According to a congressional investigation, thyroid cancer patients may be unknowingly exposing others to radiation after they leave hospital.

Rep. Edward Markey, D-Mass headed the investigation by drafting questionnaires and surveying more than 1000 thyroid cancer patients.

They found that around 7 percent of out patients who were treated with radioactive iodine, which concentrates in the thyroid, usually went to a hotel to recover. They found the sheets and other items they came into contact with contaminated and potentially exposing the hotel staff, guest and workers to radiation.

There have been cases whereby thyroid patients linens were washed with other bedding, spreading radioactive contamination in an Illinois hotel according to the Media. In another incident, a thyroid patient bordered a bus and triggered radioactive detectors as the bus passed the Lincoln Tunnel in New York.
According to Associated press, around 40,000 people develop thyroid cancer each year. In the past they used to be hospitalized; now they’re more likely to be treated in outpatient centers and sent home to recuperate, given instructions to avoid contact with young children and to sleep alone.

According to a statement by Markey’s office, the blame lay on the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, charged with regulating the use of radioactive materials. The commission allowed patients treated with radiation to be treated as outpatients in 1997. Markey also stated that there was lack of clear guidance to patients and physicians to ensure exposure did not happen.

However, it was unclear whether the radiation was at levels that could cause harm to others according to the commission.

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