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Note that activated charcoal filtration was NOT effective, but reverse osmosis was in removing I-131 in this study. Whether all reverse osmosis filtration systems would perform as well isn't stated. Further studies are needed on Cesium-137 and Cesium-134, I think, and on whether or not RO systems owned by the general public will work at removing radioactive contamination from tap water.
The full text is at the link.
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/1...1.01029.x/full
The full text is at the link.
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/1...1.01029.x/full
Impact of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant Accident on Hemodialysis Facilities: An Evaluation of Radioactive Contaminants in Water Used for Hemodialysis
Daigo Kamei1,*,
Tsutomu Kuno3,
Sumihiko Sato4,
Kosaku Nitta1,
Takashi Akiba2
Article first published online: 17 JAN 2012
DOI: 10.1111/j.1744-9987.2011.01029.x
? 2012 The Authors. Therapeutic Apheresis and Dialysis ? 2012 International Society for Apheresis
Issue
Therapeutic Apheresis and Dialysis
Volume 16, Issue 1, pages 87?90, February 2012
Following the crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant caused by the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami, radioactive substances (131I, 134Cs, 137Cs) were detected in tap water throughout eastern Japan. There is now concern that internal exposure to radioactive substances in the dialysate could pose a danger to hemodialysis patients. Radioactive substances were measured in three hemodialysis facilities before and after purification of tap water for use in hemodialysis. Radioactive iodine was detected at levels between 13 and 15 Bq/kg in tap water from the three facilities, but was not detected by reverse osmosis membrane at any of the facilities. We confirmed that the amount of radioactive substances in dialysate fell below the limit of detection (7?8 Bq/kg) by reverse osmosis membrane. It is now necessary to clarify the maximum safe level of radiation in dialysate for chronic hemodialysis patients.
A magnitude 9.0 earthquake and subsequent tsunami struck eastern Japan on March 11, 2011, causing unimaginable damage. A secondary result of the disaster was a Level-7 nuclear event?the worst on the International Nuclear and Radiological Event Scale (INES)?at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, which is owned by Tokyo Electric Power Co. Several explosions and other events scattered radioactive debris across much of eastern Japan. On March 22, 2011, radioactive iodine (131I) was detected at 210 Bq/kg in tap water from a water purification facility in Tokyo, about 200 km from the plant.
Hemodialysis, in which the patient's blood comes into indirect contact with a dialysate via a dialysis membrane to accomplish diffusion and ultrafiltration, requires large volumes of purified tap water (120 to 150 L per session). Water quality is therefore critical. In addition, the dialysate must be pure to prevent complications due to reverse filtration from contaminated dialysate or the inflow of pyrogens in the dialysate via reverse diffusion. The European Renal Association?European Dialysis and Transplant Association (ERA?EDTA) (1) and the Association of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) in the United States (2), among others, have proposed standards for the purity of dialysate. The Japanese Society for Dialysis Therapy released the Standard on Microbiological Management of Fluids for Hemodialysis and Related Therapies for use in Japan (3).
As the Fukushima Daiichi accident is only the world's third nuclear power accident resulting in widespread radioactive contamination of tap water, the ramifications of dialysate contamination have not been adequately clarified, and no related standards have been established.
Daigo Kamei1,*,
Tsutomu Kuno3,
Sumihiko Sato4,
Kosaku Nitta1,
Takashi Akiba2
Article first published online: 17 JAN 2012
DOI: 10.1111/j.1744-9987.2011.01029.x
? 2012 The Authors. Therapeutic Apheresis and Dialysis ? 2012 International Society for Apheresis
Issue
Therapeutic Apheresis and Dialysis
Volume 16, Issue 1, pages 87?90, February 2012
Following the crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant caused by the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami, radioactive substances (131I, 134Cs, 137Cs) were detected in tap water throughout eastern Japan. There is now concern that internal exposure to radioactive substances in the dialysate could pose a danger to hemodialysis patients. Radioactive substances were measured in three hemodialysis facilities before and after purification of tap water for use in hemodialysis. Radioactive iodine was detected at levels between 13 and 15 Bq/kg in tap water from the three facilities, but was not detected by reverse osmosis membrane at any of the facilities. We confirmed that the amount of radioactive substances in dialysate fell below the limit of detection (7?8 Bq/kg) by reverse osmosis membrane. It is now necessary to clarify the maximum safe level of radiation in dialysate for chronic hemodialysis patients.
A magnitude 9.0 earthquake and subsequent tsunami struck eastern Japan on March 11, 2011, causing unimaginable damage. A secondary result of the disaster was a Level-7 nuclear event?the worst on the International Nuclear and Radiological Event Scale (INES)?at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, which is owned by Tokyo Electric Power Co. Several explosions and other events scattered radioactive debris across much of eastern Japan. On March 22, 2011, radioactive iodine (131I) was detected at 210 Bq/kg in tap water from a water purification facility in Tokyo, about 200 km from the plant.
Hemodialysis, in which the patient's blood comes into indirect contact with a dialysate via a dialysis membrane to accomplish diffusion and ultrafiltration, requires large volumes of purified tap water (120 to 150 L per session). Water quality is therefore critical. In addition, the dialysate must be pure to prevent complications due to reverse filtration from contaminated dialysate or the inflow of pyrogens in the dialysate via reverse diffusion. The European Renal Association?European Dialysis and Transplant Association (ERA?EDTA) (1) and the Association of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) in the United States (2), among others, have proposed standards for the purity of dialysate. The Japanese Society for Dialysis Therapy released the Standard on Microbiological Management of Fluids for Hemodialysis and Related Therapies for use in Japan (3).
As the Fukushima Daiichi accident is only the world's third nuclear power accident resulting in widespread radioactive contamination of tap water, the ramifications of dialysate contamination have not been adequately clarified, and no related standards have been established.