Yttrium-90 has two inherent safety features for staff and patients:

• the minimal penetration depth of beta radiation emissions through tissue and air
• the relatively short half-life of 64.1 hours

Once patients have received the implant, they effectively become a radiation source.

• However, patients pose very limited radiation risk to medical staff, family, friends, and the public due to minimal tissue penetration and emissions of the beta radiation.
• Some general precautions should be observed, as described in the SIR-Spheres Y-90 resin microspheres Package Insert.