Radiation Safety and Radiation Applications
What is Radiation?
Natural and manmade Studied for over 100 years Particles and Rays Different effects for different radiations Not all radiation is harmful
What kinds of radiation are there?
Alpha Particlesa
Helium nucleus An energetic electron emitted from the nucleus Light wave emitted from the electrons in an atom Light wave emitted from the nucleus
Beta Particles b
X-Rays
Gamma Raysg
Two general categories of ionizing radiation:
PHOTONS
X-ray neutron
PARTICLES
alpha
beta gamma ray
102-5
Electromagnetic Radiation Spectrum
10^21 10^20 10^19 10^18 10^17 10^16 10^15 10^14 10^13 10^12 10^11 10^10 10^9 10^8 10^7 10^6 10^5 10^4 10^3 10^2 10^1 Frequency (Hz) Gamma Rays
X-rays
Ultraviolet Rays Visible Light Infrared Rays
This is the electromagnetic Spectrum Ionizing forms of electromagnetic include
Gamma Rays X-rays
Micro Waves
UV forms the cusp but is non-ionizing Non ionizing are not address in this module
Radio Waves
Summary of Types of Radiation
Alpha particles
Beta particles
Stopped with paper Only a danger if internalized
Gamma rays
Stopped with cardboard or Plexiglas Can be a danger to skin or if internalized
Stopped with increasingly dense material Mostly an irradiation hazard Stopped by water Irradiation and activation hazard
Neutrons
How do we measure exposure?
Geiger-Mueller Tube
Demo
Ionization Chambers TLD for personnel exposures
Where can radiation be found?
Nuclear Reactors
Power plants Nuclear Waste
Naturally occurring Fallout from atmospheric testing Radon Building Materials
Nature
Homes
Nuclear Reactors
Power plants
Palo Verde
Waste
Spent fuel Low-level waste
Radiation in the environment
Natural
Uranium and Thorium in the soil Radon gas
Fallout
Atmospheric testing CTBT in effect 1963
Medical Exposures
Doses vary tremendously based on type of treatment US Average: 53 mrem/yr Examples: Chest x-ray (~20 mrem) Dental x-ray (hundreds of mrem) CAT Scan (50-5000 mrem) Cardiac Catherization (~10 rem) Radiotherapy (~200 rem each) Nuclear Medicine (2000mrem/target organ
Weapons
Dose depends on many factors
Size of bomb Type of bomb Location Weather Time
Dirty Bombs
Internal Sources
Our body tissues
39 mrem/yr
Carbon-14 Potassium-40 Radium-226 Water Food
Diet
Brazil nuts No Salt Whiskey Milk Salad Oil
Consumer Products
US Average Products include:
11 mrem/yr
Orange fiesta ware Ceramics Porcelains Luminous dials Smoke Detectors Lantern Mantles
Good Radiation vs. Bad Radiation
In the publics eye, there are two types of radiation
Good radiation benefits humans any medical exposure is good radiation Bad radiation is detrimental to humans any industrial/commercial exposure is bad radiation; many even include natural exposure in this category
Radiation Exposure
Normally receive 300 mrem per year
Same as 30 chest xrays
Workers allowed up to 5000 mrem/year Public exposure must be less than 500 mrem/year
Measurement of Dose
Stands for As Low As Reasonably Achievable Requirement for all facilities and personnel ALARA can be achieved via Training/knowledge Protection methods
Protection Against Radiation
Time Distance Shielding
Inverse square law
Source: 100 mrem/hr @1 foot
2 feet 25 mrem/hr
10 feet 1 mrem/hr
100mrem/hr 1/2 Thickness Shield 50 mrem/hr
SHIELD One Half Value Layer
MINIMIZE DOSE
High Alarm (Continued)
When in doubt, do not allow the load into the mill. Contact the RSO Do not unload the truck or rail car Get people away from the load THE LOAD COULD POSE AN EXPOSURE HAZARD AS THE STEEL SCRAP IS MOVED AROUND
Low Alarm (Vehicle Present)
Vehicle just leaving Exceeded an alarm threshold
Examples of alarm settings:
Low Alarm: 0.5uR/hr-50uR/hr High Alarm: 50uR/hr-150uR/hr Danger: All detectors above 150uR/hr
Truck Detectors
Conclusions
Three types of radiation
Alpha, Beta and Gamma (X-ray)
Characteristics of Radiation
Half-Life, Penetrating Power, Type, and Isotope Everywhere
Radiation can be found:
Conclusions
Radiation
Can be detected High level effects known Low Level effects still debated 300 mrem/year Varies widely
Annual Exposure
