WORKING PRACTISES WHEN USING RADIOACTIVE ISOTOPES....
AT A GLANCE...
Radioactive isotope or radioisotope, natural or artificially created isotope of a chemical element having an unstable nucleus that decays, emitting alpha, beta, or gamma rays until stability is reached. The stable end product is a nonradioactive isotope of another element, i.e., radium-226 decays finally to lead-206. Very careful measurements show that many materials contain traces of radioactive isotopes. For a time it was thought that these materials were all members of the actinide series. However, exacting radiochemical research has demonstrated that certain of the light elements also have naturally occurring isotopes that are radioactive. Since minute traces of radioactive isotopes can be sensitively detected by means of the Geiger counter and other methods, they have various uses in medical therapy, diagnosis, and research. In therapy, they are used to kill or inhibit specific malfunctioning cells.
EXAMPLES OF SOME RADIOISOTOPES...
Radioactive phosphorus is used to treat abnormal cell proliferation, e.g., polycythemia (increase in red cells) and leukemia (increase in white cells). Radioactive iodine can be used in the diagnosis of thyroid function and in the treatment of hyperthyroidism. Since the iodine taken into the body concentrates in the thyroid gland, the radioaction can be confined to that organ. In research, radioactive isotopes as tracer agents make it possible to follow the action and reaction of organic and inorganic substances within the body, many of which could not be studied by any other means. They also help to ascertain the effects of radiation on the human organism In industry, radioactive isotopes are used for a number of purposes, including measuring the thickness of metal or plastic sheets by the amount of radiation they can stop, testing for corrosion or wear, and monitoring various processes.
STEPS AND PRECAUTION
All users of radioisotopes must attend Radioisotope Safety Training to ensure that all users are aware of the hazards of radiation exposure, and now how to handle and dispose of the materials in a manner that is consistent with regulations, and maintains personnel exposure as low as reasonably achievable.
Before using a radioactive isotopes, the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) of the particular isotope must have been gone through thoroughly to get to know the properties of the isotope. Moreover, it would also facilitate the user with some specific and important information such as handling method, storage, disposal mangement and so forth.
A key principle of radiation protection is the minimization of dose. The external dose received is the product of the dose rate and the time exposed. Dose from external radiation can be reduced by either:
� reducing the activity of the source,
� increasing shielding around the source
� increasing the distance from the source, or
� reducing the time spent near the source.
WORKERS CLEANING THE SPILLED RADIOISOTOPES...
Preparation
- Designate and label areas for working with radioactive material
- Label all containers with a radioactive material label and specify the isotope
- No eating, drinking or smoking in the laboratory
- No mouth pipetting of radioactive material
- Plan your experiment so that mixed waste (i.e. hazardous chemical or biologically active combined with radioactivity) is not generated. If this cannot be avoided contact the Radiation Protection Office (RPO) for further assistance.
- Wear protective clothing. The minimum requirements include a laboratory coat, safety glasses and close-toed shoes. Wear disposable gloves, either single or double pair, depending on the radionuclide you are working with. Choose gloves that are appropriate for the chemical and other hazards in your experiment.
LABELED RADIOACTIVES...
Conducting the Research
- Use spill trays and absorbent covering
- Use fume hoods for handling potentially volatile material
- Use glove box for handling large quantities of volatile material
- Wear laboratory coat, disposable gloves, and laboratory safety glasses
- Use gloves appropriate for the chemicals to be handled
DISPOSAL
Radioactive wastes are usually in the form of solids (contamination paper, plastic and glass), liquids, and gases. Liquids may be disposed via the sanitary sewer provided they meet solubility and radioactive concentration criteria. Radioactively contaminated solids are disposed into waste containers that are either held on-site for decay-in-storage (for short-lived radioisotopes), or for disposal at a long-term disposal facility (for longer-lived radioisotopes). Radioactive wastes cannot be held in the laboratory for more than 6 months, and must be picked up for proper handling and disposal. Generation of mixed wastes which meets the definitions for a hazardous waste and a radioactive waste must be avoided.
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE)
EXAMPLES OF PPE...
THE LONG- SLEEVED LAB COAT/ GOWN
1. In a laboratory, wearing a coat is a must. One should not be in the laboratory without wearing a lab coat.
2. Coats and gown are only designed asa a single layer of instant protection from splashes, generally of chemicals.
3. One should immediately remove the coat if they splashed and if necessary safety shower is used.
4. Lab coat are washed regularly as over time it picks up every contaminant in the lab.
5. Lab coats are never worn outside of the lab because it will get contaminated.
THE GLOVES
1. Types of Gloves- Latex Nitrile or Neoprene which are
- not resistant to many chemicals- permeabke to many solvents
- Effective against biological materials as they do provide a biological barrier
- Not useful for hot or cold materials
2. When handling hot materials, always use heatproof gloves.
3. When handling cold materials, always use crygloves.
4. When handling concentrated acids or bases, you hsould be using Acid Proof Gloves which comes thick in red.
5. Do and Don’ts:
I. Never wear gloves outside of the lab esp. to toilet. You are contaminating everything you touch or you are contaminating your gloves.
II. If you splash any chemical onto your gloves, immediately remove them and wash your hands.
THE FOOTWEAR
1. Fully enclosed footwear (closed from the foot to the ankle) must be worn in all;
- Laboratories
- Workshops
- Restricted areas
- Radiated area
2. This is to protect the feet from getting radiated when using radioactive isotopes and to stop one from stepping in harmful materials.
3. Open back shoes are not acceptable.
SAFETY GOGGLES
1. It forms a seal around the eyes and protect from radiation.
REMEMBER!!!
A RADIATION MONITOR IS NOT PPE...SUCH AS THE TAG.
REGULATIONS
- International
- MINT (Malaysia)
I. Atomic Energy Licensing Act 1984
II. Radiation Protection (Licensing) Regulations 1986
III. Radiation Protection (Basic Safety Standard) Regulations 1988
IV. Radiation Protection (Transport) Regulations 1989.
V. Code of Practice for Radiation Protection (Medical X ray Diagnosis) MS838:1985
VI. Code of Practice on Radiation Protection in Industrial Radiography (LEM/TEK/33:1995)
VII. Guide for Safe Transportation of Radioactive Minerals in the Amang Upgrading Industry (LEM/TEK/32:1994)
VIII. Statistics on facilities, inspections, number of radiation workers, etc
IX. Inspection Procedures
X. Inspection checklists
XI. Enforcement procedures
XII. Prosecution procedures
XIII. Licence application forms
XIV. Atomic Energy Licensing (Exemption Order) 2001 – Scanning Electron Microscope
XV. Atomic Energy Licensing (Exemption Order) 2001 – Zirconium Silicate
XVI. Atomic Energy Licensing (Exemption Order) May 2002 – Low Level Radioactive Sources
XVII. Atomic Energy Licensing (Exemption Order) May 2002 – Irradiating Apparatus With Energy Below 5
XVIII. Amendment of Atomic Energy Licensing Act 1984
XIX. Radiation Protection (Basic Safety Standard) Regulations
XX. Radiation Protection (Medical, Dental, Veterinary) regulations
XXI. Radiation Protection (Waste Management) Regulations
XXII. Radiation Protection (Licensing) Regulations
XXIII. Radiation Protection (Transport) Regulations
XXIV. Radiological Safety in Oil and Gas Industry
XXV. . Radiation Protection In Non-Medical Irradiation Facilities
