[Intl_DxMedPhys] lead integrity post-flood -- next steps

[Robert Morrison]

I agree with Bob. We had a flood when Irene hit NJ in August of 2011.  We had 14" of water into our facility and of course it was some pretty gross looking stuff coming out of the river into our facility which flooded our X-ray calibration lab.  We cut everything on the walls from 4' and below after the water subsided a couple of days later.  As we opened it up we already had black mold growing.  In our X-ray calibration lab we just removed the sheet rock and left the lead because we were not concerned about the aesthetics.  We were concerned about the mold.  We then replaced it all in time.

Rob Morrison


________________________________
From: Intl_dxmedphys_wd_osu_list <intl_dxmedphys_wd_osu_list-bounces+robpmorrison=gmail.com at lists.osu.edu> on behalf of Bob Kobistek via Intl_dxmedphys_wd_osu_list <intl_dxmedphys_wd_osu_list at lists.osu.edu>
Sent: Wednesday, October 29, 2025 4:43 PM
To: Jeff Frimeth <jf at jfmedphys.com>; DxMedPhys List <intl_dxmedphys_wd_osu_list at lists.osu.edu>
Subject: Re: [Intl_DxMedPhys] lead integrity post-flood -- next steps

Jeff: Even if the lead changs to another chemical compound (e. g. oxidizes) the total mass of lead doesn’t change, so the attenuation should not change. Even if the lead sheet peels away from the back of the drywall, it still should remain

Jeff:



Even if the lead changs to another chemical compound (e.g. oxidizes) the total mass of lead doesn’t change, so the attenuation should not change. Even if the lead sheet peels away from the back of the drywall, it still should remain in place because it’s pinned between the drywall and the studs.



Instead, I’d be worried about mold! We had a basement flood, and we replaced all affected drywall for that reason.





Robert J. Kobistek, MS, FACR, DABR, MRSE(MRSC™)

Medical Physicist

RJK Medical Physics, Inc.

440-463-7879



From: Intl_dxmedphys_wd_osu_list <intl_dxmedphys_wd_osu_list-bounces at lists.osu.edu> On Behalf Of Jeff Frimeth via Intl_dxmedphys_wd_osu_list
Sent: Wednesday, October 29, 2025 3:49 PM
To: DxMedPhys List <intl_dxmedphys_wd_osu_list at lists.osu.edu>
Subject: [Intl_DxMedPhys] lead integrity post-flood -- next steps



Hi all. I have a facility who just informed me they had a flood! They are concerned about the lead shielding potentially being compromised. I know lead doesn't rust like iron, but it can corrode with water. However, I don't know if any corrosion

Hi all. I have a facility who just informed me they had a flood! They are concerned about the lead shielding potentially being compromised. I know lead doesn't rust like iron, but it can corrode with water. However, I don't know if any corrosion has occurred nor how long this "can" take to occur. The site does not have any NM, so my thought was either:

  *   Having a qualified contractor cut the drywall to visually inspect the lead in concerned areas
  *   Performing a shielding adequacy survey in concerned areas to evaluate lead-equivalent thickness



Thoughts from those that have more experience in this than me?



Thanks!



Jeff Frimeth, M.Sc., MCCPM, CIIP, MRSO (MRSCTM), MRSE (MRSCTM), CDIP

President & Chief Medical Physicist

JF Medical Physics Inc.

P: (416) 779-9674

E: jf at jfmedphys.com<mailto:jf at jfmedphys.com>

W: https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.jfmedphys.com__;!!KGKeukY!2jMBQsYOkxbFXOTf_emRTnMnsErqKmTPPZXtbGbltGpaF7U-Ijp_GJNR9xlC9_-9W37QbmKxThnip3RQfyWz3ChMHDfW8ykUSZRVYlsA0SUF$ <https://urldefense.com/v3/__http:/www.jfmedphys.com__;!!KGKeukY!3aWeWOwwbR2nF4kccWGyUJRxFvwVTB2t-ySk0ZvgyQQkMxMjeEeO945qZYhqduJMlbkWynmbirXRlTA3j2LxXG_y1zi-0SDJf-w$>

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