A Radiating Success
ISU’s Veterinary Clinical Services has a new tool to use in treating cancer and EH&S’s Radiation Safety Group (RSG) played a key role in bringing it online. The new linear accelerator produces cancer-killing high-energy radiation for Stereotactic Radiation Therapy (SRT) treatments.
The RSG ensured worker and public safety before the SRT began treating patients. Three radiation safety specialists spent a couple of days certifying that the heavily shielded vault enclosing the SRT would contain all the radiation produced inside. EH&S personnel recorded approximately 1200 radiation meter measurements on all of the vault’s walls and its ceiling. After confirmation of no excessive radiation outside the unit, the state permitted the facility to begin clinical operations.
To date, 23 patients have been treated, including a rat, several cats, and dogs. These patients were drawn from Iowa, Nebraska, Minnesota, South Dakota, and Illinois. Patients receive up to 20 treatments depending on the protocol; the majority receive five or less treatments. 143 radiation therapy treatments have been done to date.
Batteries Are Included
In June, 2019, EH&S hazardous materials shipping specialists (HMSS) assisted the Des Moines Police Bomb Squad in conjunction with the State Fire Marshal’s office in shipping a large lithium-ion battery that powers their bomb response robot. In recent years, the regulations for shipping most lithium batteries have changed frequently and become much more restrictive. EH&S routinely ships smaller lithium batteries from ISU and took on the challenge of shipping this large lithium-ion battery.
To expedite the shipping process, EH&S HMSS acquired additional training and coordinated compliance and billing with the ground shipping company. The battery arrived at its destination safely and EH&S HMSS acquired new skills and real-life experience with shipping hazardous high-energy lithium ion batteries.
Safety Around the World
Iowa State University has had a program in Uganda’s Kamuli District since 2004. The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Center for Sustainable Rural Livelihoods has partnered with several members of the local community to address hunger and poverty through agriculture, nutrition, and youth education. In July 2018, after donations from nearly 100 individuals, the Mpirigiti Rural Training Center opened as a place where education and training can occur for farmers, teachers, community leaders, and students. The 22,000-square-foot Center has a 48-bed student dormitory, rooms for faculty and visiting scientists, and demonstration areas for livestock and crop production.
A member of EH&S visited the Center in June 2019 to provide safety training and conduct health and safety inspections. She spent two and a half weeks working with the Center’s staff addressing safety concerns and issues including fire safety, compressed gas cylinders, biosecurity and biosafety, and ergonomics. Additionally, she inspected the schools where ISU and Makerere University students have served more than 5,000 school lunches, the Nutrition Education Centers, which serve pregnant women and nursing mothers, and secondary schools where Ugandan students are enrolled in youth entrepreneurship programs.
