Radio-ecological threats of cremation of the deceased patient bodies with medical radioactive materials incorporated during life

• A.A. Shitova

  State Research Center – Burnasyan Federal Medical Biophysical Center of Federal Medical Biological Agency, 46, Zhivopisnaya str., 123098, Moscow, Russian Federation

  Автор

• T.V. Pafomova

  State Research Center – Burnasyan Federal Medical Biophysical Center of Federal Medical Biological Agency, 46, Zhivopisnaya str., 123098, Moscow, Russian Federation

  Автор

• Yu.E. Kvacheva

  State Research Center – Burnasyan Federal Medical Biophysical Center of Federal Medical Biological Agency, 46, Zhivopisnaya str., 123098, Moscow, Russian Federation

  Автор

Current cremation technology was developed in the late 19th
century and is now being used on an ever-increasing scale, raising concerns about

potential eco-toxicological risks. Separate category is made up of radio-ecological
threats, the emergence of which is objectively determined by the wide spread
introduction of advanced achievements of nuclear medicine into healthcare
practice. To prevent radio-ecological effects associated with the cremation of the
bodies of patients who died before the end of the activity period of radioactive
materials incorporated during life, the best strategy is to conduct mandatory
autopsy procedures with removal of implanted radionuclide sources or organs
containing the highest residual radioactivity during autopsy. In the Russian
Federation, there is no single normative legal act to regulate the procedures for
posthumous handling of the bodies of deceased “radioactive patients”, despite the
fact that relevant requirements are contained in some by-laws of healthcare
legislation. The authors substantiate the need to develop such an act.

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