Safe handling of tissue containing radioactive substances.

Patients recently treated with radioactive isotopes may present problems or even hazards during physical examination, operation or autopsy, especially following the use of iodine isotopes and 198Au. 32P is rarely a significant hazard. Contamination of victims of radiation accidents may be a problem initially, but they are usually promptly decontaminated. Guidance of the hospital's radiation safety officer is helpful, particularly with regard to handling of contaminated persons or materials. Long-lived isotopes, such as radium or thorotrast, are usually present in too low concentration to be dangerous. Projected use of artificial hearts powered by plutonium should not be hazardous because of adequate shielding of the source.