Radioactive Waste
Pathological Radioactive Waste Packaging & Disposal
Pathological radioactive wastes include: contaminated animal carcasses, organs, blood, tissue, urine, feces, bedding, etc.
- Pathological wastes must be completely frozen to be accepted by OSEH personnel.
- Remove all sharps (e.g. needles, razors, scalpels, etc.) and metallic objects from carcasses before freezing and subsequent OSEH collection.
- Radioactive blood, tissue, urine, etc. must be made innocuous or rendered non-toxic prior to OSEH collection (e.g. bleach, detergent, other methods). WARNING: Radioiodines or other volatile radionuclides may become airborne when bleach is added.
- Double-bag animal carcasses in strong (4 mil) plastic bags.
- Outer bag or wrapper should be a yellow opaque bag available from OSEH.
- Contact OSEH for authorization to use the walk-in freezer located in MSRB-II (Rm A592). Key-use required for entry.
- OSEH must be notified in writing should an Authorized User desire to store radioactive pathological material in an animal freezer under the authorization of another individual or department.
- Contact OSEH if a radioactive storage freezer is filled to capacity, breaks down, or otherwise becomes ineffective in completely freezing animal carcasses, blood, etc.
- Attach OSEH provided yellow waste tag with the following instruction: radionuclide(s), activity of each radionuclide (µCi), chemical or biohazardous material (if applicable), date packaged, description of waste (e.g. rats, dog, mice, pig, bedding, blood, feces, etc.), names of contact person and Authorized User, and phone number(s).
- Do not dispose of plastic cages as pathological waste. (Note: empty contents of animal cages into pathological waste bags or 4 mil thick plastic bags and decontaminate cages).
- Do not discard pathological wastes into yellow waste drum.
- Do not freeze pathological wastes in glass containers. (Note: use plastic only).
- Do not discard metal objects (e.g. needles, scalpels, cans, etc.) with pathological material or animal carcasses.
- Do not discard (≥ 5.0 mCi of I-125 and/or I-131 in a single bag or container of pathological waste.
