Radioactive waste in solid form comes from protective garments
The radioactive waste generated by health facilities can be categorized into six main groups namely gaseous waste, liquid waste, general waste, spent sealed sources, solid waste, and decommissioning waste (International Atomic Energy Agency 8). Radioactive waste in the liquid form includes polluted water from chemical processes, solvents, discarded liquid radiopharmaceuticals, chemotherapeutic medications, polluted soils, and scintillation liquids.
The waste also includes body fluids such as urine and blood. Investigative imaging for the evaluation of lung function often uses radioactive gases such as Xenon-133 and 81mKr. The properties of these gases hinder the efficacy of gas treatment processes. Consequently, the only available option is to release the gases to the surroundings via exhaust pipes.
Radioactive waste in solid form comes from protective garments, gloves, masks, filters, paper wipes, metal, syringes, glass vials, and plastic sheets among many other items (Krieger, Van Baalen and Walters 109). These items are mainly used during medical procedures that involve radioactive radiations. In addition, clothing and utensils used by patients receiving elevated dosages of radiation therapy such as Iodine-121 also make up radioactive waste material. Radioactive waste in solid form contains small quantities of radioactive material compared to liquid waste.
