Iodine has a very high vapor pressure in solution. Opening a vial of Na 125 I can cause minute droplets of up to 1000 Bq to become airborne. Work with free iodine must be performed in an operational fume hood. Solutions containing iodide ions should not be made acidic nor stored frozen. Do not store open stock bottles or solutions containing free radioiodine in freezers, refrigerators or cold rooms.
Some iodine compounds can penetrate surgical rubber gloves.
It is advisable to two pairs of polyethylene gloves over rubber. To render any spilled radioiodine chemically stable the area of the spill should be treated with alkaline sodium thiosulphate solution prior to decontamination. 0.248 MeV Millicurie amounts of 33 P do not present a significant exposure hazard. For detection use end-window GM detectors or liquid scintillation counters. Do not hold test tube containing even small quantities of 86 R longer than necessary 86 Rb waste should be properly shielded.