Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 44, November 2, 2024
(a) In addition to incorporation by reference
of 10 CFR Part 20 (relating to standards for protection against radiation), a
licensee possessing a sealed source shall assure that:
(1) Except as specified in subsection (b),
each sealed source 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 6 months before transfer to the licensee.
(2) Each sealed source that is not designed
to emit alpha particles is tested for leakage or contamination at intervals not
to exceed 6 months or at alternative intervals specified in the Sealed Source
and Device Registry approved by the Department, a state or the NRC.
(3) Each sealed source that is designed to
emit alpha particles is tested for leakage or contamination at intervals not to
exceed 3 months or at alternative intervals specified in the Sealed Source and
Device Registry approved by the Department, a state or the NRC.
(4) For each sealed source that is required
to be tested for leakage or contamination, the sealed source is tested for
leakage or contamination before further use at any time there is reason to
suspect that the sealed source might have been damaged or might be
leaking.
(5) Except for
brachytherapy sources manufactured to contain radium, tests for leakage for
sealed sources shall be capable of detecting the presence of 185 Bq (0.005
µCi) 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. For a sealed source contained in a device, test samples are
obtained when the source is in the "off" position.
(6) The test for leakage for brachytherapy
sources manufactured to contain radium shall be 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 progeny has been
determined with respect to collection method, volume and time.
(7) Tests for contamination from radium
progeny shall be taken on the interior surface of brachytherapy source storage
containers and shall be capable of detecting the presence of 185 Bq (0.005
µCi) of any radium progeny which has a half-life greater than 4
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.
(6) Sealed sources, which are stored, are not
being used, and are identified as in storage. The licensee shall test each of
these sealed sources for leakage or contamination and receive the test results
before any use or transfer unless it has been tested for leakage or
contamination within 6 months before the date of use or transfer.
(c) Tests for leakage or
contamination from sealed sources shall be performed by persons specifically
authorized by the Department, an agreement state, a licensing state or the NRC
to perform these services.
(d) Test
results shall be kept in units of becquerel or microcurie and maintained for
inspection by the Department.
(e)
The following shall be 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) The
licensee shall immediately withdraw a leaking sealed source from use and take
action to prevent the spread of contamination. The leaking sealed source shall
be repaired or disposed of in accordance with this article.
(g) Reports of test results for leaking or
contaminated sealed sources shall be made under §
219.227 (relating to reports of
leaking or contaminated sealed sources).
This section cited in 25 Pa. Code §
219.227 (relating to reports of
leaking or contaminated sealed
sources).
