Handling of radioactive substances

Martland HS, Conlon P, Knef JP. 1925. Some unrecognized dangers in the use and handling of radioactive substances with especial reference to the storage of insoluble products of radium and mesothorium in the reticulo-endothelial system. JAMA 85 1769-1775. 

Radionuclide generators have not found broad application in industry, mainly because of the regulations with respect to handling of radioactive substances and the risk of contamination. 

Table 22.12. Classification of laboratories for open handling of radioactive substances (IAEA recommendations).

Radioactive contamination of the laboratories must be strictly avoided, because reliable activity measurements would otherwise become impossible and low activities could not be measured any more. Therefore, careful handling of radioactive substances and regular activity checking in the laboratories is indispensible. Personal danger due to radioactive contamination is, in general, only to be feared in the case of high contamination of the laboratories and great carelessness. 

The plant possesses a duly issued license for types of activity related to processing of nuclear materials and the equipment of temporary storage facilities for medium- and high-level liquid waste, and to the handling of radioactive substances as individual units of the temporary storage facility for medium- and high-level waste are decommissioned. It holds a temporary permit from the Russian Federation State Academy of Sciences for all types of activity. 

Whole Cell The conversion of a radioisotopically labeled substrate can be used to assess the potential activity of microbial populations in field samples. The technique depends on bacterial growth for detection, but it generates results in about two days and is specific to SRBs. The sample is incubated with a known trace amount of radioactive-labeled sulfate. (SRBs reduce sulfate to sulfide.) After incubation, the reaction is terminated by adding an acid to kill the cells and the radioactive sulfide is fixed with zinc acetate for evaluation. This is a highly specialized technique, involving expensive laboratory equipment and the handling of radioactive substances [19]. 

Caution Handle all radioactive substances according to the radiation safety regulations instituted at each facility approved to handle such materials. Use adequate precautions to protect personal safety and the environment. Dispose of radioactive waste only by following approved guidelines. 

Specifically, the purpose of Convention No. 174, adopted by the International Labour Conference (1993), is the prevention of major accidents involving hazardous substances and the limitation of the consequences of such accidents. It plies to major hazard installations with the exception of nuclear installations and plants processing radioactive substances except for facilities handling non-radioactive substances at these installations, military installations, and transport outside the site of an installation other than by pipeline. 

Detailed precautions for handling radioactive substances will be dictated by the nature and quantity of isotope and the likely level of exposure. Thus for some materials laboratory coats and gloves may be adequate for others a fully enclosed suit and respirator may be more appropriate. Some general precautions are listed in Table 10.6. 

These substances are subject to very strict control and laboratories must be approved to handle the different categories of radioactivity. 

The beneficial use of radiation is one of the best examples of how careful characterization of the hazard is essential for its safe use. A radioactive substance can be safely stored or transported if appropriately contained. Depending on the characteristics of the radioactive material, it can be safely handled by using appropriate shielding and safety precautions. Laboratory workers usually wear special badges that quantify radiation exposure to ensure that predetermined levels of exposure, which are considered safe, are not exceeded. Unfortunately, after more than 50 years, society has not yet been able to design and implement a safe way to dispose of radioactive waste. The hazardous properties of radiation are explored further in a subsequent chapter. 

Rutherford, Radiation from Radioactive Substances (Cambridge Cambridge University Press, 1930). The woeful tale of cold fusion, and the precedent in the work of Pareth and Peters, Is recounted In F. Close, Too Hot To Handle (Princeton Princeton University Press, 1991). 

The first responsibility of the student is to become knowledgeable about the properties and hazards of the radioactive substances to be used. You must know which radioisotopes are to be handled and the form, gas, liquid or solid, of the material. It is also important to know whether the isotope is a /3 and/or y emitter and whether it is weak or strong. 3H and 14C are considered weak j8 emitters and 32P is a strong /3 emitter. 

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