NUCLEONICS: The science and technology of nuclear physics and nuclear engineering.

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Using Exempt, Unlicensed or Generally Licensed RADIOACTIVE sources in the Home Rad lab and School Lab

(USA 2007 Version)

To kick off our series of Home Rad Lab articles, it was decided to first delineate the legal parameters of owning and using radioactive sources.

 

Unfortunately since 9/11 the issue of what is legal and what is not legal has been in flux, as the US Federal government, especially the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, has been tightening up the rules and regulations concerning radioactive materials in general. Many of the regulations issued by the NRC stem from the Atomic energy Act of 1954, Energy Reorganization Act of 1974, and Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act of 1978.

 In 2005, the Energy Policy Act of 2005 was passed.  Prior to this law, the NRC had jurisdiction over certain types of radioactive material, and States over other types. Surprisingly, the NRC had no jurisdiction over Radium! Up until 2005, Radium was regulated only by the individual STATES. This to say the least was confusing to the lay person, lab operator, and even NRC employees. Not that an amateur scientist can truly understand all the laws and regulations totally, we will endeavor to create a safe and sane legal outline that will assure the instructor or hobbyist at least a basic understanding of the allowable procedures and experiments.

 

While the Energy Policy Act of 2005 was AUTHORITY, until RULES were instituted, the LAW had nothing to enforce. 

http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/news/2007/07-052.html

 

Finally in April 2007 a definitive set of new rules has emerged, from which we may now derive guidelines for safe and currently legal radioactive experiments.

 

Of particular concern was the eminent reclassification and strict regulation of the most common radioactive source, the common radium painted watch hand.

Serious consideration was given to restricting the ownership of radium watch hands to only 50 units at any one location. This of course would have reduced the ability of any institution to own a reasonable amount of that valuable material. Fortunately after long and contentious debate, much input from the public and industrial entities, it has been decided to delete the quantity restrictions on radium watch hands altogether. Currently

NRC regulations prohibit manufacturing any article, device or apparatus from Radium (Ra-226), and the use of pre existing material has its restrictions as well, but basically a vial of Radium watch hands is still OK to own at this time, subject to the general license provided in 10CFR-31.12.

 

NRC rules are very different for

A) Individuals

B) Educational institutions

C) Business entities.

 

Before we get into the particulars we must understand some of the basic terminology used in the radiation lab.

 

PERSONS  -Means (1) any individual, corporation, partnership, firm, association, trust, estate, public or private institution, group or Government agency. 10CFR-40.4

 

ISOTOPE – Normal atoms have the same number of Neutrons and Protons in their nucleus. Isotopes include all variations of the same chemical element that have the same number of Protons, but different numbers of Neutrons in the nucleus. All isotopes of a particular element have nearly identical chemical properties, but can have very different radioactive qualities. All variations of the same element are isotopes, but not all are radioactive. There are a vast number of radioactive isotopes, many of common elements like carbon, gold, silver or sodium. Once an atom increases or decreases the number of Protons in the nucleus, it is no longer the same element, but has transmuted into a different element altogether. That new element may have several isotopes all of its own. This fact of nuclear transmutation is evidenced by careful study of the nuclear decay chains in the link provided. Uranium-238 literally turns into Thorium which turns into Protactinium which turns into a different isotope of Uranium, and so on until stable Lead is the only thing left.

http://www.ead.anl.gov/pub/doc/natural-decay-series.pdf

 

SOURCE MATERIAL -“SOURCE” in this case means “natural source”. There are three decay chains that exist in nature. These are headed by Uranium-238, Uranium-235 and Thorium-232. Decay chain starts with the parent material and over time, decays into other radioactive material, until after a great deal of time, the final residue is stable lead (Pb). The exact type of stable lead depends on the originating parent material. Radium and Radon are some of the intermediate daughters or PROGENY of these decay chains. Uranium as found in nature, that is un enriched in U-235 is source material, and Depleted Uranium, uranium which has had a portion of the U-235 removed comes under the “source” definition. Any kind of ENRICHED URANIUM- that is uranium with more than .7% U-235 is no longer considered “source”, but is “special nuclear material”- which is forbidden to own by individuals.

10cfr-40.4 Source Material means: (1) Uranium or thorium, or any combination thereof, in any physical or chemical form or (2) ores which contain by weight one-twentieth of one percent (0.05%) or more of: (i) Uranium, (ii) thorium or (iii) any combination thereof. Source material does not include special nuclear material.

 

Under the new NRC rules, Radium is now included in this category,

http://www.ead.anl.gov/pub/doc/natural-decay-series.pdf

 

http://www.nrc.gov/materials/srcmaterial.html

 

  

BYPRODUCT MATERIAL- As defined by NRC regulations includes any radioactive material (except enriched uranium or plutonium) produced by a nuclear reactor. It also includes the tailings or wastes produced by the extraction or concentration of uranium or thorium or the fabrication of fuel for nuclear reactors. Additionally, it is any material that has been made radioactive through the use of a particle accelerator or any discrete source of radium-226 used for a commercial, medical, or research activity. In addition, the NRC, in consultation with the EPA, DOE, DHS and others, can designate as byproduct material any source of naturally-occurring radioactive material, other than source material, that it determines would pose a threat to public health and safety or the common defense and security of the United States. For additional detail, see Byproduct Material.Under the new NRC rules, Radium and Uranium plant tailing piles are now included in this category.

 http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/fact-sheets/byproduct-materials.html

 

BYPRODUCT MATERIAL Exempt Sources: Those man made (Byproduct) radioactive materials that are exempt from licensing in certain quantities, usually supplied to the Home Lab by companies such as Spectrum Techniques in safe SEALED SOURCES.

http://www.spectrumtechniques.com/

No man made materials that is not on this list are allowed to be owned except under license. This includes Plutonium, Americium, and Californium, basically any element heavier than Uranium on the Periodic Chart of Elements.

Check out the full list of approved materials and the allowable quantities under Schedule B at:

http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/cfr/part030/full-text.html

ALL materials supplied by Spectrum Techniques are of exempt quantity, therefore no license or special handling is needed.

 

 

NRC- US Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the primary regulator of radioactive materials in the USA.

Click here for the NRC’s Public Reading Room:

http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm.html

 

NRC AGREEMENT STATES- Those states that have elected to take primary authority of radiation matters under their own control. State rules must be at least as restrictive as the NRC’s version. There are currently 34 Agreement States with others in consideration. Click here to review your state’s current status:

http://nrc-stp.ornl.gov/

 

  

Non AGREEMENT STATES - States which prefer the NRC to be the primary authority in radiation matters. Even these states have certain responsibilities that they must enforce.  Click here to review your state’s current status:

http://nrc-stp.ornl.gov/

  

 

Misuse- The use of any radioactive material for other than its intended or licensed purpose. Removing a radioactive Am-241 from a smoke detector for use as a test source is considered a grievous misuse. Penalties are far beyond any benefit.

 

 

General License- A type of license automatically granted to and end user to own and operate some devices containing radioactive materials. The license is granted for the intended use of these devices only, and does not convey permission to use the device in an unintended manner (see Misuse). Transfer of such devices is generally forbidden between unlicensed persons, as is any alteration, removal of radioactive material or manufacture for sale. A generally licensed device usually consists of radioactive material contained in a sealed source within a shielded device

“The general licenses provided in this part are effective without the filing of applications with the Commission or the issuance of licensing documents to particular persons. Specific licenses are issued to named persons upon applications filed pursuant to the regulations in this part”:

 http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/cfr/part040/part040-0020.html

 

Perfect examples are: Smoke Detectors (Am-241), Tritium Lights (H3) and Signs, Static Brushes (Po-210). Depending upon the isotope involved, the only avenue of transferring the device is through disposal in a landfill. Some devices must be returned to the manufacturer for proper disposal.  Again, an individual cannot sell, resell or transfer Generally Licensed material without a Specific License to do so.

http://www.nrc.gov/materials/miau/general-use.html#7

 

Specific License- The type of licensed required to manufacture, process and distribute regulated radioactive material. A University Lab would require a Specific License to own and use certain types or quantities of radioactive materials. This type license is not within the reach of the Home or small School Lab. “Specific licenses are issued to named persons upon applications filed pursuant to the regulations in this part”:

http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/cfr/part040/part040-0020.html

 

We will deal with only Unlicensed\, Generally Licensed, or Exempt sources.

 

PART 2- Radioactive Lab Sources.

As stewards of the SAFETY of our students, more importantly, the PERCEIVED SAFETY, we must first and foremost be adamant about using only materials that are PERFECTLY SAFE UNDER EVERY CIRCUMSTANCE.  All the sealed sources from Spectrum Techniques meet this criteria and I will suggest a few more that should be suitable. Any items such as Uranium Ore and Gas lantern Mantles that can leave debris behind should not be taken into a classroom. These materials are perfectly safe in the Home Lab with only a modicum of caution and common sense.

Radiation dose to humans is a subject best address by health professionals, but certain guidelines have been set by the NRC and can be found here:

http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/cfr/part020/

 

Sealed Sources Suitable for classroom- unrestricted. >HIGHLY recommended classroom source<

Listed in order of priority: