System of control of radioactively contaminated metal scrap in Lithuania

1. System of control of radioactively contaminated metal scrap in Lithuania Gendrutis Morkūnas Radiation Protection Centre Kalvarijų 153, LT-08221, Vilnius, Lithuania genmo@takas.lt

2. General situation • all the practices except for irradiation available • radioactive sources are imported and spent sources exported • radiation protection infrastructure in place: • notification about intentions to import, export and transport radioactive sources, • licensing of practices, • keeping of national register of sources, • ensuring of physical security of sources, • use of safe procedures during their transportation, • treatment of radioactive waste and spent sources

3. Legislation • control of movement of metal scrap • detection of radioactivity in metal scrap • detection of radioactivity on the national borders • dealing with found radioactive sources, • radiation protection • other related legislation

4. Technical measures • monitoring of metal scrap in scrap yards, metal scrap and final products in reprocessing plants • monitoring of radioactivity on the borders • procedures when radioactive sources are detected • more detailed analysis with the aim of characterization of sources in Lithuania and abroad • training of involved staff

5. Items already detected • contaminated metal • materials containing increased concentrations of natural radionuclides • sources, previously used in practices • commodities containing increased amounts of radionuclides • contaminated vehicles have been found Patients released after nuclear medicine procedures are triggering monitoring systems

6. Training • target groups are identified • training shall address specific needs of these groups • more attention should be given to selection of trainees • training should help to optimize the whole system • international training courses (due to co-operation) might be useful

7. International cooperation • for information exchange • international training courses or national ones with lecturers from other countries • existing networks of exchange of information (e.g.,CEEAN) might be used • common efforts in more detailed characterization of found materials

8. Observations and conclusions • the system should include both general and specific measures • training should address different categories of persons involved • training should help to optimize the system • it has to be of international character

9. Observations and conclusions • monitoring equipment which meets the needs and complies with competence of users should be further developed • attention should be paid to quality assurance and particularly elaboration and validation of monitoring techniques • international cooperation is important • available resources should be effectively used