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What You Need To Know About Radioactive Medical Waste

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Radioisotopes, which are useful for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes, are used in the majority of healthcare facilities. However, the approach tends to generate radioactive medical waste, which can have negative repercussions for persons as well as the environment if improperly disposed of. With that said, let us check out everything you need to know about radioactive medical waste.Deeper

Definition of Radioactive Medical Waste

Radioactive waste is a by-product of some medical procedures including radiation procedures, technologies that involve nuclear medicine, or any other oncology method of treatment.

This waste emits radioactive elements commonly referred to as radionuclides, which are considered hazardous.In medical facilities, there are numerous sources of radioactive waste including personal protective equipment, medical equipment, clothing, and most biological materials. In this case, radioactive medical waste should be disposed of appropriately since the radionuclide particles can either linger for a few seconds or a thousand years.Handling and Disposing Of Radioactive Medical WasteIt is never a good idea to dispose of radioactive medical waste in a standard trash bin. Instead, take the following actions:

● Keep similar radioactive waste in one marked container.
● Ensure that the containers are securely shut before getting them disposed of by authorized personnel.Depending on the type, some radioactive medical waste can be left to decay naturally whilst being accompanied by appropriate tracking information. Moreover, you can first immobilize radioactive particles before eradicating them safely or use the incineration method.

Conclusion

Radioactive waste is one of the most hazardous by-products in medical facilities and should therefore be discarded by a professional. Even low levels of this waste can cause harm to healthy subjects