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Re: radiopharmaceuticals



There's so much that can be written here.  Should you need any further
guidance, may I recommend contacting a consultant such as Syncor.  As
always, contact your regulator for assitance.

The general liabilities and challenges for control of the
radiopharmaceuticals will depend upon the studies which will be
performed.  For instance, will there be cardiac, lung, bone, renal
studies?  The characteristics and usages of the radiopharmaceuticals
dictate the appropriate radiological control program.  With a proper
radiation protection program, the liabilities will be greatly limited.

According to your e-mail, this will be a doctor's office instead of a
radiopharmacy.  I would advise against placing a radiopharmacy in such a
location.  At any rate, all will depend upon the radioactive materials
license application to your regulating agency.  The agency will be
responsible for the review of the location and configuration of the
facility.

Inhalation studies utilizing Xenon-133 and I-131 will be of the greatest
concern.  In these cases, a negatively pressured imaging room is
required with a dedicated exhaust system.

The next concern will be adequate shielding for the radiopharmaceuticals
and radioactive waste in storage.  The storage should also be located as
far away as possible from adjacent occupied spaces.

The primary radiopharmaceuticals are the Technetium-99m variants.  The
half-life of Tc-99m is 6 hours, so contamination is easier to control
because it decays away so quickly.  Except for Xenon-133 and Iodine
volatiles, contamination from radiopharmaceuticals is localized and
therefore very easy to control.  Since this will be a doctor's office,
capsulized Iodine-131 and Iodine-123 will probably be delivered daily
and used that same day.  As such, minimal ventilation will be required.

A strong radiation protection program is required by NRC and Agreement
State regulations.  This includes a radiation safety committee composed
of the Radiation Safety Officer, doctors, and a member of the nursing
staff.  The RSO will be required to ensure adequate control of the
radioactive material, contamination, radiation, waste, and doses to
members of the general public.

Stan Fitch
stanley_fitch@nmenv.state.nm.us
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