RADIOACTIVE iodine is widely used to treat overactive thyroid glands and
thyroid cancers. But when a patient becomes radioactive through this treatment,
it can pose a health hazard to anyone—such as hospital nurses—who is
in close contact with them for long periods. As Â鶹´«Ã½ reported
recently, a single alpha or beta particle could damage a whole group of body cells
(8 December 2001, p 15).
The issue was brought to a head recently after a special case emerged. It
became clear that a thyroid patient required prolonged radiation treatment and
close nursing attention. Radiation physicists were…
