Information Notice 2000-16, Volatilization of Radionuclides and Emergency Procedures

Volatilization of Radionuclides and Emergency Procedures

ML003753003
Person / Time
Issue date:	10/05/2000
From:	Cool D NRC/NMSS/IMNS
To:
Null K
References
IN-00-016
Download: ML003753003 (4)

UNITED STATES

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY AND SAFEGUARDS

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555-0001 October 5, 2000

NRC INFORMATION NOTICE 2000-16: POTENTIAL HAZARDS DUE TO

VOLATILIZATION OF RADIONUCLIDES

Addressees

All U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) licensees that process unsealed byproduct

material.

Purpose

NRC is issuing this information notice (IN) to alert addressees to the potential hazards

associated with the volatilization of radiochemicals and/or radiopharmaceuticals if containment

is breached during chemical or physical processing.

The incident described below involves the volatilization of technetium-99m (Tc-99m) during the

manufacture of a cardiac imaging agent in a radiopharmacy. However, licensees should be

aware of the potential hazards posed by the volatilization of other radionuclides under similar

conditions and ensure that their emergency procedures adequately address those hazards.

It is expected that recipients will review this information for applicability to their operations and

consider actions, as appropriate. However, suggestions contained in this information notice are

not new NRC requirements; therefore, no specific action nor written response is required.

Background:

IN 95-07, issued on January 27, 1995, described the potential for cracking vials and significant

contamination when medical and radiopharmacy licensees heat vials of Cardiolite, a cardiac

imaging agent, as part of the process to label the pharmaceutical with Tc-99m. The IN

described incidents in which vials cracked during the heating phase of the tagging process of

Cardiolite, and the subsequent volatilization of the Tc-99m which resulted in significant facility

contamination.

Description of Circumstances

In August of 1999, NRC conducted a special inspection to review the circumstances of a similar

accident at a radiopharmacy. The incident occurred while the licensee was using a heating

block to process 35 gigabecquerels (950 millicuries) of Tc-99m in 1.3 milliliters of Cardiolite

solution. The vial ruptured, and the heat from the block caused the liquid to volatilize, spreading contamination in the laboratory as well as to unrestricted areas throughout the

pharmacy.

The licensees employees did not immediately recognize the volatilization induced spread of the

contamination, and continued to work in the laboratory. They did not follow their emergency

procedure, which required evacuation of the laboratory in case of a major spill [defined as a spill

involving more than 3.7 gigabecquerels (100 millicuries) of Tc-99m]. In addition, the ventilation

system was not shut down, causing circulation of Tc-99m throughout the pharmacy.

The incident resulted in the contamination of pharmacy staff, as well as packages prepared for

shipment to pharmacy customers. Some of the packages were shipped to customers with

levels of removable contamination that exceeded regulatory limits. The incident did not result in

significant external or internal dose to pharmacy staff.

Discussion:

Volatilization of radiochemicals or radiopharmaceuticals can create an airborne hazard, potentially resulting in internal doses to workers and spread of contamination to unrestricted

areas through ventilation systems.

Licensees should review their procedures for handling radioactive materials to identify

processes that could cause volatilization. In addition to direct heating, as in the example above, exothermic chemical reactions and changes in pH can result in volatilization of some materials.

Some organic compounds may volatilize at room temperature if stored in open containers.

Licensees should ensure that their emergency procedures adequately address this scenario if

they handle or process radioactive materials in a manner that could cause volatilization. The

emergency procedures should include, at a minimum, instructions to immediately evacuate and

secure the affected areas. Licensees should also assess their ventilation systems and

determine whether emergency procedures are appropriate to prevent circulation of radioactive

contamination to other areas within the facility. Licensees may also consider performing heating

procedures or potential volatile processes in a laboratory hood with independent ventilation.

This information notice requires no specific action nor written response. If you have any

questions about the information in this notice, please contact the technical contact listed below

or the appropriate regional office.

/RA/

Donald A. Cool, Director

Division of Industrial and

Medical Nuclear Safety

Office of Nuclear Material Safety

and Safeguards

Kevin G. Null, Region III

630-829-9854 E-mail: kgn@nrc.gov

Attachments:

1. List of Recently issued NMSS Information Notices

2. List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices The licensees employees did not immediately recognize the volatilization induced spread of the

contamination, and continued to work in the laboratory. They did not follow their emergency

procedure, which required evacuation of the laboratory in case of a major spill [defined as a spill

involving more than 3.7 gigabecquerels (100 millicuries) of Tc-99m]. In addition, the ventilation

system was not shut down, causing circulation of Tc-99m throughout the pharmacy.

The incident resulted in the contamination of pharmacy staff, as well as packages prepared for

shipment to pharmacy customers. Some of the packages were shipped to customers with

levels of removable contamination that exceeded regulatory limits. The incident did not result in

significant external or internal dose to pharmacy staff.

Discussion:

Volatilization of radiochemicals or radiopharmaceuticals can create an airborne hazard, potentially resulting in internal doses to workers and spread of contamination to unrestricted

areas through ventilation systems.

Licensees should review their procedures for handling radioactive materials to identify

processes that could cause volatilization. In addition to direct heating, as in the example above, exothermic chemical reactions and changes in pH can result in volatilization of some materials.

Some organic compounds may volatilize at room temperature if stored in open containers.

Licensees should ensure that their emergency procedures adequately address this scenario if

they handle or process radioactive materials in a manner that could cause volatilization. The

emergency procedures should include, at a minimum, instructions to immediately evacuate and

secure the affected areas. Licensees should also assess their ventilation systems and

determine whether emergency procedures are appropriate to prevent circulation of radioactive

contamination to other areas within the facility. Licensees may also consider performing

heating procedures or potential volatile processes in a laboratory hood with independent

ventilation.

This information notice requires no specific action nor written response. If you have any

questions about the information in this notice, please contact the technical contact listed below

or the appropriate regional office.

/RA/

Donald A. Cool, Director

Division of Industrial and

Medical Nuclear Safety

Office of Nuclear Material Safety

and Safeguards

Kevin G. Null, Region III

630-829-9854 E-mail: kgn@nrc.gov

Attachments:

1. List of Recently issued NMSS Information Notices

2. List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices

DOCUMENT NAME: IMNS7943 G:\INVOLATILE_REV.WPD Accession No. ML003753003

• See previous concurrence OFFICIAL RECORD COPY

OFFICE RIII RIII NMSS

NAME Null:mb* Pederson* Cool:jh for cool*

DATE 09/27/2000 09/ 27 /2000 10/ 02 /2000

Attachment 1 LIST OF RECENTLY ISSUED

NMSS INFORMATION NOTICES

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Information Date of

Notice No. Subject Issuance Issued to

_____________________________________________________________________________________

2000-15 Recent Events Resulting in 9/29/2000 All radiography licensees

Whole Body Exposures

Exceeding Regulatory Limits

2000-12 Potential Degradation of 9/21/2000 All holders of licenses for nuclear

Firefighter Primary Protective power, research, and test

Garments reactors and fuel cycle facilities

2000-11 Licensee Responsibility for 8/7/2000 All U.S. NRC 10 CFR Part 50 and

Quality Assurance Oversight of Part 72 licensees, and Part 72 Contractor Activities Regarding Certificate of Compliance holders

Fabrication and Use of Spent

Fuel Storage Cask Systems

2000-10 Recent Events Resulting in 7/18/2000 All material licensees who

Extremity Exposures prepare or use unsealed

Exceeding Regulatory Limits radioactive materials, radio- pharmaceuticals, or sealed

sources for medical use or for

research and development

2000-07 National Institute for 4/10/2000 All holders of operating licenses

Occupational Safety and for nuclear power reactors, non- Health Respirator User Notice: power reactors, and all fuel cycle

Special Precautions for Using and material licensees required to

Certain Self-Contained have an NRC approved

Breathing Apparatus Air emergency plan

Cylinders

2000-05 Recent Medical 3/06/2000 All medical licensees

Misadministrations Resulting

from Inattention to Detail

2000-04 1999 Enforcement Sanctions 2/25/2000 All U.S. Nuclear Regulatory

for Deliberate Violations of Commission licensees

NRC Employee Protection

Requirements

2000-03 High-Efficiency Particulate Air 2/22/2000 All NRC licensed fuel-cycled

Filter Exceeds Mass Limit conversion, enrichment, and

Before Reaching Expected fabrication facilities

Differential Pressure

Attachment 2 LIST OF RECENTLY ISSUED

NRC INFORMATION NOTICES

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Information Date of

Notice No. Subject Issuance Issued to

______________________________________________________________________________________

2000-15 Recent Events Resulting in 9/29/2000 All radiography licensees

Whole Body Exposures

Exceeding Regulatory Limits

2000-14 Non-Vital Bus Fault Leads to 9/27/2000 All holders of OL for nuclear

Fire and Loss of Offsite Power power reactors

2000-13 Review of Refueling Outage 9/27/2000 All holders of OL for nuclear

Risk power reactors

2000-12 Potential Degradation of 9/21/2000 All holders of licenses for nuclear

Firefighter Primary Protective power, research, and test

Garments reactors and fuel cycle facilities

2000-11 Licensee Responsibility for 8/7/2000 All U.S. NRC 10 CFR Part 50 and

Quality Assurance Oversight of Part 72 licensees, and Part 72 Contractor Activities Regarding Certificate of Compliance holders

Fabrication and Use of Spent

Fuel Storage Cask Systems

2000-10 Recent Events Resulting in 7/18/2000 All material licensees who

Extremity Exposures prepare or use unsealed

Exceeding Regulatory Limits radioactive materials, radio- pharmaceuticals, or sealed

sources for medical use or for

research and development

95-03, Supp 2 Loss of Reactor Coolant 7/03/2000 All holders of OL for nuclear

Inventory and Potential Loss of power reactors except those who

Emergency Mitigation have ceased operations and have

Functions While in a Shutdown certified that fuel has been

Condition permanently removed from the

reactor vessel

2000-09 Steam Generator Tube Failure 6/28/2000 All holders of OL for nuclear

at Indian Point Unit 2 power reactors, except those who

have permanently ceased

operations and have certified that

fuel has been permanently

______________________________________________________________________________________

OL = Operating License

CP = Construction Permit

removed from

the reactor

vessel

______________________________________________________________________________________

OL = Operating License

CP = Construction Permit