Discharges of nuclear medicine radioisotopes in Spanish hospitals

Given the increasing use of radiopharmaceuticals in medicine, the aim of this paper is to determine radioactivity levels in the effluents of hospitals with Nuclear Medicine Departments. The radiological study of hospital discharges was carried out by gamma spectrometry, and liquid scintillation spectrometry to determine 14C and 3H contents. On March 9th and April 19th, 2010, daily radioactivity levels were monitored from 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Each sample was collected at a specific control point of two major public hospitals in Granada (Spain). The analytical results show the presence of radionuclides such as 99mTc, 131I, 67Ga, and 111In.They are frequently used in nuclear medicine for diagnostic and/or therapeutic purposes. This study shows the differences between direct and after-storage discharges and also justifies the need of storage tanks in hospitals with nuclear medicine departments. Moreover, monitoring of 99mTc released at hospital control points can be a useful tool for optimizing the safety conditions of storage tanks and discharge of radionuclides. - Highlights: ► The hospital of Granada with nuclear medicine transfer radionuclides to the sewerage. ► 99mTc, 131I, 67Ga, and 111In have been detected in the control point of the hospitals. ► The 78.51% of radioactivity discharged that day is due to 99mTc. ► This study shows the differences between direct discharges and after-storage. ► Storage tanks in hospitals with nuclear medicine department must be obligatory.