Situation of safety and protection of personnel’s in diagnostic laboratories in relation to radioactive Iodine

Mehrdad R1, Hosseini AR2 1. Assistant professor, Department of occupational medicine, Faculty of medicine, Tehran University of medical sciences 2. Resident, Department of occupational medicine, Faculty of medicine, Tehran University of medical sciences Abstract Background: Iodin (I) 125 is one of the radioactive materials that is used in medical laboratories for hormonal evaluation in radioimmunoassay (RIA) method. In many laboratories sume of personnel are exposed to I125. When one of the staff is exposed to I125, especially internal exposure, there is concern about ionizing radiation effects. Therefore preventive measures against these hazards are required. Materials and methods: The present study was carried out in 13 medical laboratories in Qazvin city and 51 employees in autumn 2004.We used a safety checklist that filled by researcher at the field of laboratory.Fitness for work (FFW) assessment was done through paraclinic history (CBC, TSH) familial history of malignancy (first and secoundry family) and eventually physical examination. Results: From all personel 82% used appropriate gloves and 61% avoided drinking, eating, smoking and cosmetic use in work place. 90% decontaminated working surfaces immediately and 94% washed hands at the end of tests. All of them were exposed to open vials that can potentially generate aerosols. Absorbent coverages on working surfaces were used only by 2% of employees and 54% used appropriate local ventilation (hood). Preemployment examinations (for FFW) and periodic medical surveillance weren done at all. Conclusion: In the laboratories which we studied personnel protective measures was better than administrative controls, and it is expected that the conditions will be better by training of personnel and managers, and seriously auditing laboratories.