Occupational exposure to 131I-a case study

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Radiopharmaceutical Safety
• Nuclear Medicine

Background:

• Accidental radioactive contamination poses risks in radiopharmaceutical manufacturing.
• Iodine-131 (I) is used in thyroid carcinoma treatment, necessitating strict handling protocols.

Purpose of the Study:

• To document and analyze a case of accidental Iodine-131 contamination in a laboratory setting.
• To assess the effectiveness of immediate decontamination procedures and evaluate the resulting radiation doses.

Main Methods:

• Routine monitoring and surface contamination measurements.
• Whole body counting for internal contamination assessment.
• Dose estimation for skin and thyroid gland.
• Cytogenetic analysis of peripheral lymphocytes.

Main Results:

• Estimated Iodine-131 activity on hand: 12 MBq, resulting in a superficial skin dose of 33 Gy.
• Thyroid gland uptake detected, leading to an estimated thyroid dose of 430 mGy.
• Transient skin effects (dryness, desquamation) and a slight elevation in chromosomal aberrations were noted.

Conclusions:

• Despite initial heavy contamination and high superficial skin dose, prompt action prevented severe long-term skin damage.
• Internalization of Iodine-131 to the thyroid gland occurred, highlighting the importance of comprehensive monitoring.
• Cytogenetic analysis suggests a biological response to the radiation exposure, warranting continued observation.