Orphan Source Search Training Introduction to Radioactive Sources

Orphan Source Search Training Introduction to Radioactive Sources and Devices

Overview • • • Radioactive sealed sources Radiation devices Nuclear gauges ‘Real world’ radioactive sources and devices Definitions: Spent source, disused source, vulnerable source, orphan source Introduction to Radioactive Sources and Devices 2

Radioactive sources • Hundreds of thousands of radioactive sources are used worldwide, mostly for industrial and medical purposes. • Radium sources were commonly used from the 1920 s to the 1960 s. • A myriad of other radioactive sources have been designed and used since the 1950 s • Note that we are talking strictly about radioactive sources and NOT about X ray devices Radium sources were once used for brachytherapy Introduction to Radioactive Sources and Devices 3

Industrial radiography ‘camera’ Radium therapy The radiation from the source is used by placing the source in a device Introduction to Radioactive Sources and Devices 4

Most radioactive sources are sealed and are only a few centimeters in size 252 Cf 60 Co 137 Cs 60 Co teletherapy source Introduction to Radioactive Sources and Devices 5

Sealed radioactive sources Introduction to Radioactive Sources and Devices 6

Radioactive sources are typically housed inside a device Sealed Radioactive Source For example: 60 Co, 137 Cs, 226 Ra, 241 Am Radioactive Device For example: Teletherapy machines, Irradiators, Gauges, lightning rods Usually there is an aperture in the device to collimate the radiation emitted by the source Introduction to Radioactive Sources and Devices 7

Devices that utilize radioactive sources Teletherapy machine Irradiator Introduction to Radioactive Sources and Devices Gauges 8

A fixed nuclear gauge for flow or level measurement The radioactive source may be 60 Co, 137 Cs, etc. Introduction to Radioactive Sources and Devices 9

A portable moisture density gauge NOTE: This device contains two sources: 137 Cs and 241 Am Introduction to Radioactive Sources and Devices 10

Video: Radiation monitoring of a portable nuclear gauge (40 sec) Introduction to Radioactive Sources and Devices 11

Video: Nuclear gauge – film thickness measurement (45 sec) Introduction to Radioactive Sources and Devices 12

‘Real world’ radioactive sources and devices They are often scratched, dirty and rusty Introduction to Radioactive Sources and Devices 13

• A radioactive source is radioactive material that is permanently sealed in a capsule or closely bonded and in a solid form and which is not exempt from regulatory control. For a full list of definitions, consult the IAEA Safety Glossary Introduction to Radioactive Sources and Devices 14

• A spent source is a source that is no longer suitable for its intended purpose as a result of radioactive decay – NOTE that a spent source may still represent a radiological hazard Introduction to Radioactive Sources and Devices 15

• A disused source is a radioactive source that is no longer used, and is not intended to be used, for the practice for which an authorization has been granted – NOTE that a disused source may still represent a significant radiological hazard: it may still be capable of performing its function; it may be disused because it is no longer needed Introduction to Radioactive Sources and Devices 16

• A vulnerable radioactive source is one, which is currently under regulatory control, but for which control is insufficient to provide assurance of long term safety and security. • A vulnerable source is one that could relatively easily become orphaned Introduction to Radioactive Sources and Devices 17

• An orphan source is a radioactive source which may be still under internal control but not under regulatory control, either because it has never been under regulatory control, or because it has been: • abandoned, • lost, • misplaced, • stolen or • transferred without proper authorization Introduction to Radioactive Sources and Devices 18

Examples of orphan sources Introduction to Radioactive Sources and Devices 19

Radioactive Sources Recovered in Georgia • Video(2 min, 49 sec) https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=W Zi 52 va. Tc. Z 8 Introduction to Radioactive Sources and Devices 20

Summary • How do radioactive sealed sources and radiation devices differ? • What are some common uses for nuclear gauges? • How does a spent source differ from a disused source? • What is a vulnerable source? • What is an orphan source? Introduction to Radioactive Sources and Devices 21

Thank you!