More radioactive debris turning up in garbage [View All]

[struggle4progress]

By ROB RYSER
THE JOURNAL NEWS

Low levels of a radioactive substance used to treat thyroid cancer, known as iodine-131, are tripping alarms at garbage collection plants in Westchester County about twice as often as they did last year, officials said yesterday.

There have been 11 cases in 2005, compared to 10 cases in all of 2004, according to County Executive Andrew Spano, who is calling on physicians to leave better instructions with patients about throwing out personal-care products once they go home.

It was not clear yesterday precisely where the radioactive garbage was coming from, although a county spokeswoman said it was almost entirely personal products used by patients.

"These products include soiled tissue paper, sanitary napkins, adult diapers and other products used to absorb body fluids that are still radioactive," said spokeswoman Wasi Talib in a prepared statement. <snip>

http://www.thejournalnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050426/NEWS02/504260336/1018/NEWS02