ML23062A706
| ML23062A706 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 10/02/2000 |
| From: | Klinger J Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML23062A719 | List: |
| References | |
| Download: ML23062A706 (40) | |
Text
THE TRITIUM GUY
- Presented by:
- Joe Klinger, Chief
- Division of Radioactive Materials
- IL Dept. of Nuclear Safety 4422
Generally Licensed Exit Signs
- Safe and Important: Fires, electrical blackouts
- Inexpensive, very little maintenance
- Ubiquitous (12,000+ IL)/350,000 in NRC jurisdictions
- Mfrd/dist. under sp. lic. and used under general license (gl) 4422
- Glass Tubes: Gaseous Tritium
- Pure Beta Emitter, 18.6 KeV
- T 1/2=12.3 Yrs/Bio.T 1/2=10 days
- Phosphor=ZnS on tube walls
- Glows due to Beta interactions w/phosphor 4422
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Problems
- Multi-Curie quantities of Hydrogen-3
- GLs not required to license or register
- Not aware of ram
- Not aware that they are regulated
- Not aware of proper disposal
- Inadequate labeling 4422
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Problems (cont.)
- Safe and effective unless you have the inquisitive, intelligent(?!) and most dreaded of all:
THE TRITIUM GUY 4422
NJ Tritium Guys
- swim suit posters, sunflower seeds
- Fire Dept., GM Tube. No Contamination!
- NJDEP investigated
- 23 Agencies, $100,000 +, TEDE 80 mrem (256) 4422
NJ (cont.)
- 2nd- Teen- Child Trtmt Center
- Tantrum
- 15 Curies, several tubes broken
- 930,000 dpm/100cm2 in bedroom/16 mrem
- $200,000+16 mrem 4422
IL Tritium Experience
- Nov 1, 1999--MINWAX in Flora, IL
- Damaged sign (Self-powered Lighting, Elmsford, NY)
- Scavenger-(aka Tritium Guy)
- Home 4422
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Contamination Assessment
- Wipe samples only effective means of measurement
- IDNS Lab in Springfield. Liquid Scintillation (Phosphor interference)
- Urinalyses
- Portable Proportional Gas Flow Proportional Counter 4422
Contamination Limits
- 340 Appendix A (Similar to NRC RG 1.86)
- 1,000 pCi/100 cm2
- 5,000 pCi/100 cm2 Max.
- Fixed--250 microrem /hr @ 1 cm 4422
Before Decon 4422
Before Decon 4422
Before Decon 4422
IDNS Decontamination Decision
- Luxury of contamination confined to a non-residence
- Luxury of time for H-3 concentration reduction over time
- Most of the source was initially removed. Contamination was like a particulate 4422
IDNS Decontamination Decision (cont.)
- Equipment, supplies, manpower to conduct ourselves and save expense
- Opportunity for staff for practical health physics experience 4422
Decon Methods
- Basic HP contamination control
- Rotated duties
- Non-phosphate detergent and water (detector interference)
- Iso-propyl alcohol
- Washed down and air-dried.
Ventilation and heating, collander for small items 4422
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After Decon 4422
After Decon 4422
After Decon 4422
Final Dose Estimates
Final Dose Estimates (cont.)
- 250+ (NCRP 65)
- REMedy-SAIC, integrates ICRP 30 biokinetcs models, TEDE based on avg <urine> 24 hr. periods.
- Tritium Spouse--1.07 mrem /Tritium Daughter--1.06 mrem
- Highest IDNS --.18 mrem 4422
Final Cost Estimates
- Staff Time including decon, ntgs.,
travel = $31, 735
- Bioassay analyses = $11,700
- Wipe Sample analyses = $16,650
- Disposal of 4 drums of waste =
$4,000
- TOTAL = $64,085.00 4422
Final Recommendations
- Labeling improvements
- Sales literature improvements (install and forget about for 20 years!). Enhanced communication with contractors, vendors, building owners etc.
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Final Recommendations (cont.)
- Discourage proliferation simply to avoid running electrical wire.
- Install protection to avoid damage.
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Final Recommendations (cont.)
- Revisit Acceptable Surface Contamination Levels in NRC RG 1.86 and related documents
- Possible technological improvements to solidify or mix phosphor with H-3 to improve detection and decon efforts
- Watch out for Tritium Guys in your neighborhood!
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