required for other radionuclides, depending on the amount and type of
radionuclides.
Receiving and Monitoring of Radioactive Packages
Individual users or institutions are authorized to possess and use radioac-
tive materials on issuance of a radioactive material license by the NRC or
the Agreement State. The suppliers require documentation of licensing of
the user as to the types and limits of quantities of radioactive material
before shipping.
Monitoring of packages is required if the packages are labeled as con-
taining radioactive material to check if the packages are damaged or
leaking. A radioactive shipment must be monitored as soon as possible after
receipt but no later than 3 hr after delivery if the delivery takes place during
normal hours, or not later than 3 hr from the beginning of the next working
day if it is received after working hours. Two types of monitoring are per-
formed: survey for external exposure and wipe test for contamination
on the surface of the package resulting from potential leakage of liquid.
The survey reading of external exposure should not exceed 200 mrem/hr
(2 mSv/hr) on the surface of the container or 10 mrem/hr (100mSv/hr) at
1 m from the surface of the container. The wipe test is performed by swab-
bing an area of 300 cm^2 of the package and should show less than the limit
of 6600 dpm or 111 Bq/300 cm^2. If the readings exceed these limits, the NRC
and the final delivering carrier must be notified by telephone and telegram,
mailgram, or facsimile. Advice should be sought from these authorities as
to whether the shipment should be returned.
After all surveys are completed, the data must be entered into a receipt
book. The information logged in includes the date of the receipt, the man-
ufacturer, the lot number, name and quantity of the product, date and time
of calibration, and survey data along with the name of the individual pro-
cessing the receipt.
Radioactive Waste Disposal
Radioactive waste generated in nuclear medicine or pharmacy (e.g.,
syringes, needles, vials containing residual activities and contaminated
papers, tissues, and liners) are disposed of by the following methods accord-
ing to the guidelines set forth in 10CFR20 and 10CFR35.
- Decay in storage
- Release into a sewerage system
- Transfer to authorized recipient (commercial land disposal facilities)
- Other disposal methods approved by the NRC (e.g., incineration of solid
waste and atmospheric release of radioactive gases)
280 16. Radiation Regulations and Protection