Radiation Rules and Regulations

And Some Interesting Radiation Trivia

Tristan Hay PhDWashington Department of Health

What is Regulated?

• Byproduct Material• Source Material• Special Nuclear Material• Naturally occurring and Accelerator

produced Radioactive Material (NARM)• Ionizing Radiation Producing Devices

Byproduct Material

•Any radioactive material (except special nuclear material) yielded in, or made radioactive by, exposure to the radiation incident of the process of producing or utilizing special nuclear material.

Source Material

•Uranium or thorium or any combination of uranium and thorium in any physical or chemical form

Special Nuclear Material

•Plutonium, uranium-233, uranium enriched in the isotope 233 or in the isotope 235.

NARM

•Naturally occurring or accelerator-produced radioactive material, such as radium, and not classified as source material.

Ionizing Producing Devices

•Electronic devices that are capable of emitting ionizing radiation. Examples are linear accelerators, cyclotrons, radiofrequency generators that use cyclotrons or magnetrons, and other electron tubes that produce x-rays.

Trivia 1

• Ebon Byers was a professional athlete and drank Radiathor (radium water) to increase his performance, his jaw fell off and his bones crumbled leading to death.

• What sport did he play?• What material does this fall under if it was produced today

(which it wouldn’t be)?

Who Regulates

• Depends……– Where is it used?– What is it used for?– Who owns it?– Where does it come from?

Who Regulates cont.• NRC: Special Nuclear (anything involving nuclear power)• State: Source, Byproduct, Special Nuclear (less than 200

grams) NARM and Radiation Producing Devices• EPA: Disposal and Environmental Releases• DOT: Transportation• FDA: Radiation Producing Devices, Drugs (also State) • Other Federal Agencies: DOE, Navy, Army, etc.

Trivia 2

• After Roentgen announced his discovery of x-rays how long did it take for someone to use it on a medical patient?

• And if you wanted to use x-rays on a patient who would regulate it?

Rule of thumb• NRC

– If it involves nuclear power– If you are in an NRC state

• State – If you are in an Agreement state– If your state has an x-ray program

• FDA– If it involves medical

• DOT– If you are transporting, shipping, or receiving radioactive material.

Good place to start

• https://www.nrc.gov/about-nrc/radiation/protects-you/reg-matls.html

Example 1

• You want to get a soil density gauge that contains Cs-137 and Am-241, who regulates it?

• The State (or NRC depending on where you are located)• DOT

Laws

• Federal Laws and Regulations.• State Laws and Regulations• Accreditation Standards.

Federal

• Code of Federal Regulations (CFR)• NRC 10 CFR part 20• EPA 40 CFR’s• FDA 21 CFR’s• DOT 49 CFR’s

State of Washington

• Washington Administrative Code (WAC)• Radiation is in WAC 246• http://apps.leg.wa.gov/wac/default.aspx?cite=246

Trivia

• The radiation symbol (trefoil) was originally a different color. What color was it?

• If I work in an agreement state and I want to know what kind of postings I need where would I look?

Licensees

• Many radioactive devices and material require a license/registration to own and use it.

Types of Licensees

• Generally Licensed materials • Specifically Licensed materials• X-ray registration • Broad Scope materials license

Licensee requirements

• Having a license/registration comes with certain requirements. (examples: leak test, accuracy, fees,…..)

• The State (or NRC) will make sure you are meeting these requirements – Inspections – Licensing amendments– Documentation

License

• Your license will tell you:– What rules you need to follow– What you can do – What procedures you are tied to – How often requirements need to happen

Trivia

• A CT scan was done of King Tut in 2005 and revealed a potential cause of death, what was it?

• What type of license would this CT fit into?

Application

• Do I need one?• How do I get one?

Application Process

• For Washington, go to the WA Dept. of Health Radiation protection webpage. https://www.doh.wa.gov/CommunityandEnvironment/Radiation

• For other states, go to your state’s (or the NRC’s) radiation regulatory website.

WA Application Process

• X-ray• Materials

– Industrial– Laboratory– Medical

Follow application guidance on website

`Instructions – Complete all items in this application for a new license or the renewal of an existing license. Use supplemental sheets wher e necessary. Item 21 must be completed on all applications. Mail original to Washington State Department of Health in accordan ce with the directions contained in the application cover letter. Upon approval of this application, the applicant will receive a State of Washington Radioactive Ma terial License issued in accordance with the general requirements contained in Washington S tate Department of Health, Office of Radiation Protection, Radiation Control Regulations, and the Washington Nuclear Energy and Radiation Control Act, Chapter 70.98 RCW.

1a. N 1a. NAME AND MAILING ADDRESS OF APPLICANT 1b. STREET ADDRESS(ES) AT WHICH RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL WILL

BE STORED OR USED (if different than 1a) INCLUDE ZIP CODE

1c. Will radioactive material be used at temporary job locations?

Yes No2. PERSON TO CONTACT REGARDING THIS APPLICATION TELEPHONE NUMBER

3. THIS IS AN APPLICATION FOR (check appropriate item)

A . New License B . Renewal of License N umber WN - _________________

4a. INDIVIDUAL USERS (Need not be specifically named but mustbe trained as indicated in 4b.)

4b. TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE (Check at least one)

Approved Certificate(s) of Training for Each User

Individuals trained in In -House Training Program(Detailed information attached)

5a. RADIATION SAFETY OFFICER (RSO)(Person designated as RSO - Include Training Certificates)

NAME __________________________________________

RSO FAX _______ ___________________________________

RSO EMAIL ________________________________________ __

5b. DUTIES OF RADIATION SAFETY OFFICER (check one)

Sign and date Attachment ‘A’ and return. OR

Equivalent Duties Attached

6. RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL(elements and Mass number of each.)

7. SEALED SOURCE MANUFACTURERAND MODEL NUMBER

8. MAXIMUM ACTIVITY OF EACH SOURCE

A. _________________________________ A. ____________________________________ A. ____________________________________

_________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________

B. _________________________________ B. ____________________________________ B. ____________________________________

______________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________

C. _________________________________ C. ____________________________________

C. ____________________________________

______________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________

9 . DEVICE AND USE DESCRIPTION (Make lettering correspond to lettering in Items 6. 7. and 8 above.)

MANUFACTURER OF DEVICE MODEL NUMBER. OF DEVICE

USE (Check all boxes that apply)

A. surface moisture measurement

density measurement

depth moisture measurement

insoil

construction materials

RHF – 1PGApplication for

Radioactive Material License- Portable Gauge

Trivia

• What was the name of the plutonium sphere that killed two people at Las Alamos?

• Where would I go to see if the sphere is a licensable quantity?

Other places for guidance

• NRC Nuregs (for each type of material license)• Health Physics Consultants• The State, call or email us we are glad to help

The scary Inspections

• State (or NRC inspectors) come to make sure you are meeting the requirements of your License/Registration

• The Best inspections are where there are no citations– In WA we like to work with our licensees to make sure they

meet the requirements – If you want to know what we will inspect or have questions let

us know

• Sometimes a DOT or FAA inspector might come around

Common Types of Citations

• #1 Missing documentation• Missing training• Improper labeling• Improper safety• Improper PPE or Dosimetry• Not fulfilling RSO duties or not being given enough time to

do them

Trivia

• In what movie can you ride out a nuclear explosion in a refrigerator?

• Is it ok to put your lunch in the refrigerator where radionuclides are also kept?

Questions?