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User Advisory

Advisory Title: The Use of Radioactive Materials at the ALS
Advisory Number: 16/Rev. 2a
Issue Date: January 1, 2005
Review Date:

Note: The advisory procedure and all ALS user advisories are undergoing a complete review that will not be completed until early 2008. Until that time, all current advisories and procedures remain in effect.

Current Info: This Advisory is valid for two years from Issue or Review Date(s), at which time it is reviewed for relevancy and accuracy. Copies of all current user advisories are available at the ALS User Services Office, (510) 486-7745.

Overview

Small amounts of radioactive material in the form of prepared, fixed targets may be used for experiments at endstations on the ALS experiment floor. The use of any radioactive material must be approved by the ALS and Berkeley Lab's Environment, Health, and Safety (EH&S) Division staff before an experiment begins. The purpose of this advisory is to orient ALS users to the guidelines for the documentation, transportation, storage, and use of radioactive materials at the ALS.

The information given here should not be considered comprehensive; users must also follow rules for radiation safety given in the Berkeley Lab Health and Safety Manual (PUB-3000), the Code of Federal Regulations (10CFR835), and EH&S Procedure 707 (Radiological Work Authorization Program).

Policy

It is ALS policy to minimize the amount of radioactive materials used on the experiment floor and to ensure that any materials used are handled and stored according to federal and Berkeley Lab safety regulations. Users planning to use prepared radioactive targets in experiments must provide detailed information regarding the quantity and radioactivity levels of the materials they intend to bring to the ALS for experimental use when they submit an Experiment Form to ALS Administration. The ALS and EH&S will then determine the documentation, training, and safety requirements for the use of specific radioactive materials.

Only prepared, fixed targets containing radioactive materials are currently allowed at the ALS. The integrity of the prepared targets is essential to avoid contaminating the vacuum chamber. All radioactive material must be affixed to the target in a manner which ensures that none of the radioactive material can escape when the sample is heated from exposure to the beam during experiments. In order to verifiy the integrity of radioactive samples and their mounting, it is highly recommended that the procedures for handling the samples during an experiment be tested before the samples are sent to the ALS. In addition, all radioactive material samples must be tested under vacuum prior to their use at the ALS.

Users bringing a check source to the ALS must contact the ALS EH&S Program Manager at ext. 7407 prior to their arrival at the facility. The manager will determine whether it is required to include the check source into Berkeley Lab’s radioactive materials inventory.

The guidelines provided in this advisory are designed to assist ALS users in meeting Berkeley Lab's health and safety requirements for the use of prepared radioactive targets for experiments. All equipment and procedures for the use of any radioactive materials must ultimately satisfy the safety requirements in the Laboratory Health and Safety Manual (PUB-3000), Chapter 21 "Radiation Safety."

Documentation and Training Requirements

All users must provide a description of the radioactive materials they intend to use when they submit their Experiment Form to the ALS. If it is determined that they plan to use radioactive materials in quantities greater that those given in Attachment F (Low Activity Source Authorization) of EH&S Procedure 707 (see page 3), users will be required to have a Radiological Work Authorization (RWA) approved prior to the receipt of the radioactive material. Users requiring an RWA must also meet the Radiological Worker Training Requirements before an experiment may begin. For additional information on RWA and radiological safety training, contact EH&S Health Physicist Chris Donahue (ext. 7736).

Shipping Radioactive Materials to the ALS

All hazardous materials, including radioactive materials, shipped to or from the ALS must be packaged and handled according to U.S. Department of Transportation regulations. Transportation by personal car or Berkeley Lab vehicle is prohibited. Radioactive materials should be shipped directly to:

Berkeley Lab, Building, 75-113
1 Cyclotron Road
Berkeley, CA 94720
Attention: S. Sohner

The user's name, phone number, ALS address, and RWA number (if available) should be clearly marked on the outside of the package. Users will be notified as soon as their materials arrive at Berkeley Lab, and arrangements will be made to have them delivered to the ALS. Users must sign for all radioactive materials upon receipt, and follow the storage procedures outlined below. For additional information on shipping and receiving procedures for radioactive materials at the ALS, contact Transportation EH&S Radiation Technician Steve Sohner (ext. 6228).

Storage

Arrangements for storing radioactive materials at the ALS must be made before the materials are ordered. The RWA, issued by EH&S, will specify the requirements for the storage and handling of all radioactive materials intended for experimental use. For more information on the storage of radioactive materials at the ALS, contact EH&S Program Manager Georgeanna Perdue (ext. 7407).

EH&S Procedure 707

Attachment F: Low Activity Quantities of Radioisotopes

(Low Activity Source Authorization)

Less than 30 µCi (1x106 Bq)
H-3      Be-7     C-14     S-35     Ca-41    Ca-45    V-49     Mn-53    Ge-55    Ni-59
Ni-63    As-73    Se-79    Rb-87    Tc-99    Pd-107   Cd-113   In-115   Te-123   Cs-135
Ce-141   Gd-152   Tb-157   Tm-171   Ta-180   W-181    W-185    W-188    Re-187   Tl-204

Less than 3 µCi (1x105 Bq)
P-32     P-33     Cl-36    K-40     Fe-59    Co-57    Se-75    Rb-84    Sr-85    Sr-89
Y-91     Zr-95    Nb-93m   Nb-95    Tc-97m   Ru-103   Ag-105   In-114m  Sn-113   Sn-119m
Sn-121m  Sn-123   Te-123m  Te-125m  Te-127m  Te-129m  I-125    La-137   Ce-139   Pm-143
Pm-145   Pm-147   Sm-145   Sm-151   Eu-149   Eu-155   Gd-151   Gd-153   Dy-159   Tm-170
Yb-169   Lu-173   Lu-174   Lu-174m  Hf-175   Hf-181   Ta-179   Re-184   Re-186m  Ir-192
Pt-193   Au-195   Hg-203   Pb-205   Np-235   Pu-237

Lass than 300 nCi (1x104 Bq)
Be-10    Na-22    Al-26    Si-32    Sc-46    Ti-44    Mn-54    Fe-60    Co-56    Co-58
Co-60    Zn-65    Ge-68    Rb-83    Y-88     Zr-88    Zr-93    Nb-94    Mo-93    Tc-95m
Tc-97    Tc-98    Ru-106   Rh-101   Rh-102   Rh-102m  Ag-108m  Ag-110m  Cd-109   Sn-126
Sb-124   Sb-125   Te-121m  I-129    Cs-134   Cs-137   Ba-133   Ce-144   Pm-144   Pm-146
Pm-148m  Eu-148   Eu-150   Eu-152   Eu-154   Gd-146   Tb-158   Tb-160   Ho-166m  Lu-176
Lu-177   Hf-172   Ta-182   Re-184m  Os-185   Os-194   Ir-192m  Ir-194m  Hg-194   Pb-202
Bi-207   Bi-210m  Cm-241

Less than 30 nCi (1x103 Bq)
Sr-90    Cd-113m  La-138   Hf-178m  Hf-182   Po-210   Ra-226   Ra-228   Pu-241   Bk-249
Es-254

Less than 3 nCi (1x102 Bq)
Sm-146   Sm-147   Pb-210   Np-236   Cm-242   Cf-248   Fm-257   Md-258

Less than 0.3 nCi (1x101 Bq)
Gd-148   Th-228   Th-230   U-232    U-233    U-234    U-235    U-236    U-238    Np-237
Pu-236   Pu-238   Pu-239   Pu-240   Pu-242   Pu-244   Am-241   Am-242m  Am-243   Cm-243
Cm-244   Cm-245   Cm-246   Cm-247   Bk-247   Cf-249   Cf-250   Cf-251   Cf-252   Cf-254

Less than 30 pCi (1 Bq)
Ac-227   Th-229   Th-232   Pa-231   Cm-248   Cm-250

For More Information

For additional information regarding the use, storage and transport of radioactive materials at the ALS, contact ALS EH&S Program Manager Georgeanna Perdue (ext. 7407).


Approved by  Signed
Georgeanna Perdue, ALS EH&S Program Manager 02/11/2005
Ben Feinberg, Division Deputy for Operations 02/11/2005