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Categorization and Field Identification of Sealed Radioactive Sources

Categorization and Field Identification of Sealed Radioactive Sources. Regional Training Course “ Orphan Source Search Training ” TC Regional Project RAS/9/062 and RAS/9/085 Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI) Quezon City, Philippines 17 - 21 October 2016. Introduction.

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Categorization and Field Identification of Sealed Radioactive Sources

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  1. Categorizationand Field Identificationof Sealed Radioactive Sources Regional Training Course “Orphan Source Search Training” TC Regional Project RAS/9/062 and RAS/9/085 Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI) Quezon City, Philippines 17 - 21 October 2016

  2. Introduction • By the end of this module students will be able to: • Categorize sealed radioactive sources; • Identify common sources and devices by appearance

  3. Overview • Categorization of radioactive sources is based upon radioisotope and radioactivity or practice • Typical practices in each category • Examples of common sources and devices in each category

  4. Categorization of Radioactive SourcesSafety Standards Series: RS-G-1.9 • To provide an internationally harmonized basis for risk-informed decision making on radioactive sealed sources • Scope: • Includes radioactive sources used in industry, medicine, agriculture, researchand education • Focuses on sealed radioactive sources • Excludes: • X-ray machines • Nuclear materials as defined in the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Materials

  5. Basis for Categorization of Radioactive Sources • Categorization is based on the potential to cause death or severe injuries • Considers radioisotope and radioactivity (A) • A dangerous source is one with an activity (≥D) that could, if not under control, give rise to an exposure sufficient to cause an effect that is fatal or life threatening or results in a permanent injury that decreases the quality of life A D

  6. Categorization of Radioactive Sources Increasing Risk

  7. Some D values of interest

  8. A little more about the D Value.. • A dangerous source is one that could give rise to an exposure sufficient to cause a severe deterministic effect (SDE) • (A deterministic effect is one for which a threshold level of dose exists and above it, severity increases with dose) • A SDE is fatal or life threatening or causes permanent injury • D values are calculated from the quantity of RAM that could give rise to a SDE for given scenarios and dose criteria

  9. D Value: Scenarios and Dose Criteria • Scenarios include dispersion due to malevolent acts • Unshielded source in hand for 1 hr or pocket for 10 hrs or room for days to weeks • Dispersal of source by fire or explosion or human action • Dose criteria • 1 Gy to bone marrow or 6 Gy to lung in 2 days (low LET) • 25 Gy to the lung from inhalation of high LET radiation in one year • 5 Gy to the thyroid in 2 days • For a source contacting tissue, 25 Gy at a depth of 2 cm • For source too big to be carried, a dose of 1 Gy to bone marrow in 100 hrs at a distance of 1 m

  10. Categorization of Radioactive Sources Increasing Risk

  11. What the categories mean: Source, Table 3 of RS-G-1.9

  12. Category 1 • A/D ≥ 1000 • Applications: • Radioisotopic thermoelectric generators (RTG’s) • Industrial Irradiators (e.g. sterilizers and food irradiators) • Teletherapy • Fixed multi-beam teletherapy (gamma-knife) • Seed irradiators

  13. Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generators (RTGs) • Devices that use sources to generate heat that is converted to electricity to power various devices, often in remote locations • 90Sr Activity ranges from: • 90Sr 3.3 – 25 PBq (9,000 – 680,000 Ci)

  14. Industrial Irradiators • Typically 137Cs or 60Co Activity ranges:190 TBq-560 PBq • (5,000–15,000,000 Ci)

  15. Seed Irradiators 137Cs in 100’s of TBq (1000’s Ci) quantities

  16. Blood Irradiators • Used to sterilize blood • Found in medical or research applications • Typically 60Co, 137Cs, 170Tm • Activity ranges from: • 60Co 56 TBq – 1.9 PBq (1,500 – 50,000Ci) • 137Cs 37–440 TBq (1,000–12,000Ci)

  17. Field Identification: Irradiators

  18. Teletherapy • Used for treating tumors • Found in medical clinics • Typically contains 60Co or 137Cs • Activity ranges from: • 60Co 37–560 TBq (1000–1,5000 Ci) • 137Cs 19–56 TBq (500–1,500 Ci)

  19. Abandoned 60Co Teletherapy Device

  20. TeletherapySource

  21. Category 2 • 1000>A/D≥10 • Applications: • Industrial gamma radiography • High and medium dose rate brachytherapy • Instrument calibration

  22. Industrial Radiography • Used to take pictures of dense objects to check for defects • Portable • 192Ir ,60Co,75Se,169Yb,170Tm • Typical activities are • 0.19–7.4 TBq (5–200 Ci)

  23. Field Identification: Radiography

  24. Field Identification: Radiography

  25. Brachytherapy (HDR/MDR) • Sources placed inside or near a tumor to deliver a large dose to the tumor tissue • Radionuclide and activity depends varies based on type of tumor: • 137Cs •198Au • 60Co •125I • 192Ir •252Cf

  26. Instrument Calibration Sources

  27. Category 3 • 10>A/D≥ 1 • Applications: • Fixed industrial gauges with high activity sources • level gauges • dredger gauges • conveyor gauges containing large sources • spinning pipe gauges • Well logging gauges

  28. Industrial Level Gauges

  29. Industrial Gauges • Common 137Cs 110 GBq (3 Ci) Contact dose rate up to 75 Sv/h industrial gauges

  30. Field Identification: Level/Density/Flow Gauges

  31. Well logging • 241Am/Be37 GBq (1 Ci) • Neutron and gamma dose rate 10 cm from tool up to 2.1 mSv/h

  32. Oil Well Logging Sources

  33. Pacemaker

  34. Category 4 • 1>A/D≥ 0.01 • Applications: • Low dose rate brachytherapy (except 90Sr eye plaques and permanent implant sources) • Industrial gauges that incorporate low activity sources • Thickness/fill-level gauges • Portable gauges (e.g., moisture/density gauges) • Bone densitometers • Static eliminators • High level lightning rod arrestors (154/152Eu)

  35. Beta thickness gauges • 147Pm 3.7 GBq (0.1 Ci) • Shutter open (beta) Between guide plates up to 10 Sv/h

  36. Field Identification: Thickness Gauges

  37. Thickness and Density Gauge

  38. Source capsules Beta emitter Low energy gamma

  39. Neutron gauges • 241Am/Be ~ 1.85 GBq (50 mCi) • Neutron and gamma dose rate Contact dose rate up to 30 Sv/h

  40. Moisture Density Gauge • Unit can have two sources: • Gamma 137Cs or 226Ra • Neutron 241AmBe or 252Cf • Activity ranges: • 137Cs: 300–410 MBq • (8 – 11 mCi) • 241AmBe: 370–3700 MBq (10–100 mCi) • 226Ra: 74–150 MBq • (2–4 mCi) • 252Cf: 1.1–2.6 MBq • (30–70 Ci)

  41. Field Identification: Moisture/Density Gauges

  42. Field Identification: Hydrology

  43. Static Electricity Eliminators

  44. High Level Lightning Rod Arrestors 154/152Eu 2-15 GBq (50-400 mCi) 60Co 18 GBq (500mCi)

  45. Category 5 • 0.01>A/D and A>Exempt • Applications: • Low dose-rate brachytherapy eye plaques and permanent implant sources • X-ray fluorescence devices • Electron capture devices • Mossbauer spectrometry • PET check sources • Low level lightning rod arrestors

  46. Low Activity Sealed Sources X X

  47. Field Identification: X-Ray Fluorescence Devices

  48. Low Level Lightning Rod Arrestors Trade Mark: Nuclear Ibérica Model: Minocptor Sources: Am-241 Trade Mark: Nuclear Ibérica Model: Ionocaptor Sources: Am-241 Trade Mark: Helitita Source: Am-241 Typically 37-370 MBq(1-10 mCi) Trade Mark: Energía Fría Sources: C-14 Trade Mark: : Fair Raythor Sources: Am-241 or Ra-226

  49. Tritium Exit Signs

  50. Field Characterization:Source Markings

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