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 A NRC/NMSS/IMNS
To:
Null K G
References
IN-00-016
Download: ML003753003 (4)

UNITEDSTATESNUCLEARREGULATORYCOMMISSIONOFFICEOFNUCLEARMATERIALSAFETYANDSAFEGUARDSWASHINGTON,D.C.20555-0001October5,2000NRCINFORMATIONNOTICE2000-16:POTENTIALHAZARDSDUETOVOLATILIZATIONOFRADIONUCLIDES

Addressees

AllU.S.NuclearRegulatoryCommission(NRC)licenseesthatprocessunsealedbyproductmaterial.

Purpose

NRCisissuingthisinformationnotice(IN)toalertaddresseestothepotentialhazardsassociatedwiththevolatilizationofradiochemicalsand/orradiopharmaceuticalsifcontainment

isbreachedduringchemicalorphysicalprocessing.Theincidentdescribedbelowinvolvesthevolatilizationoftechnetium-99m(Tc-99m)duringthemanufactureofacardiacimagingagentinaradiopharmacy.However,licenseesshouldbe

awareofthepotentialhazardsposedbythevolatilizationofotherradionuclidesundersimilar

conditionsandensurethattheiremergencyproceduresadequatelyaddressthosehazards.Itisexpectedthatrecipientswillreviewthisinformationforapplicabilitytotheiroperationsandconsideractions,asappropriate.However,suggestionscontainedinthisinformationnoticeare

notnewNRCrequirements;therefore,nospecificactionnorwrittenresponseisrequired.Background

IN95-07,issuedonJanuary27,1995,describedthepotentialforcrackingvialsandsignificantcontaminationwhenmedicalandradiopharmacylicenseesheatvialsofCardiolite,acardiac

imagingagent,aspartoftheprocesstolabelthepharmaceuticalwithTc-99m.TheIN

describedincidentsinwhichvialscrackedduringtheheatingphaseofthetaggingprocessof

Cardiolite,andthesubsequentvolatilizationoftheTc-99mwhichresultedinsignificantfacility

contamination.DescriptionofCircumstances

InAugustof1999,NRCconductedaspecialinspectiontoreviewthecircumstancesofasimilaraccidentataradiopharmacy.Theincidentoccurredwhilethelicenseewasusingaheating

blocktoprocess35gigabecquerels(950millicuries)ofTc-99min1.3millilitersofCardiolite

solution.Thevialruptured,andtheheatfromtheblockcausedtheliquidtovolatilize, spreadingcontaminationinthelaboratoryaswellastounrestrictedareasthroughoutthe

pharmacy.ML003753003 IN2000-16Page2of2Thelicensee'semployeesdidnotimmediatelyrecognizethevolatilizationinducedspreadofthecontamination,andcontinuedtoworkinthelaboratory.Theydidnotfollowtheiremergency

procedure,whichrequiredevacuationofthelaboratoryincaseofamajorspill[definedasaspill

involvingmorethan3.7gigabecquerels(100millicuries)ofTc-99m].Inaddition,theventilation

systemwasnotshutdown,causingcirculationofTc-99mthroughoutthepharmacy.Theincidentresultedinthecontaminationofpharmacystaff,aswellaspackagespreparedforshipmenttopharmacycustomers.Someofthepackageswereshippedtocustomerswith

levelsofremovablecontaminationthatexceededregulatorylimits.Theincidentdidnotresultin

significantexternalorinternaldosetopharmacystaff.

Discussion

Volatilizationofradiochemicalsorradiopharmaceuticalscancreateanairbornehazard,potentiallyresultingininternaldosestoworkersandspreadofcontaminationtounrestricted

areasthroughventilationsystems.Licenseesshouldreviewtheirproceduresforhandlingradioactivematerialstoidentifyprocessesthatcouldcausevolatilization.Inadditiontodirectheating,asintheexampleabove, exothermicchemicalreactionsandchangesinpHcanresultinvolatilizationofsomematerials.

Someorganiccompoundsmayvolatilizeatroomtemperatureifstoredinopencontainers.Licenseesshouldensurethattheiremergencyproceduresadequatelyaddressthisscenarioiftheyhandleorprocessradioactivematerialsinamannerthatcouldcausevolatilization.The

emergencyproceduresshouldinclude,ataminimum,instructionstoimmediatelyevacuateand

securetheaffectedareas.Licenseesshouldalsoassesstheirventilationsystemsand

determinewhetheremergencyproceduresareappropriatetopreventcirculationofradioactive

contaminationtootherareaswithinthefacility.Licenseesmayalsoconsiderperformingheating

proceduresorpotentialvolatileprocessesinalaboratoryhoodwithindependentventilation.Thisinformationnoticerequiresnospecificactionnorwrittenresponse.Ifyouhaveanyquestionsabouttheinformationinthisnotice,pleasecontactthetechnicalcontactlistedbelow

ortheappropriateregionaloffice./RA/DonaldA.Cool,DirectorDivisionofIndustrialandMedicalNuclearSafetyOfficeofNuclearMaterialSafetyandSafeguardsTechnicalContact:KevinG.Null,RegionIII630-829-9854 E-mail:kgn@nrc.gov

Attachments:1.ListofRecentlyissuedNMSSInformationNotices

2.ListofRecentlyIssuedNRCInformationNotices

IN2000-16Page2of2Thelicensee'semployeesdidnotimmediatelyrecognizethevolatilizationinducedspreadofthecontamination,andcontinuedtoworkinthelaboratory.Theydidnotfollowtheiremergency

procedure,whichrequiredevacuationofthelaboratoryincaseofamajorspill[definedasaspill

involvingmorethan3.7gigabecquerels(100millicuries)ofTc-99m].Inaddition,theventilation

systemwasnotshutdown,causingcirculationofTc-99mthroughoutthepharmacy.Theincidentresultedinthecontaminationofpharmacystaff,aswellaspackagespreparedforshipmenttopharmacycustomers.Someofthepackageswereshippedtocustomerswith

levelsofremovablecontaminationthatexceededregulatorylimits.Theincidentdidnotresultin

significantexternalorinternaldosetopharmacystaff.

Discussion

Volatilizationofradiochemicalsorradiopharmaceuticalscancreateanairbornehazard,potentiallyresultingininternaldosestoworkersandspreadofcontaminationtounrestricted

areasthroughventilationsystems.Licenseesshouldreviewtheirproceduresforhandlingradioactivematerialstoidentifyprocessesthatcouldcausevolatilization.Inadditiontodirectheating,asintheexampleabove, exothermicchemicalreactionsandchangesinpHcanresultinvolatilizationofsomematerials.

Someorganiccompoundsmayvolatilizeatroomtemperatureifstoredinopencontainers.Licenseesshouldensurethattheiremergencyproceduresadequatelyaddressthisscenarioiftheyhandleorprocessradioactivematerialsinamannerthatcouldcausevolatilization.The

emergencyproceduresshouldinclude,ataminimum,instructionstoimmediatelyevacuateand

securetheaffectedareas.Licenseesshouldalsoassesstheirventilationsystemsand

determinewhetheremergencyproceduresareappropriatetopreventcirculationofradioactive

contaminationtootherareaswithinthefacility.Licenseesmayalsoconsiderperforming

heatingproceduresorpotentialvolatileprocessesinalaboratoryhoodwithindependent

ventilation.Thisinformationnoticerequiresnospecificactionnorwrittenresponse.Ifyouhaveanyquestionsabouttheinformationinthisnotice,pleasecontactthetechnicalcontactlistedbelow

ortheappropriateregionaloffice./RA/DonaldA.Cool,DirectorDivisionofIndustrialandMedicalNuclearSafetyOfficeofNuclearMaterialSafetyandSafeguardsTechnicalContact:KevinG.Null,RegionIII630-829-9854 E-mail:kgn@nrc.go

v Attachments:

1.ListofRecentlyissuedNMSSInformationNotices

2.ListofRecentlyIssuedNRCInformationNotices

DOCUMENTNAME:IMNS7943G:\INVOLATILE_REV.WPDAccessionNo.ML003753003*SeepreviousconcurrenceOFFICIALRECORDCOPYOFFICERIIIRIIINMSSNAMENull:mb*Pederson*Cool:jhforcool*DATE09/27/200009/27/200010/02/2000

Attachment1IN2000-16

Page1of1LISTOFRECENTLYISSUEDNMSSINFORMATIONNOTICES

_____________________________________________________________________________________InformationDateof

NoticeNo.SubjectIssuanceIssuedto

_____________________________________________________________________________________2000-15RecentEventsResultinginWholeBodyExposures

ExceedingRegulatoryLimits9/29/2000Allradiographylicensees2000-12PotentialDegradationofFirefighterPrimaryProtective

Garments9/21/2000Allholdersoflicensesfornuclearpower,research,andtest

reactorsandfuelcyclefacilities2000-11LicenseeResponsibilityforQualityAssuranceOversightof

ContractorActivitiesRegarding

FabricationandUseofSpent

FuelStorageCaskSystems8/7/2000AllU.S.NRC10CFRPart50andPart72licensees,andPart72 CertificateofComplianceholders2000-10RecentEventsResultinginExtremityExposures

ExceedingRegulatoryLimits7/18/2000Allmateriallicenseeswhoprepareoruseunsealed

radioactivematerials,radio- pharmaceuticals,orsealed

sourcesformedicaluseorfor

researchanddevelopment2000-07NationalInstituteforOccupationalSafetyand

HealthRespiratorUserNotice:

SpecialPrecautionsforUsing

CertainSelf-Contained

BreathingApparatusAir

Cylinders4/10/2000Allholdersofoperatinglicensesfornuclearpowerreactors,non- powerreactors,andallfuelcycle

andmateriallicenseesrequiredto

haveanNRCapproved

emergencyplan2000-05RecentMedicalMisadministrationsResulting

fromInattentiontoDetail3/06/2000Allmedicallicensees2000-041999EnforcementSanctionsforDeliberateViolationsof

NRCEmployeeProtection

Requirements2/25/2000AllU.S.NuclearRegulatoryCommissionlicensees2000-03High-EfficiencyParticulateAirFilterExceedsMassLimit

BeforeReachingExpected

DifferentialPressure2/22/2000AllNRClicensedfuel-cycledconversion,enrichment,and

fabricationfacilities

______________________________________________________________________________________OL=OperatingLicense

CP=ConstructionPermitAttachment2IN2000-16

Page1of1LISTOFRECENTLYISSUEDNRCINFORMATIONNOTICES

_____________________________________________________________________________________InformationDateof

NoticeNo.SubjectIssuanceIssuedto

______________________________________________________________________________________2000-15RecentEventsResultinginWholeBodyExposures

ExceedingRegulatoryLimits9/29/2000Allradiographylicensees2000-14Non-VitalBusFaultLeadstoFireandLossofOffsitePower9/27/2000AllholdersofOLfornuclearpowerreactors2000-13ReviewofRefuelingOutage

Risk9/27/2000AllholdersofOLfornuclearpowerreactors2000-12PotentialDegradationofFirefighterPrimaryProtective

Garments9/21/2000Allholdersoflicensesfornuclearpower,research,andtest

reactorsandfuelcyclefacilities2000-11LicenseeResponsibilityforQualityAssuranceOversightof

ContractorActivitiesRegarding

FabricationandUseofSpent

FuelStorageCaskSystems8/7/2000AllU.S.NRC10CFRPart50andPart72licensees,andPart72 CertificateofComplianceholders2000-10RecentEventsResultinginExtremityExposures

ExceedingRegulatoryLimits7/18/2000Allmateriallicenseeswhoprepareoruseunsealed

radioactivematerials,radio- pharmaceuticals,orsealed

sourcesformedicaluseorfor

researchanddevelopment95-03,Supp2LossofReactorCoolantInventoryandPotentialLossof

EmergencyMitigation

FunctionsWhileinaShutdown

Condition7/03/2000AllholdersofOLfornuclearpowerreactorsexceptthosewho

haveceasedoperationsandhave

certifiedthatfuelhasbeen

permanentlyremovedfromthe

reactorvessel2000-09SteamGeneratorTubeFailureatIndianPointUnit26/28/2000AllholdersofOLfornuclearpowerreactors,exceptthosewho

havepermanentlyceased

operationsandhavecertifiedthat

fuelhasbeenpermanently

______________________________________________________________________________________OL=OperatingLicense

CP=ConstructionPermitremovedfromthereactor

vessel