Re: seeds recovered at TURP procedures -Reply -Reply

[Kathleen Kaufman <KKAUFMAN@dhs.co.la.ca.us>]

They were radiopharmaceuticals, but I've been told that the seeds will
probably respond similarly during cremation. My only point was to be
cautious re presuming it's OK to cremate..

>>> Chris Alston <alstonc@odrge.odr.georgetown.edu> 08/31/99
10:04am >>>
Kathleen

Your article sounds interesting and, potentially, very useful, but, I'm not
so sure that this is the right context. The nuclides you describe were,
likeliest, given to the patient as radiopharmaceuticals. The RAM in
prostate (and other permanent) implants is sealed inside the titanium
seeds.

Regards
cja
alstonc@odrge.odr.georgetown.edu

P.S. If you could find the time to fax me a copy of your article, I'd be
indebted. (202)687-5046. Thanks in advance, or in any event.

At 05:37 PM 8/30/99 -0500, you wrote:
>You might want to take a look @ the article in RSO Magazine Jan/Feb '97
>co-written by me & Barbara Hamrick discussing the results of three
>incidents where we measured the retort after cremation. None involved
>I-125 seeds, but it's probably still applicable. We found really high levels
>of contamination (4.2 million dpm/100cm2) for P-32. Also discusses 
>Ga-67 & Sr-89 measurements. It appears that this stuff is NOT going up
>the stack as some had predicted....
>kkaufman@dhs.co.la.ca.us

************************************************************************
The RADSAFE Frequently Asked Questions list, archives and
subscription
information can be accessed at
http://www.ehs.uiuc.edu/~rad/radsafe.html

************************************************************************
The RADSAFE Frequently Asked Questions list, archives and subscription
information can be accessed at http://www.ehs.uiuc.edu/~rad/radsafe.html