ML20198B118

Responds to Re NRC 860205 Interim Guidance to Regions on Inadvisability of Using Unsealed Sources of Radioactive Matl During Emergency Preparedness Exercises. Guidance Should Not Prohibit Use of Thorium Lantern Mantles

ML20198B118
Person / Time
Site:	Browns Ferry
Issue date:	05/14/1986
From:	Jordan E NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE)
To:	Cooper J ALABAMA, STATE OF
Shared Package
ML20198B122	List: ML20198B118 ML20198S191
References
NUDOCS 8605210530
Download: ML20198B118 (2)

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i James W. Cooper, Director Environmental and Facility Standards Administration State Department of Public Health State Office Building Montgomery, Alabama 36130

Dear Mr. Cooper:

This responds to the March 21, 1986 letter from the Alabama State Department of Public Health to me (Enclosure 1) concerning my February 5, 1985 interim guidance to the NRC regions on the inadvisability of using unsealed sources of radioactive material during an emergency preparedness exercise (Enclosure 2). The interim guidance notes that some states have concealed instrument " check" sources and thorium lantern mantles on an injured " victim" during an exercise as a training tool. The interim guidance would not prohibit such use. The letter includes an objection to the characterization in the interim guidance of these lantern mantles as " sealed" sources (quotations in the guidance). The letter states that the mantles can be rubbed vigorously with the result that thorium will be transferred to the fingers.

I have considered these comments and I still believe that guidance should not prohibit the use of thorium lantern mantles during emergency preparedness exer-cises. If a person ingests a mantle (0.25g of thorium), that person could receive 50 year dose commitments of 0.6-2.0 mSv (0.06-0.2 rem) to total body, 6-9 mSv to bone and 0.0001-0.0008 mSv to the lungs.* However, it is extremely unlikely that a radiation worker involved in controlled situations, like an exercise, would ingest a significant portion of a mantle or purposely rub it vigorously to cause contamination. In the interest of simplicity, reference to the lantern mantles as " sealed" sources would also continue. The purpose of the guidance is to discourage the use of unsealed sources and the attendant potential for significant contamination of persons and property during emergency preparedness exercises. Permitting the use of lantern mantles is not inconsistent with this purpose.

"NUREG/CR-1910, "An Assessment of Radiation Doses from Incandescent Gas Mantles That Contain Thorium", October 1981 8605210530 860514 PDR STPRG ESCAL PDR

James W. Cooper If you have any additional questions, please contact me at 301/402-4848 or Edward M. Podolak of my staff (301/492-7290).

Sincerely, cuiginal SioMJ %

E. Q kidd Edward L. Jordan, Director Division of Emergancy Preparedness and Engineering Response Office of Inspection and Enforcement

Enclosures:

DISTRIBUTION

1. 3/21/86 memo froic J. McNees to RHVollmer, IE JAAxelrad, IE E. Jordan JGPartlow, IE CRVan Niel, IE

2. 2/5/86 memo from E. Jordan to BKGrimes, IE FKantor, IE Regional Directors ELJordan, IE ,s EMPodolak, IE SASchwartz, IE 'r 0E%J.i DBMatthews, IE DEPER R/F 86-85 KEPerkins, IE EPB R/F.

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EPB/IE EP8/IE EPB/IE DD/DEPER/IE D R/IE EMPodolak:sc CRVan Niel DBMatthews SASchwartz ELJo dan 5/2/86 5/2/86- 5/5/86 5/7/86 5/ /86