Current News Archive

Bryan Lemieux, MS, CHP, DABMP, Section President

Dear Colleagues,

I am writing you again to share some supplemental information for your consideration. Regarding the specific topic of our previous note, feedback has been shared with the Medical Health Physics Section board that members should be cautioned to evaluate the radiation safety repercussions resultant from using gamma or x-ray irradiation, specifically in terms of facility shielding and workload, where applicable. This consideration is, of course, in addition to any regulatory relief that may be needed if you have a facility capable of treating product to the necessary doses.

In addition, I would like to point out that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated its website to include the COVID-19 contingency and crisis capacity guidance "Decontamination and Reuse of Filtering Facepiece Respirators." Irradiation using ionizing radiation is not currently listed by CDC (as of this writing it has been removed from the presented data).

One of the top three options recommended is the use of UV-C radiation to treat respirators. This has been validated in numerous studies, common references for which can be found at the CDC site. I note this particular method because the assessment of UVR risk, measurement of UV radiation, and design of safety practices is something that falls within the general portfolio of health physics, and some of us have relevant expertise in this area. As always, recall that we are all bound by the Health Physics Society Code of Ethics, which advises that we should each be judge of our competence in areas of practice and should not undertake any assignment beyond our individual abilities.

As a reminder, there are recommended exposure limits for workers published by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists; however, a review of the UV safety standards published by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection may be useful. Note that UV-C intensities suitable for sterilization present a real safety hazard for exposed staff and may readily result in skin or corneal burns. Some organizations with little experience in the use of these devices will no doubt be working to obtain them for use in the current environment, and some devices have minimal safety features. If we encounter this, we should encourage them to engage the appropriate safety professionals.