⁹⁰Y-Labeled Resin Microsphere Spills: A Pilot Study to Determine Efficient Cleanup Practices.

Area of Science:

• Nuclear medicine
• Radiopharmaceutical safety
• Radiation oncology

Background:

• 90Y-labeled resin microspheres (RMs) are used in selective internal radiation therapy.
• A recommended cleanup procedure exists for 90Y-RM contamination spills.
• A recent clinical incident prompted an investigation into the effectiveness of this procedure.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficiency of different cleaning procedures for 90Y-RM contamination.
• To compare the effectiveness of various cleaning methods against the recommended procedure.

Main Methods:

• Controlled spills of 90Y-RMs were created on vinyl tile flooring within contained areas.
• Three cleaning methods were tested: damp paper towels (recommended), adhesive paper, and a Swiffer Wet Mop (SWM).
• Geiger counter measurements determined pre- and post-cleaning radiation exposure; Kruskal-Wallis tests analyzed data.

Main Results:

• Both damp paper towels and the SWM were significantly more effective than adhesive paper (P < 0.001).
• No significant difference was found between the effectiveness of damp paper towels and the SWM (P = 0.6826).
• The variability in cleanup effectiveness did not differ between the damp paper towels and SWM methods (P = 0.2501).

Conclusions:

• Damp paper towels and the Swiffer Wet Mop provide equal decontamination for 90Y-RM spills.
• The SWM is a viable and effective alternative for cleaning up 90Y contamination.
• Findings support the use of SWM as an effective tool in managing radioactive contamination incidents.