Deactivation of Biohazardous Waste

["Mel Young" <young@u.arizona.edu>]

I have a problem on which I am seeking advice.  We have revised the
procedural postings that we have posted in rad materials labs at the
University of Arizona.  While reviewing the "Rules for Packaging Radioactive
Waste", it became apparent that the manner in which we had previously
addressed deactivation of infectious waste was poorly done.

The primary problem was that general guidance could be poor advice in
certain situations.  I have revised the deactivation requirement to
reference the University's Biosafety Handbook, which was published earlier
this year.  I also included a reminder about the problems associated with
autoclaving S-35 and radioiodine contaminated materials.  We also require
Approval Holders (PI's) to specify in their applications to our Committee
whether they work with infectious materials and how they deactivate
material.  I plan to re-work this aspect of the application process.

Basically I have no problem requiring deactivation of pathogenic waste in
any form other than scintillation waste.  We require LSC vials to be
provided to us tightly capped and either upright in flats (boxes) or in
polyethylene pails.  Deactivation of vials is impractical.  But we do have a
few labs who re-use vials and give us bulk cocktail.

What about the bulk cocktail?   Of course, the simple approach, which just
came to me, is to refuse to accept bulk cocktail from labs working with
infectious material.  Our people use every cocktail known to mankind, much
of it biodegradable.  Can infectious materials survive in any cocktail?
Since the amount of material in each vial would likely be very small, it
this a non-problem?  I don't feel at all comfortable with this position.  Of
course, another option would be to wear additional protection while handling
infectious waste?  But then, I don't want to ship problem material out for
others to handle later (incineration).

I have referred this problem to our Institutional Biosafety Committee, but
am interested in your comments as well.  Please respond to me privately at
young@u.arizona.edu or through RADSAFE, as you wish.

Thanks.

Melvin C. Young, Ph.D.
Senior Compliance Specialist
and Deputy Radiation Safety Officer
University of Arizona

(520) 626-5777 Voice
(520) 626-2583 FAX




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