Information Notice 1986-95, Leak Testing Iodine-125 Sealed Sources in Lixi, Inc. Imaging Devices and Bone Mineral Analyzers

Leak Testing Iodine-125 Sealed Sources in Lixi, Inc. Imaging Devices and Bone Mineral Analyzers

ML031250148
Person / Time
Site:	Beaver Valley, Millstone, Hatch, Monticello, Calvert Cliffs, Dresden, Davis Besse, Peach Bottom, Browns Ferry, Salem, Oconee, Mcguire, Nine Mile Point, Palisades, Palo Verde, Perry, Indian Point, Fermi, Kewaunee, Catawba, Harris, Wolf Creek, Saint Lucie, Point Beach, Oyster Creek, Watts Bar, Hope Creek, Grand Gulf, Cooper, Sequoyah, Byron, Pilgrim, Arkansas Nuclear, Three Mile Island, Braidwood, Susquehanna, Summer, Prairie Island, Columbia, Seabrook, Brunswick, Surry, Limerick, North Anna, Turkey Point, River Bend, Vermont Yankee, Crystal River, Haddam Neck, Ginna, Diablo Canyon, Callaway, Vogtle, Waterford, Duane Arnold, Farley, Robinson, Clinton, South Texas, San Onofre, Cook, Comanche Peak, Yankee Rowe, Maine Yankee, Quad Cities, Humboldt Bay, La Crosse, Big Rock Point, Rancho Seco, Zion, Midland, Bellefonte, Fort Calhoun, FitzPatrick, McGuire, LaSalle, 05000000, Zimmer, Fort Saint Vrain, Shoreham, Satsop, Trojan, Atlantic Nuclear Power Plant, Skagit, Marble Hill
Issue date:	11/10/1986
From:	Partlow J NRC/IE
To:
References
IN-86-095, NUDOCS 8611050329
Download: ML031250148 (3)

SSINS No.: 6835 IN 86-95 UNITED STATES

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

OFFICE OF INSPECTION AND ENFORCEMENT

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555 November 10, 1986 IE INFORMATION NOTICE NO. 86-95: LEAK TESTING IODINE-125 SEALED SOURCES IN

LIXI, INC. IMAGING DEVICES AND BONE MINERAL

ANALYZERS

Addressees

All NRC licensees authorized to use Lixi, Inc. imaging devices or any other

bone mineral analyzer with a sealed source containing iodine-125.

Purpose

This notice is to alert licensees of a recent incident where the normal means

of testing the sealed source in such devices for leakage was ineffective and

to suggest alternate means of leak testing. It is suggested that licensees

review this information for applicability to their facilities and consider

actions, if appropriate, to preclude similar problems at their facilities.

However, suggestions contained-4n this information notice do not constitute

NRC requirements; therefore, no specific action or written response is required.

Description of Circumstances

Lixi, Inc. imaging devices include a sealed source containing 220 to 450 milli- curies of iodine-125 and function much like an X-ray fluoroscope. The source

has to be tested every 6 months to determine if there is any leakage of

iodine-125. Licensees who keep sources longer than 6 months are required

by license to perform this test and send the test samples out for analysis.

This test is now performed by using an alcohol-moistened Q-tip and a dry Q-tip

to wipe certain portions of the source holder as specified in the instructions.

The purpose of the test is to determine if any particulate iodine-125 is on

the sample Q-tips, which would indicate the source was breached and would have

to be replaced to avoid a contamination problem. However, a recent incident

at the Lixi, Inc. facility showed that the alcohol and dry wipes are not an

adequate means of detecting a leaking source.

During the investigation of the incident, it was found that two sources that

had been returned for exchange were leaking. Alcohol and dry wipes did not

reveal any removable iodine-125 on the various surfaces because the escaping

iodine-125 came out in gaseous form rather than as particulate matter. As

a result, about 15 people inhaled small amounts of iodine-125 which deposited

in their thyroids.

8611050329

IN 86-95 November 10, 1986 The iodine-125 was apparently adsorbed on carbon containing material such as

cardboard, rubber bands, styrofoam, and charcoal that was near the escaping

gas. A survey of these materials revealed elevated radiation levels. Through

these direct surveys and a series of air samples using filter media containing

charcoal, the ruptured sources were located and the airborne contamination

problem was resolved.

Discussion:

Licensees who perform leak tests on their Lixi, Inc. imaging devices should

be aware that the current practice of using alcohol and dry wipes is not an

adequate means of detecting a leaking iodine-125 sealed source. Lixi, Inc.

will be sending a revised leak testing procedure to its customers in the near

future. In the meantime, licensees who are returning source heads for exchange

should include charcoal in the form of granules or a solid piece in the package

with the source head. When Lixi, Inc. receives such packages, it will survey

the charcoal for an indication of leakage. A sodium-iodide crystal (thin

window) detector (or one of similar sensitivity) is required to detect the low

levels of radioactivity that would be encountered in such surveys.

During the incident investigation, granulated charcoal was placed on a Q-tip

that was then held for several minutes at the window in the source head to

verify leakage. The gaseous Iodine-125 that adsorbed onto the charcoal was

easily Identified with a crysta-l-detector.

Until the revised procedure arrives from Lixi, Inc., it is suggested that

licensees use the above method for identifying a leaking source. The granulated

charcoal Q-tip may be placed in the plastic envelope that is included in Lixi's

leak test kit and forwarded to a consultant with adequate instrumentation for

analysis.

If you have any questions regarding this matter, please contact the Regional

Administrator of the appropriate NRC Regional Office or this office.

Jame G. Partlow, Director

Division of Inspection Programs

Office of Inspection and Enforcement

J. Metzger, IE

(301) 492-4947 Attachment: List of Recently Issued IE Information Notices

Attachment 1 IN 86-95 November 10, 1986 LIST OF RECENTLY ISSUED

IE INFORMATION NOTICES

Information Date of

Notice No. SubJect Issue Issued to

86-94 Hilti Contrete Expansion 11/6/86 All power reactor

Anchor Bolts facilities holding

an OL or CP

86-93 IEB 85-03 Evaluation Of 11/3/86 All power reactor

Motor-Operators Identifies facilities holding

Improper Torque Switch an OL or CP

Settings

86-82 Failures Of Scram Discharge 11/4/86 All power reactor

Rev. 1 Volume Vent And Drain Valves facilities holding

an OL or CP

86-92 Pressurizer Safety Valve 11/4/86 All PWR facilities

Reliability holding an OL or CP

86-91 Limiting Access 11/3/86 All power reactor

Authorizations facilities holding

an OL or CP; fuel

fabrication and

processing facilities

86-90 Requests To Dispose-Of Very 11/3/86 All power reactor

Low-Level Radioactive Waste facilities holding

Pursuant to 10 CFR 20.302 an OL or CP

86-89 Uncontrolled Rod Withdrawal 10/16/86 All BWR facilities

Because Of A Single Failure holding an OL or CP

86-05 Main Steam Safety Valve Test 10/16/86 All power reactor

Sup. 1 Failures And Ring Setting facilities holding

Adjustments an OL or CP

86-25 Traceability And Material 10/15/86 All power reactor

Sup. 1 Control of Material And facilities holding

Equipment, Particularly an OL or CP

Fasteners

OL = Operating License

CP = Construction Permit