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 |