Current through February, 2024
(a) Each sealed source with a half-life
greater than thirty days and in any form other than gas, shall be tested for
leakage or contamination before initial use and, unless otherwise authorized by
the department, at intervals not to exceed six months, except that each source
designed for the purpose of emitting alpha particles shall be tested at
intervals not to exceed three months. If, at any other time, there is reason to
suspect that a sealed source might have been damaged or might be leaking, it
shall be tested for leakage before further use. In the absence of a certificate
from a transferor indicating that a test for leakage has been made within six
months before the transfer, the sealed source shall not be put into use until
tested and the results received.
(1) Tests
for leakage for all sealed sources, except those manufactured to contain
radium, shall be capable of detecting the presence of 0.005 microcuries (one
hundred eighty-five becquerels) of radioactive material on a test sample. Test
samples shall be taken from the sealed source or from the surfaces of the
container in which the sealed source is stored or mounted on which one might
expect contamination to accumulate.
(2) The test for leakage for sources
manufactured to contain radium shall be capable of detecting an absolute
leakage rate of 0.001 microcuries (thirty-seven becquerels) of radon-222 in a
twenty-four hour period when the collection efficiency for radon-222 and its
daughters has been determined with respect to collection method, volume and
time.
(3) Test samples shall also
be taken from the interior surfaces of the container in which sealed sources of
radium are stored. This test shall be capable of detecting the presence of
0.005 microcuries (one hundred eighty-five becquerels) of a radium daughter
which has a half-life greater than four days.
(4) Notwithstanding the periodic test for
leakage required, any sealed source is exempt from such tests for leakage when
the sealed source contains one hundred microcuries (3.7 megabecquerels) or less
of beta or gamma emitting material or ten microcuries (three hundred seventy
becquerels) or less of alpha emitting material.
(b) Tests for leakage or contamination shall
be performed by persons specifically authorized by the department to perform
such services.
(c) The following
shall be considered evidence that the sealed source is leaking:
(1) The presence of 0.005 microcuries (one
hundred eighty-five becquerels) or more of removable contamination on any test
sample. If the test of a sealed source, other than radium, reveals the presence
of 0.005 microcuries (one hundred eighty-five becquerels) or more of removable
contamination, the licensee shall immediately withdraw the sealed source from
use, take action to prevent the spread of contamination, and cause the sealed
source to be decontaminated and repaired or to be disposed of in accordance
with subchapter 4.
(2) Leakage of
0.001 microcuries (thirty-seven becquerels) of radon-222 per twenty-four hours
for sealed sources manufactured to contain radium. If the test of a sealed
source manufactured to contain radium reveals the presence of removable
contamination resulting from the decay of 0.005 microcuries (one hundred
eighty-five becquerels) or more of radium-226, the licensee shall immediately
withdraw the sealed source from use, take action to prevent the spread of
contamination, cause the sealed source to be decontaminated and repaired or to
be disposed of in accordance with subchapter 4.
(d) Test results shall be kept in units of
becquerel or microcurie and maintained for inspection by the department for
three years.
(e) Reports of test
results for leaking or contaminated sealed sources shall be made pursuant to
section 11-45-96.
