released after 5 days (dosed Mon, released Sat).
  Kitty litter from first use : 350 uCi (corrected to day of release)
  Fecal sample at 7 days post release : 6.8 uCi

  Dose rate at 30 cm from cat : 0.8 rem/h      at +7 days release
  Dose rate at contact, gut   : 4 mrem/h
  Dose rate contact, neck     : 3 mrem/h
I do not yet know the form of the iodine so this body retention may not be
unusual.  I expected the thyroid to be the higher number after almost 2
weeks.

Most interesting was the almost complete absense of speadable
contamination. The smear directly outside the entrance to the litter box
was 0. I found one spot on one stair step of 160 dpm, and one other of 63
dpm. Otherwise zilch.  Nothing on other high traffic areas.  Nothing on
adjacent steps to the one that was positive.  While there might be other
isolated 'high' spots clearly nothing is being tracked around.
I guess cats are effective at self-decon techniques.

Several sleeping spots showed small spots of activity (400 cpm, 4000 cpm,
11000 cpm on a pancake GM), probably from drooling or fluid leakage (after
all, many older males have this sort of problem).

Overall, not any problems.  Interesting. Since other than one notable site
 most reactor facilities do not have in-house cats this might provide
critical data for someone's justification process.

The vet has a web site at www.radiocat.com with some non-technical care
and decision info for cat owners.

-- 
the above are the personal musing of the author,
and do not represent any past, current, or future
position of NIST, the U.S. Government, or anyone else
who might think that they are in a position of authority.
NBSR Health Physics
NIST
Gaithersburg, MD 20899
301 975-5810
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Lester.Slaback@nist.gov
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