Monitoring radioactive spills

In addition to ARSAC approval, the protocol must also be approved by ethics committees in the normal manner for studies in man. The study should be conducted in between four and eight consenting subjects, in facilities where any spills of radiolabelled materials can be contained and monitored. Normally, subjects will be required to provide blood samples and to collect all excreta for a period determined by the known or estimated half-lives of the parent compound and metabolite. With cooperative subjects, recoveries of radioactivity should be close to 100%. Samples will be assayed for radioactivity and by cold chromatographic methods, and every attempt should be made to identify major metabolites... 

When there is an accidental spill, take steps to confine the area, monitor the people affected, use gloves to remove the spill, make and follow a careful plan to remove the spill and store the spill in a radioactive waste container. It is also mandatory that the radiation safety officer is informed and necessary measures are taken to avoid future occurrence. 

Caution. Technetium-99 is a weak Remitter (0.292 MeV, 7% =2.12 X 10s years). Therefore, all manipulations should be carried out in a laboratory equipped with a monitored fume hood with Fiberglas trays and plastic-lined absorbent pads used to control potential spills. Personnel should wear disposable lab coats and gloves at all times. Radioactive wastes, both solid and liquid, must be disposed of in special receptacles. Samples sent outside the laboratory must be sealed in glass bottles within a nonbreakable outer container with cotton as a filler, and the glass bottle must be wipetested for contamination prior to ship-... 

Methods to Treat, Control and Monitor Spilled Hazardous Materials, EPA-670/2-75-042. Raouf, M. W. A., and A. A. M. DaifuUah. 1997. Potential Uses of Bone Charcoal in the Removal of Antimony and Europium Radioisotopes from Radioactive Hastes f Adsorption Science Technology, vol. 5, no. 8, pp. 559-569. 

A survey counter is a gas filled detector used to detect spilled radioactive materials that can be hazardous for the operators or may disturb accurate dose measurements. Survey counters can be mounted at critical places to measure the radiation level in rooms continuously. A hand-foot-clothing monitor is a suitable and obligatory instrument to detect possible contamination before leaving the area where radioactive materials are handled. 

Spills should be dealt with immediately and appropriate monitoring of the person and of surfaces should be carried out. Anyone who cuts or wounds himself when working with unsealed radioactive material must obtain first-aid treatment and medical advice. This is particularly important as contamination can be readily taken into the bloodstream through cuts. If a radioactive source is lost immediate steps must be taken to locate it and, if it is not accounted for. Her Majesty s Inspectorate of Pollution (or appropriate Regional Department) and the HSE must be notified. 

Containers for the storage of radioactive waste should be suitable for then-contents and for the conditions likely to be encountered in storage in order that the integrity of the container can be maintained over the necessary storage period. If reasonably practicable, storage vessels, pipes and other plant components that provide containment for radioactive waste should have a further barrier (secondary containment) with sufficient capacity to accommodate safely any leaks or spills. Monitoring devices with alarms set at appropriate levels should be provided as... 

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