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Session I.4.3Session I.4.3

Part I Review of Fundamentals

Module 4 Sources of Radiation

Session 3 Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Neutron Sources

IAEA Post Graduate Educational CourseIAEA Post Graduate Educational CourseRadiation Protection and Safe Use of Radiation SourcesRadiation Protection and Safe Use of Radiation Sources

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In this session we will discuss Radioactive In this session we will discuss Radioactive Sources which emit:Sources which emit:

AlphaAlpha BetaBeta GammaGamma X-rayX-ray NeutronNeutron

OverviewOverview

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ExampleExample Special UnitsSpecial Units SI Units (37x)SI Units (37x)

environmental samplesenvironmental samples picocuriepicocurie 1010-12-12 millibequerelmillibequerel 1010-3-3

laboratory standardlaboratory standard nanocurienanocurie 1010-9-9 becquerelbecquerel 101000

in-vitro tracerin-vitro tracer microcuriemicrocurie 1010-6-6 kilobequerelkilobequerel 101033

nuclear medicinenuclear medicine millicuriemillicurie 1010-3-3 megabequerelmegabequerel 101066

calibration sourcecalibration source curiecurie 101000 gigabequerelgigabequerel 101099

teletherapy sourceteletherapy source kilocuriekilocurie 101033 terabequerelterabequerel 10101212

irradiatorirradiator megacuriemegacurie 101066 petabequerelpetabequerel 10101515

Relative RadioactiveRelative RadioactiveSource ActivitySource Activity

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ReactorReactor

FuelFuelFission ProductsFission Products

Activation ProductsActivation Products

Non-ReactorNon-Reactor

MedicalMedicalIndustrialIndustrialMilitaryMilitaryAviationAviationSupportSupport

ResearchResearchCommercialCommercial

Where Radionuclides are FoundWhere Radionuclides are Found

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Samples ofSamples ofRadionuclide SourcesRadionuclide Sources

MedicalMedical

Human Use (MBq-TBq)Human Use (MBq-TBq) Nuclear MedicineNuclear Medicine

Diagnostic (Diagnostic (99m99mTc, Tc, 131131I, I, 153153Gd, Gd, 125125I, I, 201201Tl)Tl) Therapeutic (Therapeutic (131131I,I, 32 32P, P, 8989Sr)Sr)

Radiation TherapyRadiation Therapy Teletherapy (Teletherapy (6060Co)Co) Brachytherapy (Brachytherapy (137137Cs, Cs, 192192Ir, Ir, 198198Au, Au, 125125I, I, 109109Pd)Pd)

Non-Human Use (KBq)Non-Human Use (KBq) In-Vitro Laboratory (In-Vitro Laboratory (125125I,I, 51 51Cr, Cr, 5959Co)Co)

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Industrial (GBq-PBq)Industrial (GBq-PBq)

Radiography (Radiography (192192Ir, Ir, 6060Co, Co, 137137Cs)Cs)

Well Logging (Well Logging (241241Am, Am, 137137Cs, Cs, 6060Co, Co, 238238U, U, 131131I, I, 33H)H)

Irradiators (Irradiators (6060Co, Co, 137137Cs)Cs)

GaugesGauges

Fixed (Fixed (137137Cs, Cs, 6060Co, Co, 147147Pm)Pm) Portable (Portable (241241Am, Am, 137137Cs)Cs)

Fuel Cycle (U)Fuel Cycle (U)

Samples ofSamples ofRadionuclide SourcesRadionuclide Sources

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Support (KBq or less)Support (KBq or less)

Calibration/Check Sources (Calibration/Check Sources (6060Co, Co, 137137Cs, Cs, 239239Pu, Pu, 241241Am, Am, 252252Cf, Cf, 238238U, U, 9090Sr, Sr, 232232Th)Th)

Laboratory Standards (many)Laboratory Standards (many)

Research (MBq)Research (MBq)

Chromatographs (Chromatographs (6363Ni)Ni)

EducationEducation (many) (many)

Samples ofSamples ofRadionuclide SourcesRadionuclide Sources

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Commercial (varies – typically MBq or less)Commercial (varies – typically MBq or less)

PersonalPersonal Wristwatches (Wristwatches (33H, H, 147147Pm)Pm) Dinnerware (U)Dinnerware (U)

RecreationalRecreational Lantern Mantles (Lantern Mantles (232232Th)Th)

SafetySafety Smoke Detectors (Smoke Detectors (241241Am)Am) Warning/Exit Signs (Warning/Exit Signs (33H)H) Shielding (Shielding (238238U)U)

ServiceService Anti-Static Devices (Anti-Static Devices (210210Po)Po)

Samples ofSamples ofRadionuclide SourcesRadionuclide Sources

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Military (MBq)Military (MBq)

Non-Nuclear WeaponsNon-Nuclear Weapons Armor Piercing Projectiles (Armor Piercing Projectiles (238238U)U)

Survival Survival Lensatic Compasses (Lensatic Compasses (33H, H, 147147Pm) Pm) Chemical Agent Monitors (Chemical Agent Monitors (6363Ni, Ni, 241241Am, Am, 33H)H)

Samples ofSamples ofRadionuclide SourcesRadionuclide Sources

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Aviation (Bq-MBq)Aviation (Bq-MBq)

OperationalOperational

Fixed Wing AircraftFixed Wing Aircraft Oil Level Indicators (Oil Level Indicators (8585Kr)Kr) Aileron Counterweights (Aileron Counterweights (238238U)U) Magnesium/Nickel Skin Panels (Magnesium/Nickel Skin Panels (232232Th)Th) Spark Gaps/Igniters (Spark Gaps/Igniters (6060Co)Co)

HelicopterHelicopter Blade Integrity and Ice Detection (Blade Integrity and Ice Detection (9090Sr)Sr)

Samples ofSamples ofRadionuclide SourcesRadionuclide Sources

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Aviation (MBq-TBq)Aviation (MBq-TBq)

Historic Displays/Vintage Aircraft (Historic Displays/Vintage Aircraft (226226Ra)Ra)

Safety ItemsSafety Items Runway Lights, Markers and Exit Signs (Runway Lights, Markers and Exit Signs (33H)H)

Samples ofSamples ofRadionuclide SourcesRadionuclide Sources

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Sample Alpha, Beta,Sample Alpha, Beta,Gamma SourcesGamma Sources

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Sample Alpha SourcesSample Alpha Sources

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Sample Beta SourcesSample Beta Sources

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Sample Gamma SourcesSample Gamma Sources

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Sample Neutron SourcesSample Neutron Sources

Most neutron sources are either alpha-Most neutron sources are either alpha-beryllium sources (Pu-Be, Am-Be, Ra-Be, Po-Be beryllium sources (Pu-Be, Am-Be, Ra-Be, Po-Be etc) or Californium-252etc) or Californium-252

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Sample X-Ray SourcesSample X-Ray Sources

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The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and the Agreement States (states which have been the Agreement States (states which have been granted the authority by the NRC) perform granted the authority by the NRC) perform engineering and radiation safety evaluations of the engineering and radiation safety evaluations of the ability of sealed sources and devices to safely ability of sealed sources and devices to safely contain radioactivity under the conditions of their contain radioactivity under the conditions of their possession and use.possession and use.

These evaluations are summarized in registrations These evaluations are summarized in registrations that NRC maintains in the National Sealed Source that NRC maintains in the National Sealed Source and Device Registry (NSSDR).and Device Registry (NSSDR).

Sealed Source andSealed Source andDevice RegistryDevice Registry

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The registration certificates contain detailed The registration certificates contain detailed information on the sources and devices, such as information on the sources and devices, such as how they are permitted to be distributed and how they are permitted to be distributed and possessed, design and function, radiation safety, possessed, design and function, radiation safety, and limitations on use.and limitations on use.

Both the NRC and Agreement States issue Both the NRC and Agreement States issue registration certificates for distributors and registration certificates for distributors and manufacturers within their jurisdiction. However, manufacturers within their jurisdiction. However, only the NRC is responsible for devices distributed only the NRC is responsible for devices distributed as exempt products such as smoke detectors.as exempt products such as smoke detectors.

Sealed Source andSealed Source andDevice RegistryDevice Registry

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The database which lists all of the registration The database which lists all of the registration certificates that have been issued can be certificates that have been issued can be accessed at:accessed at:

http://www.hsrd.ornl.gov/nrc/sources/index.cfmhttp://www.hsrd.ornl.gov/nrc/sources/index.cfm

Radioactive material vendors outside of the Radioactive material vendors outside of the United States are required to establish an United States are required to establish an address in the United States to which the NRC address in the United States to which the NRC can correspond and serve papers as necessary can correspond and serve papers as necessary to accomplish its mission.to accomplish its mission.

Sealed Source andSealed Source andDevice RegistryDevice Registry

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Some of the information contained in the registration:Some of the information contained in the registration:

Manufacturer and DistributorManufacturer and Distributor Model Number and Source or Device Type Model Number and Source or Device Type Radionuclides and Activity Used in the Product Radionuclides and Activity Used in the Product Leak Test Frequency Leak Test Frequency Conditions of Use Conditions of Use Construction of the Product (drawings)Construction of the Product (drawings) Labeling Labeling Prototype Testing Prototype Testing Radiation Profiles Radiation Profiles Quality Control and Quality Assurance Quality Control and Quality Assurance Installation, Servicing, and Instructions to Users Installation, Servicing, and Instructions to Users

Sealed Source andSealed Source andDevice RegistrationDevice Registration

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Where to Get More InformationWhere to Get More Information

Cember, H., Introduction to Health Physics, 3Cember, H., Introduction to Health Physics, 3rdrd Edition, McGraw-Hill, New York (2000)Edition, McGraw-Hill, New York (2000)

Firestone, R.B., Baglin, C.M., Frank-Chu, S.Y., Eds., Firestone, R.B., Baglin, C.M., Frank-Chu, S.Y., Eds., Table of Isotopes (8Table of Isotopes (8thth Edition, 1999 update), Wiley, Edition, 1999 update), Wiley, New York (1999)New York (1999)

International Atomic Energy Agency, The Safe Use International Atomic Energy Agency, The Safe Use of Radiation Sources, Training Course Series No. 6, of Radiation Sources, Training Course Series No. 6, IAEA, Vienna (1995)IAEA, Vienna (1995)