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Personal
Protective Equipment (PPE) |
A
lab coat and protective gloves (vinyl or latex) must be worn
at all times when working with radioactive material or potentially
contaminated items.
Gloves
should be monitored and changed frequently. Used gloves should
be disposed of as radioactive waste.
Eye protection
(safety glasses, goggles, face shield) is recommended when
working with radioactive materials and other hazardous substances.
Shorts
and open-toed shoes should not be worn when working with radioactive
materials.
Potentially
volatile forms of radioactive material (especially tritium
and iodine) must be used within a certified chemical fume
hood or approved iodination
facility.
|
Working
With Volatile Radioactive Materials |
Nuclide
|
Compound
|
I-125,
I-131 |
NaI
- Sodium Iodide, BHR-Bolton Hunter Reagent |
S-35
|
Cysteine
and Methionine |
H-3 |
Tritiated
Water
|
|
The
volatile iodines require handling within a specialized facility
designed to trap the free iodine and prevent uptakes. Two options
are available, using the "Hot
Lab" facilities in Building 21 or establishing an iodination
facility in the research lab using a Radiation Safety protocol.
Recommendations
for handling S-35 volatile forms consists of venting the source
vial in a chemical fume hood for 10-15 minutes and then using
the material on the open bench. Be especially aware of source
vials that have been thawed from very cold temperatures to
room temperature as the potential exists for build-up within
the vial.
Large
quantities of tritiated water should be handled in the Building
21 "Hot Lab" facilities.
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Eating
and Drinking |
Eating
and drinking are prohibited in posted radioactive material
labs.
Storage
of food or drink in posted radioactive material labs is
prohibited. The prohibition extends to cold rooms and
refrigerators that are designated for radioactive material
storage.
Eating
and drinking are allowed in corridors, offices, and designated
break areas.
Wash and
survey hands before eating, drinking, or smoking, especially
after using radioactive materials.
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Labeling
Equipment and Other Items |
All
rooms where radioactive materials are used or stored must be
appropriately posted with a completed "Caution Radioactive
Material" sign.
- Exceptions
include rooms housing patients containing diagnostic levels
or radionuclides, and rooms containing sealed sources with
radiation levels less than 5 mrem/hr at 30 cm.
Containers
of radioactive material must be labeled with yellow "Caution
Radioactive Material" tape or labels. Labels should include:
- Radionuclide
- Original
activity
- Date
the activity was measured
- Radiation
level (if appropriate)
Equipment
and tools used with radioactive materials (which may be potentially
contaminated) should be labeled with yellow "Caution
Radioactive Material" tape or labels, to ensure that
all lab personnel are aware of the potential for contamination.
Some examples are:
- Biosafety
cabinets
- Chemical
fume hoods
- Refrigerators
- Freezers
- Centrifuges
and microfuges
- Incubators
|
- Vortexers
- Water
baths
- Pipetters
- Tube
racks
- Tongs
and forceps
- Shielding
|
Contaminated
items and lab areas should be clearly labeled with yellow
"Caution Radioactive Material" tape or labels, to
warn lab personnel of the potential for contamination.
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Using
Radioactive Materials |
Absorbent
paper is required in radioactive material work areas to contain
potential spills and splatter.
- Used
absorbent paper is always assumed to be contaminated, and
should be changed frequently.
- Used
absorbent paper should be disposed of as dry radioactive
waste, unless proven to be free of radioactive contamination
Proper
planning and staging is encouraged for procedures involving
radioactive materials.
- Ensuring
that all materials, reagents, and tools are available before
starting a procedure will save time and reduce the potential
for accidents.
Be mindful
of radioactive aerosol production.
- Certain
lab equipment (centrifuge, vortexer, shaker, etc.) is capable
of producing radioactive aerosol from liquid samples.
- Use
this equipment in an appropriate manner to minimize the
production of aerosols.
Properly
dispose of sharps.
- Use
an approved sharps box for the disposal of needles, syringes,
and glass pipettes.
- Do
not attempt to re-cap needles before disposal.
Mouth
pipetting is strictly prohibited.
Do not
rush when working with radioactive material!
- Adequate
time should be allotted for procedures involving radioactive
materials.
- Most
radioactive spills occur due to time restrictions, hasty
work, and failure to monitor.
Monitor
yourself frequently.
- As
a minimum, monitor gloves and/or hands before touching non-contaminated
items.
- Used
gloves are always assumed to be contaminated (perhaps with
agents other than radioactive materials!), and should be
changed on a frequent basis.
- Remove
gloves, monitor hands (and feet), and wash hands before
taking a break or otherwise leaving the lab (to answer the
phone, use the restroom, eat lunch, smoke a cigarette, etc.).
Use a
type and amount of shielding that is appropriate for your
application.
- Lead
should not be used as primary shielding for beta emitters
due to the production of bremsstrahlung radiation! Lead
may be used outside of Plexiglas/lucite to shield bremsstrahlung.
- Consult
with your Area Health Physicist
for shielding questions.
Isotope
|
Shielding
|
H-3 |
None |
C-14 |
None |
P-32 |
3/8"
Lucite |
P-33 |
None |
S-35 |
None |
Cr-51 |
<1
mCi none; 1-10 mCi ¼" lead; >10 mCi ½"
lead |
Tc-99m |
>1
mCi 1/8" lead |
I-125 |
>1
mCi lead foil |
I-133 |
<5
mCi 1/3" lead; >5 mCi 1" lead |
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