How worried should i be? radioimmunoassay query

[studentman]

hi guys

just a quick query i am hoping someone can help me with.

i was working on a radioimmunoassay with I-125 labelled insulin as a tracer and accidently touched my face with my contaminated glove.

at the end of the practical I checked my face and the work station with the geiger counter (background radiation being about 5). However the reading on my face was higher than that on the table. It was just above 5 on my face and much lower on the table.

i told the demonstrator but she said don't worry as long as the reading does not shoot up to 10. but i did not tell her i touched my face because i was already panicking so much by then so i just left.

this caused me to fly into a panic and i have been so depressed i ended up in hospital. i have ended up eating and drinking but had not washed my face for days due to a deep depression.

now i am well scared that i may have ingestion some I-125 and it has been on my face so long...it can cause cancer right?

any words of reassurance welcome

thanx in advance guys...is I-125 safer than i think?

 

[Borek]

If you have ended in hospital that means your panic have put you at much higher risk than radioactive iodine. My bet is that amounts you could have on the glove were much lower than amounts used during therapy, where I-125 is routinely administered.

Don't worry, while security measures are necessary to lower the risks, our bodies are quite strong and they have millions of years of evolutionary experience of dealing with dangers.

--
methods

 

[quicknote]

I understand your concern about the potential exposure to I-125. However, I want to assure you that the risk of ingestion from touching your face with a contaminated glove is very low. The amount of I-125 that could have been transferred to your face is likely very small and would not cause any harm.

In addition, the fact that the reading on your face was only slightly higher than the background radiation is a good sign. It indicates that the amount of I-125 on your face is minimal and not at a dangerous level. The demonstrator's advice to not worry unless the reading shoots up to 10 is also a good indication that the levels you were exposed to were not significant.

It is also important to note that I-125, while it can cause cancer in high doses, is used in controlled and safe environments such as in medical procedures. In your case, the exposure was brief and at a low level, so the risk of cancer is extremely low.

I understand that you have been feeling anxious and depressed about this incident, but I want to reassure you that you are not in any immediate danger. Please try not to worry and seek medical advice if your symptoms persist. Take care of yourself and remember that I-125 is not as dangerous as you may think.