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Radiation Awareness

Radiation Awareness.

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Radiation Awareness

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  1. Radiation Awareness

  2. This training is for anyone who is working in or around a lab with radioactive materials. It is designed to provide you a general knowledge of the environments around you. This training does NOT meet the requirements for radioactive materials usage or x-ray generating device operation. • At the end is a short test. Please print out the results and send an original copy along with your original signature to the Office of Radiological Safety, mail code 0425.

  3. The Atom • Protons • Neutrons • Electrons

  4. Ionizing Non-ionizing Non-Ionizing Radiation

  5. Ionizing Radiation • Electromagnetic radiation that has short wavelength and enough energy to knock an electron out of its orbit • Subatomic particle that has enough energy to knock out an electron

  6. Alpha • Not an external radiation hazard • Easily stopped by the dead layer of skin • Internal hazard – If material is inside the body, then the alpha radiation reach live cells.

  7. Beta • External hazard to skin and eyes • Internal hazard if the material that emits the beta radiation is inside the body. Then beta radiation can deposit energy in a small area of body tissue.

  8. Gamma • Gamma rays easily penetrate body tissues, outside or inside of the body. • Whole body (internal and external) hazard

  9. Neutron • Whole body hazard (external and internal neutrons are a whole body hazard). • Neutrons penetrate body tissues. • Neutrons cause damage whether the material is in or outside of the body.

  10. X-Rays X-Ray Characteristic X-Rays Bremsstrahlung Electron or Photon Out L Shell Electron or Photon In K Shell Bremsstrahlung X-Ray electron Tungsten

  11. Radiation Doses • Two different types • Acute • Large dose rate, short period of exposure • 1,000 R/hr for 10 minuites • More damaging • Cells have less time to repair • Immune system suppressed • Chronic • Low dose rate, long period of exposure • 50 µR/hr for 30 years • Natural background radiation • Less damaging

  12. Acute Radiation Exposure

  13. Chronic Radiation Exposure

  14. Natural Radiation Source Variability Dose (mrem/yr) Cosmic Average 30 Colorado 50 Terrestrial Average 20 Colorado 40 Internal Average 40 Radon Average 200 Total Average (Atlanta) 290 Average (Colorado) 330

  15. Medical Radiation SourceDose (mrem/exam) Diagnostic X-Rays Chest 10 Lower GI 900 Full Mouth (Dental) 10 Radio pharmaceuticals - Diagnostic 201Tl (Heart image) 630 67Ga (Tumor image) 1300 99mTc (Bone image) 130 Average for Population: 50 mrem/yr

  16. Other Radiation SourceDose (mrem/yr) Consumer Products 10 Trans-Continental Flight 2.5 - 4 per trip Electricity Production Coal 0.2 Nuclear 0.6 Sleeping Next to Someone 1 Fallout (from atmospheric < 1 nuclear testing)

  17. Permissible Dose Limits • Occupational Limits for Adults • Whole Body 5,000 mrem / yr • Pregnancy (Declared) 500 mrem / 9 mo. • General Public100 mrem / yr • Uncontrolled Dose Rate 2 mrem / hr

  18. Radioactive Consumer Products • Fiesta Ware • with uranium paint • 1970’s tape dispenser • with thorium sand • Smoke detector • with americium • Lantern mantles • with thorium • Exit signs • with tritium

  19. Sources of Radiation Exposure to the U.S. Population Other 1% Nuclear Medicine 4% Consumer Products 3% Medical X-rays 11% Radon Naturally Occurring 54% Internal 11% Terrestrial 8% Cosmic 8%

  20. Definitions • Half-life - The amount of time it takes half of the radioactive material to decay away • Contaminated - Loose radioactivity, dust, dirt, etc. on an object • Exposure - External radiation. You do not have to have contact with radioactive materials to be exposed to radiation.

  21. Exposure vs. Contamination External Exposure External Contamination Internal Contamination

  22. Major Pathways Inhalation (,,) Cloud Shine () Deposition Skin () Release Ground Shine () Inhalation (,,) from Resuspended Material Ground

  23. Be Alert! • If you are working in a lab with radioactive material • Be alert for possible spills from other RAM workers • If there is one, Don’t panic, and stay put. Call for help. • Be alert for suspicious persons in and around your lab. • If you do see someone who isn’t a regular, question them. • Don’t bother the RAM workers. • No horseplay in the lab with RAM. This can lead to accidents. • Don’t loiter around the RAM. • Be mindful of the waste receptacles. There are special waste cans for RAM. • Regular trash does not go in these!

  24. So How Can I keep Myself Safe? • We abide by a policy known as … • A • As • L • Low • A • As • R • Reasonably • A • Achievable

  25. ALARA • At Georgia Tech, we will set all of our dose limits, and contamination control guidelines to at least one fifth that of the federal regulation • Permissible dose limit for Rad Worker = 5000 mrem/year • This is a Federal Law • 10 CFR 20 (NRC) • 29 CFR 1910 (OSHA) • And a State of Georgia Law • ALARA dose limit for Rad Worker = 1000 mrem/year • This is the Georgia Tech ALARA policy

  26. What do I do if I become Pregnant? • If you work in a RAM or X-Ray lab, and you become pregnant • First off, congratulations! • If you have concerns about your baby’s safety, do not hesitate to contact the Office of Radiological Safety for private consultation about your scenario. We will be more than glad to talk to you and assess your particular concerns.

  27. Ways to Protect Yourself • Time • Distance • Shielding

  28. Time • Minimize time exposed to radiation • Chest X-Ray= 10mR in 0.2 sec • Exposure Rate= 180 R/hr

  29. Distance • Stand back. • Inverse Square Law- if you double the distance, the dose rate is a fourth. I1 = (d2)2 I2 (d1)2

  30. Shielding • Put Something between you and the radiation. • Alpha particles- sheet of paper • Beta particles- Lucite or plastic • Gamma, X-Ray- lead and concrete

  31. RAM Signs • Radioactive Materials (RAM) Room • Posted on the outer door to a lab containing radioactive material • Somewhere in that room there is a radioactive source • No eating, drinking, smoking, or applying cosmetics inside the room.

  32. RAM Signs • Radioactive Materials (RAM) Package • Posted on the outer casing or box containing radioactive material • Somewhere in that box/instrument/device there is a radioactive source • Don’t try to break that container • Don’t open it

  33. RAM Signs • Radiation Area means there is an elevated risk • A source is in the vacinity capable of producing a radiation field in excess of 5 mrem/hr up to 100 mrem/hr at 1 foot. • Don’t Linger in these areas • At Georgia Tech, these are only found at the Neely Nuclear Research Center or inside/around specific X-Ray devices/rooms.

  34. RAM Signs • A High Radiation Area means there is a large risk … • A source is in the vicinity capable of producing a radiation field in excess of 100 mrem/hr up to 500 rem/hr at 1 foot. • Very large risk! • Don’t enter these areas without proper training and radiation detection equipment.

  35. Caution! Grave Danger Very High Radiation Area RAM Signs • Very High Radiation Areas • Do NOT ever enter these areas with the source out !!!!!!! * • If you do, you are going to have a bad day… • Dose Rates in excess of 500 Rem/hr • * the only exception is life saving activates, and then it is on an informed volunteer basis.

  36. X-Ray Signs • X-Ray Device • Device is capable of producing X-rays. • Can be very intense • Can cause extensive damage in a short amount of time • Do not open device. • If device looks damaged notify the operator or your supervisor.

  37. Cones • “Neighborhood” laboratories use cones to mark the area when using RAM. • The user of RAM is in control in that area • Do not bother the users, and avoid the area to minimize the potential for contamination.

  38. Radioactive Material Shipments • Radioactive materials get shipped in the mail and by FedEx or DHL all the time! • When one arrives, it has to be properly received. • All of them are to come through the ORS. • Sometimes, people make mistakes • If one comes directly to your lab… • Call ORS and notify us of its presence. • If you see one, don’t handle it if at all possible. • Call ORS and let us know. • They are color coded for convenience • You are not permitted to transport RAM

  39. Shipping Labels Almost no radiation (0.5 mrem/hr max on surface) No real risk unless package is destroyed. Low radiation levels (50 mrem/hr max on surface; 1 mrem/hr max at 1 m) These pose a small risk. Just don’t handle them for very long and step away. Higher radiation levels (200mrem/hr max on surface;10 mrem/hr max at 1 m) Large risk. They are dangerous in their container. Keep far away. These are very rare, and very dangerous

  40. RAM Shipments • Limited Quantity- No external package markings required • Sometimes they are so small, they don’t need stickers • LSA (Low Specific Activity) - Uranium ore, contaminated soil, low-level waste • Type A- Small sources for medical uses, research • Type B- Spent Fuel, large sources

  41. Examples of RAM Packages

  42. Wanting to work with RAM or X-Rays? • What do I do if I want to work with RAM or X-Ray producing devices • You need to come to the complete 3 hour RAM Training • This is offered every month here at Georgia Tech, or for large groups, in your building (even GTRI Cobb County) • This training is good for 3 years, but we ask everyone to complete an annual refresher training which is online as well.

  43. New Research Grants or Projects • I have a new research idea, project or grant lining up. What should I do? • Consult with ORS. We can help you choose the right isotopes and quantities to maximize the outcomes while keeping people safe. • We will advise you on the requirements that the Radiation Safety Committee will need for approval including shielding requirements and safety analysis.

  44. For Further Information • For further information on the topics covered here or to report misuse of RAM, Contact the Georgia Tech Office of Radiation Safety: 404-894-3605 • Or email your questions/comments/concerns to: • eric.burgett@ors.gatech.edu • If this is an emergency, contact the Georgia Tech Police Department and inform them and they will contact the Office of Radiation Safety personnel.

  45. The End • Thank you for your time and attention. Please click on the link below to complete your quiz. Upon completion, please print an original copy and send it to the Office of Radiation Safety at 900 Atlantic Dr. Atlanta GA, 30332-0425 • For those on campus send it via campus mail to mailcode 0425 • Or you can fax it to 404-894-9325 • Click HERE to access the quiz.

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