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

[steven lafontaine]

Jeff,

I ran into this at a site back in 2013.  They had flooding that absorbed
about 3-4 feet up the drywall. After remediation, I did a walkthrough and
took some pictures (one attached). The lead warped a bit near the floor as
the drywall expanded, but generally was easy to re-affix or patch during
remodelling.  There was no lead defect following the flooding, as far as I
could tell, and I did repeat a safety survey after the room was back up to
be certain.

Steven

On Wed, Oct 29, 2025 at 2:22 PM Robert Morrison via
Intl_dxmedphys_wd_osu_list <intl_dxmedphys_wd_osu_list at lists.osu.edu> wrote:

> 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
> 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 <jf at jfmedphys.com>*
>
> W: *https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.jfmedphys.com__;!!KGKeukY!wAtzswF3Pqh9CI2frHX16lvhQZY9vofDJacdn4ewzyBEkXbK6b5AAfD-qDD6Ya3Tc0otbK9B8c6GqoBC8v5RdbhBMoYHmH_O08fVS-HaUIc$ 
> <https://urldefense.com/v3/__http:/www.jfmedphys.com__;!!KGKeukY!3aWeWOwwbR2nF4kccWGyUJRxFvwVTB2t-ySk0ZvgyQQkMxMjeEeO945qZYhqduJMlbkWynmbirXRlTA3j2LxXG_y1zi-0SDJf-w$>*
>
>
>


-- 
Steven M. LaFontaine, M.S., DABR
Certified Medical Physicist
Therapy Physics, Inc.
2501 Cherry Ave, Suite #270
Signal Hill, CA 90755
562-317-0650 (office)
310-720-5899 (cell)
Steven at therapyphysics.com
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <https://lists.osu.edu/mailman/private/intl_dxmedphys_wd_osu_list/attachments/20251029/f44f86bf/attachment.html>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image001.png
Type: image/png
Size: 38301 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <https://lists.osu.edu/mailman/private/intl_dxmedphys_wd_osu_list/attachments/20251029/f44f86bf/attachment.png>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: 2013-11-13_LeadAfterFlood.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 2014838 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <https://lists.osu.edu/mailman/private/intl_dxmedphys_wd_osu_list/attachments/20251029/f44f86bf/attachment.jpg>