Section 335.2110  Release of Individuals Containing Unsealed Radioactive Material or Implants Containing Radioactive Material

a)         A licensee may authorize the release from its control of any individual who has been administered unsealed radioactive material or implants containing radioactive material if the total effective dose equivalent to any other individual from exposure to the released individual is not likely to exceed 5 mSv (0.5 rem) following assessment of the patient's medical, living and working conditions.

AGENCY NOTE:  U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Regulatory Guide 8.39, Rev. 1, "Release of Patients Administered Radioactive Material", published April 2020, exclusive of subsequent amendments or editions, describes methods for calculating doses to other individuals and contains tables of activities not likely to cause doses exceeding 5 mSv (0.5 rem).

b)       If the total effective dose equivalent to any other individual is likely to exceed 1 mSv (0.1 rem), the licensee shall provide the released individual and, as determined appropriate by the authorized physician user, the individual's spouse, parent, guardian or other primary caregiver with verbal and written instructions on actions recommended to maintain doses to other individuals as low as is reasonably achievable.  If the total effective dose equivalent to a minor, pregnant individual or nursing infant or child could exceed 1 mSv (0.1 rem), assuming there were no interruptions of breast-feeding, the instructions shall also include:

1)         Guidance on the interruption or discontinuation of breast-feeding;

2)         Guidance on minimizing close or extended contact; and

3)         Information on the potential consequences, if any, of failure to follow the guidance.

c)         Release of the patient pursuant to this Section shall be approved by an authorized physician user who is approved for the applicable use of radioactive material under Subpart F or H.  The authorized user physician shall state in writing that he or she is satisfied that patient compliance with necessary instructions is likely and that the patient is suitable for release.

d)         A licensee shall retain a record for five years after the release of the individual for the following:

1)         The basis for authorizing the release of an individual in accordance with subsections (a) and (b) of this Section to include the assessment and evaluation criteria for the patient's medical, living and working conditions, activities of radioactive material used (i.e., retained or administered activity), occupancy factors, biological or effective half-life of radioactive material, shielding by tissue, and means of estimating doses to any other individual and the physicians.

2)         The instructions for each patient required by subsection (b) of this Section.

3)         The physician's certification for patient release required by subsection (c) of this Section.

(Source:  Amended at 48 Ill. Reg. 13672, effective August 29, 2024)