RE: Plutonium-238-containing cardiac pacemakers -Reply

[Karin Gordon <KGordon@exchange.HSC.MB.CA>]

 I have observed a number of cremations at two crematoria  and most
metallic objects (mattress springs, coffin screws, hinges, artificial
hip and knee joints, etc.) are manually removed from the combusted
material.  They  drag a large hand-held magnet through the cremains to
collect the smaller metallic items that are not visibly apparent.  The
reason is that metal objects passing through the bone grinder damage it
or shorten its working life (pun intended).  Just how large is one of
these pacemakers and would the metallic parts of it be attracted to a
magnet??

Karin 
*****************************************************
Karin Gordon
Radiation Safety Officer
Health Sciences Centre
GC214 - 820 Sherbrook Street,
Winnipeg, Manitoba
CANADA R3A 1R9

phone (204) 787-2903
fax      (204) 787-1313
e-mail  kgordon@hsc.mb.ca    



>----------
>From: 	jack bell[SMTP:bellstar@erols.com]
>Sent: 	Thursday, May 27, 1999 10:05 PM
>To: 	Multiple recipients of list
>Subject: 	Re: Plutonium-238-containing cardiac pacemakers -Reply
>
>I believe that there has been at least one case of the cremation of a
>"nuclear powered" pacemaker.  As I recall, the Pu was completely
>contained within the pacemaker. This result would have been expected on
>the basis of a test cremation performed during the NRC's licensing
>process.
>
>The cremation per se may not present the greatest challenge to the
>containment of the Pu.  It is common practice to run the remains (bones,
>teeth, ashes, pacemaker) through a grinder following the cremation.
>
>Needless to say, it behooves all concerned, including the crematorium,
>to keep track of the patients with implanted pacemakers.
>
>                               Jack Bell, bellstar@erols.com
>
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