RE:Medical waste held for decay

["Muldoon, Patrick" <patrick.muldoon@med.va.gov>]

"When a medical or research facility holds short-lived nuclides for 10
half-lives to decay, how much can still be left and still consider the
material "gone."  I would think that it should be completely gone to be gone
but isn't this impractical?  Is this nuclide specific?"

Don't forget that you also have to perform a survey to ensure that you have
no readings greater than background.  Occasionally, you will wait ten-half
lives and still be able to detect measurable levels of radiation.
Especially if someone threw away a large amount of isotope.  What stops you
from throwing it in the trash is a good survey. 

Patrick Muldoon
patrick.muldoon@med.va.gov
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