The document provides information about radiation safety at Wayne State University. It introduces the Office of Environmental Health and Safety (OEHS) and its roles in protecting health and safety regarding hazardous materials use. It also provides contact information for the radiation safety and hazardous waste staff. Basic radiation safety training requirements and rights of radiation workers are outlined.

1. Basic Radiation Safety Office of Environmental Health and Safety

2. 5425 Woodward Ste 300 Detroit, MI 48202 Office: 313.577.1200 Fax:313.993.4079 www.oehs.wayne.edu

3. What is OEHS? The Office of Environmental Health and Safety serves to protect the health and safety of the students, faculty and staff of Wayne State University. The Office operates as the University’s extension of the regulatory agencies that monitor use of hazardous materials and ensures that a safe and compliant workplace is maintained. Please call our office any time you have a question or concern about the acquisition, use, storage or disposal of any hazardous substance at the University.

4. Health Physics / Radiation Safety The Health Physics staff are specialists in radiological health and safety, and are ready to provide assistance so you may work safely with radioactive material. Please contact us if you have questions or concerns about radioactive materials on campus. Lance Franklin Radiation Safety Officer 577-1200 [email_address] Wendy Barrows Health Physics Specialist 577-0019 ac5502@wayne.edu Michael Huberts Health Physics Specialist 577-9505 [email_address] Ryan Boyd Health Physics Assistant 577-9518 [email_address]

6. Nuclear Regulatory Commission – Type A Broad Scope Radioactive Materials license. Allows researchers to use a wide range of radioisotopes , but requires strict compliance with Federal Laws. NRC regulates reactor produced radioactive materials ie P-32, H-3, C-14, etc Michigan Department of Community Health – Radiation Generating Machine license. Allows researchers to use x-ray producing machines. State of Michigan regulates machines ie XRD, EM, Diagnotsic X-Ray, etc Regulatory Control and Responsibility Governmental

9. Radiation Worker Rights View the university’s licenses, inspection reports, and copies of the regulations You may contact the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission without fear of retaliation by your Approval Holder or anyone at Wayne State University. Receive adequate training and have • • questions answered satisfactorily •

10. Worker Training Basic Radiation Safety Training must be taken annually First time - in class Annually - online Radiation Generating Machine Training – Online Special Training by request Lab-specific training is provided by your PI • • •

11. Basic Radiation Safety Part 1 Radiation Theory

13. The Importance of Energy Ionizing radiation has enough energy to remove electrons from atoms E (hv) > E B Non-ionizing radiation may only excite electrons into excited states E (hv) < E B

14. Sources of Radiation X-Ray - Electron transition from one level to a lower level, or from slowing of a moving electron (bremsstrahlung) Gamma - Radioactive decay emission originating from the nucleus. Alpha – Helium nucleus from decay from massive atom Beta – particle emitted during n p or p n decay Neutron – neutral particle emitted during fission

21. Units of Activity Historical unit defined as the activity of 1 gram of Radium-226. Still used today due to more convenient values Bequerel (Bq) Curie (Ci) SI unit defined as 1 disintegration per second (dps). More useful unit, but very unwieldy values. Designated as official unit . 1 Ci = 3.7 x 10 10 Bq (dps) i.e. 250 microCuries (uCi) = 925 MegaBequerels (MBq)

22. Units of Exposure Roentgen (R) - The amount of ionization produced in a volume of air by gamma or x-rays Corresponds air at standard temperature and pressure (273K and 760 mm Hg). The usefulness of the Roentgen in the practice of radiation safety is limited, because it is only defined for x-rays and gamma radiation in air.

23. Units of Dose and Dose Equivalent SI: Gray (Gy) = J/kg rad = 100 erg/g SI: Sievert (Sv) rem Dose (D) is a measure of the absorbed energy per unit mass of material 1 Gy = 100 rad Dose Equivalent (H) is the product of the absorbed dose and the biological efficacy in tissue 1 Sv = 100 rem

27. Background Radiation Background in Michigan is 360 mRem/year

28. Basic Radiation Safety Part 2 Radiation Protection

31. Protective Measures Distance Intensity of radiation is inversely proportional to the square of the distance – inverse square law I  1/d 2 I 2 = I 1 x (d 1 /d 2 ) 2 i.e. A worker is 1 meter from a 200 mrem point source. What is the dose at 2 m? 3m? I 1 x (d 1 /d 2 ) 2 = 200 x (1/2) 2 = I 2 = 50 mrem 200 x (1/3) 2 = I 2 = 22.2 mrem I 2 *d 2 2 = I 1 *d 1 2

32. Protective Measures Shielding Alpha – no shielding Beta – none or Plexiglas, No Pb X, Gamma – Lead, thick or thin Neutron – Concrete, parafin

35. Pregnant Workers Declared Decision is up to woman May be temporarily assigned non-radiation duties until end of gestation May un-declare her pregnancy at any time Limits: Employer may not limit occupational exposure below worker • • • Undeclared 500 mRem over gestation <50 mRem per month • •

45. Basic Radiation Safety Part 3 Radiation Detection Equipment

47. Survey Meters Ludlum Model 3 Geiger Counter with pancake and LEG probes Required in most labs ( 32 P 125 I) Detects contamination quickly Indicates the effectiveness of shielding Must be calibrated annually Geiger-Mueller (GM) Crystal Scintillation (LEG) Ion Chamber (QT Pie) • • • • Not for 3 H or 35 S

48. Pancake and End Window Probes Ion chamber - Volume of gas with biased electrodes. Radiation creates ion which induces “current” to show up as an event Survey Meters

49. Gamma and X ray Survey Probes (LEG) Low energy gamma 1x1 gamma probe Low energy gamma (LEG) scintillation detectors - Sodium iodide (NaI) crystal encased in a metal cylinder, mounted on a photomultiplier tube. These are more sensitive and will have a higher background than other probes Recommended for detection of 125 I. http:// www.uos.harvard.edu/ehs/radsafety/sur_how.shtml Survey Meters

57. Basic Radiation Safety Part 4 Laboratory Application

58. Performing a Wipe Test Wipe Test – Wipe surface with filter paper, fold wipe-side in, and insert into scintillation vial. Add ~10mL of scintillation cocktail and count the sample in the LSC. Record all results including nil results

62. Survey Record If a lab has radioactive material, a monthly survey must be completed in at least the storage location Any survey location must be accompanied by a survey of the adjacent floor See form instructions 10/10/06 Science 123 Dr Franklin Schmoe, Joe Grad Asst X 500 uCi 2 mCi IIIIIIIIIII IIIIIIIIIII H-3 P-32 Ludlum 3 / 123 Science Beckman 8600 / 123 Science 25 44 52 106 107 115 12 99 249 100 B1 fl F2 H B1 fl F2 H H-3 contamination in Hood – cleaned, repeat survey performed 56 H Re-wipe Joe Schmoe 44 115 fl fl 55 110 fl fl A blank copy of this form is available as Appendix N in the Radiation Safety Manual and Lab Guide

63. Calculation of Activity CPM - BKG NRC requires surveys to be written in units of DPM or uCi. CPM is a function of instrument efficiency Instrument efficiency DPM DPM = uCi = 2.22 x 10 6 DPM/uCi CPM CPM CPM CPM

70. Radiation Lab Postings Warning Placard with radiation sticker – outside lab NRC-3 Form – visible in lab Radioactive materials sticker – on all storage, use and waste areas and containers ie Refrigerators, freezers, cabinets, sinks, benches, hoods, centrifuges, etc. • • Three postings must be clearly visible in or at the entrance to your lab If you cannot locate any of these call OEHS immediately for a replacement at 577-1200 * •

74. All radioactive material must be secured from tampering or removal by unauthorized persons. Material Security Lock the lab door in your absence Loss of material must be reported to the RSO immediately • •

80. Radioactive waste Don’ts Do NOT mix potentially dangerous chemicals Do NOT discard sharps into regular waste Do NOT dispose of liquid waste into solid waste boxes Do NOT dump liquid waste down the drains Do NOT overfill waste containers (>¾) Do NOT mix incompatible chemicals Do NOT mix isotopes Do NOT remove radioactive waste without OEHS approval • • • • • • • •