Speaker
Description
Medical application of radioactive isotopes in nuclear medicine is gaining popularity in Kenya. Kenyatta University Teaching Research and Referral Hospital (KUTRRH), which is one of the national hospitals in Kenya, is currently using radioactive isotopes such as Flourine-18(F-18) from the installed cyclotron within the hospital, technetium-99m (Tc-99m), Iodine-131(I-131) and Iridiam-192 (Ir-192) for diagnostic and therapeutic applications. This paper demonstrates the hospital’s approach in integrating safety and sustainability in managing radioactive waste generated in Nuclear Medicine Department. The hospital has in place Radiation Protection System, Air Compressing Station and Liquid Waste System that guarantees safe and sustainable disposal of unused radioactive material and objects contaminated with it. The installed Radiation Protection System provides real time monitoring of radioactivity levels in the facility and in ventilation exhaust. The Air Compressing Station collects and stores radioactive air from inside hot cells and fume hoods during radiopharmaceutical production. Once the stored radioactive air has decayed, it is discharged in the extraction conduit of the laboratory general ventilation. The automated Liquid Waste System allows collection of radioactive liquid waste from the hot toilets and hot sinks into decay tanks. This system controls a three-ports valve and water supply and informs staff on radioactive liquid status of tank level, radiation level and valve position. For RAW in the form of vials, syringes, needles, cotton swabs, contaminated gloves, and absorbent materials which are low level waste and with short half-lives are stored in lead shielded containers in designated radioactive waste rooms for a minimum period of about 10 half-lives until the residual activity attains background radiation for disposal.
