ML19318B081
| ML19318B081 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 05/21/1980 |
| From: | Metzger J NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE) |
| To: | Lubenau J NRC OFFICE OF STATE PROGRAMS (OSP) |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19318B080 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8006250009 | |
| Download: ML19318B081 (6) | |
Text
{{#Wiki_filter:. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ - _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ - _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ - n9 4%, o y o UNITED STATES Q '}. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSIOni SSINS 0940 g E WASHINGTON, D. C. 205!!5 '+, ,o MAY h 11980 t.. g,,.; met 10 rah 3UM FOR: Joel Lubenau, Office of State Programs FROM: Jack Metzger, Office of Inspection and Enforcement
SUBJECT:
LEAKING Cf-252 SOURCES 1 Enclosed for information or. action is a report from Washington University, St. Louis, M0, concerning Cf-252 sources received from Isotope Products Laboratory, Burbank, CA. The report was sent to IPL and the sources returned to IPL. This issue was previously discussed with you by our Region III office on January 25, 1980. k.f2 7hh a Jack Metzgdr Office of Inspection and Enforceirant Enclosure : As Stated s I \\ i O e 9 9 8006250 004 ~
Wr w WAGHINOTCN UNIVEHCITY ST. LOUIS. MISSOURI 83130 MCDONNELL CENTER FOR THE 'May 7, 1980 .uct.ciENet. SOMtt03 b Isotope Products Laboratory 1800 North Keystone Street Burbank, CA 91504 Gentlemen: 1. On December 8,1978, re purchased two 250pCi252Cf sources on our Purchase Order No. 23-4234. On page 24 ofyour catalog (April 1,1977) you state that no possibility of loss, such as flaking, can occur. An exneriment was performed to check the integrity of the source. Please see the attached description.
- 1) a dissemination from the source of 108 252Cf non-fissioned atoms per day; see enclosed photo #1.
- 2) massive (flaking / chunks) of the source; see enclosed photos #2 and 3.
Therefore, we are returning both sources because'the source did not live up to specifications, thereby causing a potential health hazard. We believe that a full refund of the purchase price is due us. We also invested an inordinate amount of time in monitoring the sources and measuring the amount of transferred 252Cf. We were aware from the t;eginning that tile source could be potentially dangerous and we took steps to,enplose it and motiitor its integrity. A description of our source holder and our examination techniques are attached. To protect the health of other investigators, and acting in your own best interests, we sincerely hope that you will take the following stens: a) act to ensure the Integrity of any future sources that you supply; b) alert users of 252Cf sources of potential problems and suggest an arrangement similar to the one we used; We stand reaoy to supply information to any 2s2Cf user who might wish to profit from our experience. You attention in this matter will be greatly; appreciated. MAY1g1999 Sincerely, \\ f PDS:crw [ R. M. Walker atrick D Iwan n Director Radiation Safety Officer cc: NRC .J. Eichling
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.f ~r. .? THE EXPERIMENT l I To test the* integrity of your 252Cf sources, we proceeded as follows:
- 1) The source and associated shield assembly is plac'd in our e
irradiation facility for a period of one to two weeks. See Figure (1). 1..
- 2) After the above period elapses, the shield assembly is replaced with-a fresh shield.
- 3) The removed shield assembly is then stored again for a period of one to two weeks with a mica or plastic detector emplaced as in Figure (2).
- 4) The detector is then removed ar.d etched 15 minutes in 48%
hydroflouric acid for mica or two hours' in 6.25n Na0H 0 40 C for the plastic.
- 5) After the detectors are etched, they are optically scanned O 100 to 500 times magnificat on using an optical microscope.
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- 6) Any transmitted ilon-fissioned 252Cf which subsequently fissioned during detector emplacement will show up as fission stars or individual fission tracks. See enclosed photographs.
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- 7) Calculations can then be performed from track densities measured from the ph'tographs.
This will derive,'the amount of transferred o i material. O m<- ae -
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