Radiation Worker Training

1. Radiation Worker Training Site Remediation Birmingham Steel May 2000

2. Talk About 1 - Radiation Fundamentals and Biological Effects Talk About 2 - Personnel Exposure Limits Talk About 3 - Personnel Survey Course Outline

3. Talk About 5 - Contamination and Decontamination Talk About 6 - Posting and Labeling Course Outline

4. Caution Contamination Area Anti-C Anti-C Radiation Fundamentals

5. There are two main sources of ionizing radiation: Natural Background Man Made Sources Sources of Radiation

6. Sources: Average Dose Cosmic- from the sun and outer space 28 mrem/yr Terrestrial - from the earth's crust 28 mrem/yr Radon - from the soil, (decay of uranium) 200 mrem/yr Internal - from sources in the body 39 mrem/yr Natural Background Radiation

7. Sources : Average Dose Medical radiation 54 mrem/yr Consumer products 10 mrem/yr Industrial uses < 3 mrem/yr Atmospheric testing of nuclear weapons < 1 mrem/yr Man-made Radiation Sources

8. Average Annual Exposure The total from all sources, natural and man made is approximately 360 mrem/yr.

9. electron e n p + 0 proton neutron nucleus The Atom

10. The number of electrons and protons determines the overall electrical charge of the atom. e e e p n p n p n e e p n p n p n e Charge of the Atom - - - + + + - - + + + - Ion +1 Charge Neutral Ion -1 Charge Ion = Atom with a positive or negative charge

11. The positively charged atom and the negatively charged electron are called an ion pair. Ionization Ionization is the process of removing electrons from a neutral atom. ejected electron (negative ion) - incoming ionizing radiation - - - +6 - - remaining atom (positive ion)

12. Ionizing radiationis radiation which carries enough energy to cause ionization in the atoms with which it interacts. Ionizing Radiation  (Alpha Particle)  (Beta Particle)  (Gamma Ray)  n (Neutron Particle) 

13. Examples of non-ionizing radiation are radar waves, microwaves and visible light. Non-Ionizing Radiation Radiation that doesn't have the amount of energy needed to ionize an atom with which it interacts, is called "non-ionizing radiation".

14. Radioactivity is unstable (or radioactive) atoms trying to become stable by emitting radiation. Radioactivity

15. Radioactive material is any material containing unstable radioactive atoms that emit radiation. Radioactive Material

16. Radiation is a type of energy and contamination is a material. It is important to note that exposure to radiation does not result in contamination of the worker. Radioactive Contamination Radioactive contamination is radioactive material in an unwanted place.

17. Radioactive decay is the process of radioactive atoms releasing radiation over a period of time becoming stable (non-radioactive). (Also known as dis-integration.) p n p p p n p n n n p n n n p n p - p p n p n p n e n p p p n n n p p p n n p n p p n p n n Radioactive Decay + + Large Unstable Nucleus

18. Radioactive half-life is the time it takes for one half of the radioactive atoms present in a radioactive sample to decay.  After seven half-lives the activity of a radioactive sample will be less than 1% of the original activity.  Radioactive half - life of U-239 is 23.5 minutes.  Radioactive half - life of U-238 is 4,510,000,000 years. Half Life % of atoms that are radioactive # of half lives

19. The four basic types of ionizing radiation of concern in the nuclear industry are: p n - p n e n Four Types of Ionizing Radiation Alpha Particles +2 Beta Particles + Gamma Rays + Neutron Particles

20. Characteristics: Very massive, composed of two protons, two neutrons and no electrons. (Positive charge of plus two) Penetrating Power - Very low. Average range in air is about one to two inches. Shielding - Alpha particles are stopped by a sheet of paper, or the dead layer (outer layer) of skin. Biological hazard - Alpha particles are considered an internal radiation hazard. +2 p n p n  Alpha Particles

21. Characteristics: Very small, negatively charged particle. Penetrating Power - Low. Range in air of several feet and a range of a few millimeters in tissue. Shielding - Most beta particles are stopped by plastic, glass, metal foil, or safety glasses. Biological hazard - Internal, skin and eye. - -  e Beta Particles

22. Characteristics : Gamma () radiation has no chargeand no mass. Consists of electromagnetic waves or photons. Penetrating Power - High . Very long range. Shielding - Shielded by very dense materials, such as lead, concrete or steel. Biological hazard - External or whole body.  Gamma Rays

23.  Unit for measuring dose equivalence. Most commonly used unit. Pertains to man - refers to the amount of biological damage produced by radiation. Takes into account the energy absorbed (dose) and the biological effect on the body due to the different types of radiation. rem (Roentgen Equivalent Man)

24. 0.1 rem = millirem? 5000 millirem = _______ rem? . . Conversion of rem and millirem rem x 1000 = mrem millirem 1000 = rem • 1 rem = 1000 millirem (mrem)

25. Dose Rate • Dose is the amount of radiation you receive. • Dose Rate is the rate at which you receive the dose • Dose rate = dose/time • mrem/hr, rad/hr, R/hr

26. Disintegrations per minute (dpm) - describes the number of atoms disintegrating each minute in a radioactive source. Radioactivity is measured in the number of disintegrations radioactive material undergoes in a certain period of time. One Curie = 2,200,000 000,000 (2.2 x 1012) dpm One microCurie = 2.22 x 106 dpm One picoCurie = 2.22 dpm Contamination/Radioactivity

27. Radiation causes damage to cells is by ionizing the atoms in the cells. Ionizing radiation may cause damage directly to the nucleus or any other part of the cell. The interaction may cause physical damage, chemical damage, or both to occur to the cell. Effects of Radiation on Cells

28. Radiation damage to cells depends on how sensitive the cells are to radiation. Cells that are actively dividing are more sensitive to environmental factors such as ionizing radiation. Examples: blood forming cells, intestinal lining, hair follicles, embryo/fetus. Cells which divide at a less rapid pace or are more specialized are not as sensitive to damage by ionizing radiation. Examples: brain cells or muscle cells Cell Sensitivity

29. Cells are not damaged Cells repair the damage and operate normally Cells are damaged and operate abnormally Cells die as a result of the damage Possible Effects of Radiation on Cells

30. Potential biological effects of radiation depend on several factors. How much and how fast a radiation dose is received are two of them. Radiation doses can be grouped into two categories:  Acute dose  Chronic dose. Acute and Chronic Radiation Dose

31. The body can't repair or replace cells fast enough from an acute dose and physical effects such as reduced blood count and hair loss may occur. Death can occur if the exposure is high enough. Acute Doses Acute doses are large doses of radiation received in a short period of time.

32. Chronic radiation dose is typically a small amount of radiation received over a long period of time. Typical examples of a chronic dose are:  The dose we receive from natural background.  The dose we receive from occupational exposure. Chronic Radiation Dose

33. The body is better equipped to tolerate a chronic dose than an acute dose. With chronic doses the body has time to repair damage. With chronic doses the body also has time to replacedead cells. Even sophisticated analysis of the blood does not reveal any biological effects from chronic doses. Acute doses may overwhelm the cells repair mechanisms. Chronic vs. Acute Doses

34. Somatic effects are effects that occur in the exposed individual.  An example of a somatic effect is cancer. Somatic Effects

35. Total dose Dose rate (how fast) Type of radiation Area of the body exposed Cell sensitivity Individual sensitivity Factors Affecting Biological Damage

36. Embryo/fetal cells are rapidly dividing which makes them sensitive to any environmental factors such as ionizing radiation. Prenatal Radiation Exposure

37. Some children who were exposed while in the womb to the radiation from the atomic bomb were born with low birth weights and mental retardation. It has been suggested, but not proven, that exposures to the unborn may also increase the chance of childhood cancer. Only when doses exceed 15,000 mrem has there been significant increase in risk. Potential Prenatal Hazards

38. Radiation Exposure Lung Long-term retention in lung Bone Uptake through lung or ingestion Deposit on surfaces of bone Whole body gamma exposure Chemical Toxicity Heavy metal, similar to lead Kidney Hazards from Uranium, Thorium and Decay Products

41. Avg. Days HEALTH RISKLost Unmarried male 3500 Cigarette smoking 2250 Unmarried female 1600 Coal miner 1100 25% overweight 777 Alcohol (U.S. average) 365 Construction worker 227 Driving a motor vehicle 207 100 mrem/yr for 70 yrs 10 Coffee 6 Estimated Days Lost Due to Daily Activities

42. Avg. Days IndustryLost Mining/Quarrying 328 Construction 302 Agriculture 277 Radiation dose of 5 rem/yr. for 50 yrs. 250 Transportation/Utilities 164 All industry 74 Government 55 Service 47 Manufacturing 43 Trade 30 Radiation accidents (deaths from exposure) <1 Estimated Loss of Life Expectancy From Industrial Hazards

43. Caution Contamination Area Anti-C Anti-C Regulatory Basis Personnel Exposure Limits

44. Environmental Protection Agency National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP) International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) ALARA - As Low As Reasonably Achievable Basis of NRC and State Limits

45. Dose Limits • Whole Body 5 rem/yr. • Extremities 50 rem/yr. • Skin & organs 50 rem/yr. • Lens of the eye 15 rem/yr • Pregnant Woman 0.5 rem/term • Visitors and 0.1 rem/yr. • Public

46. Caution Contamination Area Anti-C Anti-C Site Remediation Personnel Survey

47. PERSONNEL SURVEY • Detection/measurement of radiations emitted by radioactive materials to ensure: • Personnel are not inadvertently contaminated • Contamination is not spread • Remember  hands, face, & feet

48. OPERATIONAL USE • Routine operation • Battery check • Background check

49. MODEL 3 SURVEY METER AND MODEL 44-9 G-M DETECTOR

50. POCKET DOSIMETER