VETERINARY I-131 Use With Cats

Iodine-131 is volatile and is heavier than air.  When it is injected into the cat, it goes from a sealed container from the syringe to being introduced to the air through the cat’s metabolism.  This will be through breathing, transpiration through the skin and the excreta.  With the I-131 heavier than air it will migrate downward.  So, the primary concern in the design of the treatment room is the exhaust system.  The following features are recommended:

1. The exhaust vent should be directly over the cats’ cages to pull the I-131 out.
2. The intake maki up air should be on the other side of the room near the bottom to ensure that all the air in the room is being evacuated.
3. The exhaust system should be self-contained.  It should function independent of the other air handling systems in the hospital and not connected to them.
4. The exhaust system should function 24/7 if cats are in the treatment room.  This requires a backup system in case of power failure.
5. The cubic feet per minute (cfm) exhaust should be sufficient to maintain a negative pressure in the room.
6. The outside exhaust vent should be 6 feet higher than the closest intake unit.
7. An Ante Room should be the “buffer” room between the hospital hallway and the cat treatment room.  The Ante Room is the location where the survey meter, clean PPE, Spill Kit, and records are maintained.
8. A look through window should be in the door between the ante room and the cat room.  This way observations can be made without opening the door needlessly.
9. Contamination control is the primary safety concern for the Authorized Users.  Having the proper engineering and room layout enables the RSO to maintain a contamination-controlled environment.