Current through Register Vol. 30, No. 38, September 20, 2024
A. A licensee in possession of any sealed
source shall ensure that:
1. Each sealed
source, except as specified in subsection (B), is tested for leakage or
contamination and the test results are received before the sealed source is put
into use unless the licensee has a certificate from the transferor indicating
that the sealed source was tested within six months before transfer to the
licensee or registrant.
2. Each
sealed source that is not designed to emit alpha particles is tested for
leakage or contamination at intervals not to exceed six months or at
alternative intervals approved by the Department, after evaluation of
information specified by
R9-7-311(D)(2) or
equivalent information specified by an Agreement State, a Licensing State, or
the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
3. Each sealed source that is designed to
emit alpha particles is tested for leakage or contamination at intervals not to
exceed three months or at alternative intervals approved by the Department,
after evaluation of information specified by
R9-7-311(D)(2) or
equivalent information specified by an Agreement State, a Licensing State, or
the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
4. Each sealed source suspected of damage or
leakage is tested for leakage or contamination before further use.
5. Tests for leakage for all sealed sources,
except brachytherapy sources manufactured to contain radium, are capable of
detecting the presence of 185 Bq (0.005 µCi) of radioactive material on a test
sample. The person conducting the test shall take test samples from the sealed
source or from the surfaces of the container in which the sealed source is
stored or mounted on which contamination could accumulate. For a sealed source
contained in a device, the person conducting the test shall obtain test samples
when the source is in the "off" position.
6. The test for leakage from brachytherapy
sources containing radium is capable of detecting an absolute leakage rate of
37 Bq (0.001 µCi) of Radon-222 in a 24-hour period when the collection
efficiency for Radon-222 and its daughters has been determined with respect to
collection method, volume, and time.
7. Tests for contamination from radium
daughters are taken on the interior surface of brachytherapy source storage
containers and are capable of detecting the presence of 185 Bq (0.005 µCi) of a
radium daughter which has a half-life greater than four days.
B. A licensee need not perform
tests for leakage or contamination on the following sealed sources:
1. Sealed sources containing only radioactive
material with a half-life of less than 30 days;
2. Sealed sources containing only radioactive
material as a gas;
3. Sealed
sources containing 3.7 MBq (100 µCi) or less of beta or photon-emitting
material or 370 kBq (10 µCi) or less of alpha-emitting material;
4. Sealed sources containing only
Hydrogen-3;
5. Seeds of Iridium-192
encased in nylon ribbon; and
6.
Sealed sources, except teletherapy and brachytherapy sources, which are stored,
not being used, and identified as in storage. The licensee shall test each
sealed source for leakage or contamination and receive the test results before
any use or transfer unless it has been tested for leakage or contamination
within six months before the date of use or transfer.
C. Persons specifically authorized by the
Department, an Agreement State, a Licensing State, or the U.S. Nuclear
Regulatory Commission shall perform tests for leakage or contamination from
sealed sources.
D. A licensee shall
maintain for Department inspection test results in units of becquerel or
microcurie.
E. The following is
considered evidence that a sealed source is leaking:
1. The presence of 185 Bq (0.005 µCi) or more
of removable contamination on any test sample.
2. Leakage of 37 Bq (0.001 µCi) of Radon-222
per 24 hours for brachytherapy sources manufactured to contain
radium.
3. The presence of
removable contamination resulting from the decay of 185 Bq (0.005 µCi) or more
of radium.
F. A licensee
shall immediately withdraw a leaking sealed source from use and shall take
action to prevent the spread of contamination. The leaking sealed source shall
be repaired or disposed of in accordance with this Article.
G. A licensee shall file a report with the
Department within five days if the test for leakage or contamination indicates
a sealed source is leaking or contaminated. The report shall include the
equipment involved, the test results, and the corrective action
taken.
H. A licensee shall maintain
records of the tests for leakage required in subsection (A) for three years
after the records are made.
