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RADIATION SAFETY TRAINING MANUAL

CHAPTER 6
PRACTICAL STEPS TO RADIATION SAFETY

CHAPTER 6 Table Of Contents

F. USE OF VOLATILE RADIONUCLIDES

An Office of Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S)-approved fume hood (properly functioning) must be used for operations that create a possibility of airborne radioactivity, such as iodination procedures or procedures using dispersible solids or volatile liquids like tritiated water. Hazardous or high activity (more than 1 mCi) materials should be handled in a fume hood. Some procedures may require further containment such as a glove box or glove bag. The Radiation Safety Office will assist in determining the necessity for such devices. In general, all precautions mentioned previously apply to using radioactive materials in a fume hood.

1. An absorbent surface covering is important since the work area of many hoods is porous. A good practice is to paint the hood with a latex paint that can be readily stripped, if decontamination is necessary.

2. A malfunctioning hood must not to be used. EH&S measures the face velocity and verifies that a hood meets the standard (an average of 100 linear feet per minute with no individual measurement falling below 70 feet per minute).

3. Unnecessary items should be removed from the hood to prevent their contamination and to maintain the air flow efficiency of the hood. Cover stationary objects not to be used.

G. SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS FOR THE USE OF RADIOACTIVE IODINE

Handling radioiodine presents a hazard to personnel. I₂, I-, HI and HOI- are highly reactive and are readily absorbed through the skin and through vinyl gloves. Significant thyroid burdens of radioiodine have been observed when inappropriate handling techniques have been employed. The following precautions should be observed to minimize personal exposures:

1. NaI should be kept at an alkaline pH (above 7.8 and below 11.0). Avoid acidic solutions which result in volatile iodine. Store NaI at room temperature. Studies have shown that freezing results in instability of the compound and volatilization.

2. Always work in a fume hood approved for iodinations and currently certified. If any malfunction is suspected, call EH&S at 476-1300. Wear two pairs of gloves. Volatile iodine compounds can penetrate each layer of gloves within 10 minutes, so gloves should be changed at least every 10 minutes.

3. Place disposable pipettes, syringes, gloves, etc., in properly labeled plastic jars with large screw cap lids as quickly as possible to minimize release of volatile iodine; store the jars in a fume hood until waste pick-up. Liquid waste containers must also be sealed and stored in a fume hood. Use of activated carbon granules in the jar will reduce the emission of volatiles.

4. Significant extremity exposures can occur if vials or containers of radioiodine are handled directly. The levels of exposure as a function of distance are clear from the following example:

¹²⁵I 600 mR/mCi-hr @ 1 cm¹³¹I 2.5 R/mCi-hr @ 1 cm 0.24 mR/mCi-hr @ 50 cm 1.0 mR/mCi-hr @ 50 cm

5. Finger rings must be worn by all personnel working with 5 mCi or more of a radioiodine.

H. TRANSPORTATION OF RADIONUCLIDES

1. When transporting between stations within a laboratory, carry radioisotopes in a container that will contain inadvertent spills.

2. Always enclose radioisotopes in liquid-tight, unbreakable carrying cases or containers (with enough absorbent to easily absorb the liquid in case of a spill), before transporting through corridors or between buildings. Adequate shielding should be provided so that the radiation exposure at 1 foot is less than 2 mrem/hr.

3. When radioactive material is transferred from one department, laboratory, or project to another within the campus, inform the Radiation Safety Office. The Radiation Safety Office can verify that the receiving laboratory has a valid RUA authorizing the type and quantity of radioactive material to be transferred. They can also check the amount to be transferred against the amount on hand to verify that the receiving laboratory's possession limit will not be exceeded.

4. A Transfer of Radioactive Material Form must be completed (See Figure 6.8 and Figure 6.9.). One copy of the form is filed in the transferring laboratory's Radiation Safety Logbook, one copy in the receiving laboratory's logbook, and one copy is sent to the Radiation Safety Office.

5. If radioactive material is to be transferred to a non-UCSF location, notify the Radiation Safety Office. Regulations require that a copy of the recipient's Radioactive Material License be obtained to verify that they have authorization to receive the material to be transferred. Special packaging and transport requirements may also be required depending on the type, quantity, and amount of radioactive material.

6. Radioactive material that is received in proper Department of Transportation (DOT) packaging, checked as appropriate, and resealed in the same manner as the original package, may be transferred to other UCSF sites. A copy of the manifest must accompany the shipment. If packages are split, a new manifest must be provided and the transfer effected in a proper DOT package. A Transfer of Radioactive Material Form must be completed for each transfer and the Radiation Safety Office informed.

Figure 6.8 Transfer of Radioactive Material Form

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA RADIATION SAFETY OFFICE

TRANSFER OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL

Use this form for transfer of radioactive material from one P.I. to another within UCSF.

DATE __________________________________

CAMPUS: Parnassus SFGH Laurel Heights Mission Center Building

Other: _________________________________________

Transferred By:Received By:

________________________________________________________________________

(signature)(signature)

White Copy: to EH&S, Box 0942Pink Copy: to Receiving LabYellow Copy: to Lab File

Figure 6.9 Transfer of Radioactive Material Form - Graphic Under Construction
Graphic Under Construction

I. POSTING AND LABELING REQUIREMENTS

1. POSTING

a. Areas in which radioisotopes are used or stored must be conspicuously posted with the CAUTION RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL sign. This includes, but is not limited to, rooms, storage cabinets, safes, refrigerators, incubators, and fume hoods. (See Figure 6.10 for sample radiation safety labels.)

b. Areas in which the exposure rate exceeds 5 mrem/hr must be posted with the CAUTION RADIATION AREA sign.

c. Areas in which the exposure rate exceeds 100 mrem/hr must be posted with CAUTION HIGH RADIATION AREA sign.

d. Areas within a lab that are never to be used for storage or use of radioactive materials should be clearly marked.

2. LABELING

a. Any container in which radioactive material is transported, stored, or used must bear a CAUTION RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL label.

 

b. Whenever a container is removed from the working area or when containers are used for storage, the label must state the type, quantity, and amount of radioactive material in the container, the date of the measurement of the quantities, and to whom it belongs.

 

c. Special items used with radioisotope procedures which could be contaminated should be labeled (e.g. pipettes, tweezers, ice buckets).

 

d. Radioactive work areas should be neatly covered with vinyl-backed absorbent paper. Tape (marked with the radioactive symbol) should clearly delineate the work area.

 

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Figure 6.10 Radiation Safety Labels -
Graphics Under Construction

J. WORKING WITH RADIOACTIVE ANIMALS

The spillage precautions, shielding precautions, required clothing, and dosimetry are the same when working with radioactive animals as for any experiment using radionuclides. However, particular attention needs to be paid to the collection and disposal of radioactive excreta, and to the disposal of radioactive carcasses (See Chapter 9, Categories of Radioactive Waste).

The Special Precautions/Instructions for procedures involving animals housed in the Animal Care Facility (ACF) are specified on Supplement B Form of the laboratory's RUA application. This form specifies the responsibilities of ACF and the responsibilities of the PIs. A copy of the form can be found in Figure 6.11 below and the requirements for your laboratory are available for review in the laboratory's Radiation Safety Log Book.

Figure 6.11 Supplement B Form

UCSF Radioisotope Application Form

SUPPLEMENT B

ANIMAL INVOLVEMENT IN THE ANIMAL CARE FACILITY

PI _____________________________ Phone _______ Dept _____________ Date ______

_____________________________ _______ _______________

RUA # ___ ___ ___ Housing dates - start _______

finish _______

Species ________________________ #___________ Animals per cage __________

Isotope(s) ________ ________ Dose (mCi) per animal _____________

________ ________

________ ________ Excretory Route (urine) (feces) (respiration)

Animal exposure rate - Contact ______ (mrem/hr) 1 Meter (mrem/hr)

Special Precautions/Instructions

ACF Responsibilities Investigators Responsibilities

cc: ACF Area Supervisor (Bob Fish)(Pete Lindquist)

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