ENS 56466
ENS Event | |
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18:00 Apr 4, 2023 | |
Title | Leaking Source |
Event Description | The following information was provided by the Utah Division of Waste Management and Radiation Control (DWMRC) via email:
The University of Utah contacted the DWMRC to report that they had found that an Isotope Products Laboratories, Cs-137 Resin Vial Source, Source Number 988-97-3 with an assayed activity of 208.9 microcuries (assay date May 1, 2004), was leaking. A routine quarterly leak test was taken of the sealed source. When counted with a PerkinElmer 2480 Wizard2 radiation detector, the wipe showed an elevated reading. The wipe results showed 4531 cpm (background 32 cpm). The technologist who performed the wipe contacted the licensee's Radiological Health Department. The technologist was told to count the wipe in the well counter (Biodex AtomLab 500). The well counter on the Cs-137 channel showed there was 0.6 microcuries with a 0.3 microcuries background on the sample for a leak test result of 0.3 microcuries. Since there was no obvious leak in the resin vial, the licensee suspected it had been contaminated with short lived radioisotopes. The source was doubly bagged and isolated in storage until the next day when it was again verified to be above background. On April 11, 2023, it was retested. The leak test was performed with both an alcohol pad and a gauze pad. The results of these samples were counted with the PerkinElmer instrument, but not the well counter. The result of the wipes was 4248 cpm and 7303 cpm respectively (PerkinElmer 2480 Wizard2 radiation detector for both tests was 32 cpm). This showed it was not a short-lived isotope and the source was leaking. The individual stated that when he performed the wipe test on April 11, 2023, he heard the plastic vial crack and the crack opened while the wipe was being taken but returned to a 'closed position' when the wipe was completed. He immediately returned the wipe to the baggies and put it in storage. Since the wipes taken verified the original assessment was correct, the licensee stated that the source would be placed with their waste and disposed in their normal waste shipments to a licensed radioactive waste disposal site. After the initial finding on April 4, 2023, radiation surveys of the area and equipment were conducted to verify that no contamination was present. No contamination was found, and the area and equipment were released for use. The licensee stated that the vial appeared to be slightly yellowed around the crack and believes the plastic may have cracked due to radiation fatigue. The licensee had ordered two of these sources in 2004. The other source was in use at one of the licensee's other medical facilities but was removed from service and will be disposed of with the leaking source as a precaution. Utah Event Report ID Number: UT 23-0004 |
Where | |
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University Of Utah Salt Lake City, Utah (NRC Region 4) | |
License number: | UT 1800001 |
Organization: | Utah Division Of Radiation Control |
Reporting | |
Agreement State | |
Time - Person (Reporting Time:+201.43 h8.393 days <br />1.199 weeks <br />0.276 months <br />) | |
Opened: | Gwyn Galloway 03:26 Apr 13, 2023 |
NRC Officer: | Karen Cotton-Gross |
Last Updated: | Apr 13, 2023 |
56466 - NRC Website
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University of Utah with Agreement State | |
WEEKMONTHYEARENS 564662023-04-04T18:00:0004 April 2023 18:00:00
[Table view]Agreement State Leaking Source ENS 554822021-09-09T18:00:0009 September 2021 18:00:00 Agreement State Loss of Control of Radioactive Material ENS 526732017-04-10T06:00:00010 April 2017 06:00:00 Agreement State Agreement State Report - Leaking Tritium Exit Sign ENS 517142016-02-02T07:00:0002 February 2016 07:00:00 Agreement State Lost Tritium Exit Sign ENS 421212005-11-05T19:50:0005 November 2005 19:50:00 Agreement State Agreement State - Missing Am-241 Source ENS 419252005-08-04T18:30:0004 August 2005 18:30:00 Agreement State Agreement State Report - Medical Event 2023-04-04T18:00:00 | |