PROCEDURES FOR THE STORAGE, USE AND DISPOSAL OF RADIOISOTOPES

Reminder to Authorees

Authorees are responsible for:

          1. adopting appropriate procedures for the handling and documentation of Radioisotope use in their laboratories.

2. ensuring that they and their staff and students have attended an introductory Radiation Safety Training Session provided by Rutgers Environmental Health and Safety (REHS) before using any radioisotope and attending the yearly Radiation Safety Refresher. 

3. ensuring that their staff and students are provided the necessary hands-on training before beginning experiments using radioisotopes.

4. maintaining accurate records for the storage, use, and disposal of each isotope in their lab.

Record Keeping

          There are two reasons to keep accurate records of the use and disposal of Radioisotopes. 

1. The inventories of each individual Authoree must accurately record the total amount of each radioisotope present in their lab.  This includes radioisotopes in storage and in waste.  Combined, these totals should be the same as the records in REHS of each isotope and will be compared by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) during an inspection.  The individual authoree and every member of his/her lab must be able to quickly provide this information to the NRC inspector upon request.

2. These records are used to verify that the inventories of individual isotopes do not exceed the maximum permissible limits of each isotope for that Authoree.

Several forms are available to make this record keeping more manageable.  These include the Radioisotope Use Form and the Post-Experiment Contamination Survey Form that are available on the department Forms and Information Hotlist at:

http://honorsnewark.rutgers.edu/bio/Biology/forms.htm

In addition to the numbered, yellow, Radiation Waste Disposal cards discussed below, REHS also has several forms available at their web site under 'Radiation Safety' to assist Authorees in keeping accurate records.

http://rehs.rutgers.edu/

Radiation Waste Storage and Disposal

          The Department of Biological Sciences disposes of Radioactive Waste primarily in “Community” Radiation Waste Containers.  Boyden Hall Room 327 has been designated as the storage area for these containers.  In order to ensure that our waste is properly segregated and that all documentation for the disposal of Radiation Waste is properly maintained, the following departmental procedures have been established to comply with REHS and NRC regulations.  It is important that all researchers using radioisotopes be familiar with these procedures.

We are required to segregate Radioactive Waste according to the radionuclide half-life of different isotopes as well as the type of waste (solid, liquid or scintillation vials).  Isotopes are broken into the following half-life groupings for liquid and solid waste disposal:

1. < 15 days:         P32, I131
2. > 15 days and < 60 days:         I125, P33
3. > 60 days and < 90 days:         S35
4. > 90 days:         H3, C14, Ca45

          Currently, all of the scintillation vials generated in Biology contain either H3 or C14 so we have only one Scintillation Vial drum.

If you need to use another isotope for scintillation counting or if you will be adding a new isotope to your authorization please contact REHS for the correct segregation procedure and notify Albert Le Goff.

Storage of Radiation Waste in Boyden 327

          The various community containers for Radioisotope disposal are located in Boyden room 327.  Most of the containers are locked in the waste cage.  The combination for the lock has been made available to each authoree.  Contact Albert Le Goff if you need the combination.

          Please observe the following guidelines when disposing of waste in the Community Radioisotope Waste Containers.

          1. A numbered, yellow, Radioisotope Disposal Form must be posted on the bulletin boards in room 327 for each isotope and waste type generated by each Authoree BEFORE any waste can be deposited. (See Below for correct completion of these forms)  Radioisotope Disposal Forms are available in room 327 and bulletin boards are available and arranged to organize the cards for each waste type.

          No one is permitted to deposit Radioactive waste in the community drums or store radioactive waste in the cage unless the Disposal Forms are posted.

2. The Disposal Form MUST BE SIGNED by the Authoree before posting.  This ensures that the waste can be picked-up without delay when REHS arrives.

3. You should make duplicate entries of waste disposal in your lab records.  REHS will take the Disposal Form along with the waste when it makes a pick-up.  You will then loose this vital information for maintaining your records.

          4. Waste must be segregated into the correct containers.  The containers have been labeled to make this clearer.  If you are not sure contact Albert Le Goff.

          5. DO NOT use Biohazard Bags to collect radioactive waste!  REHS will not pick-up the waste if it sees a Biohazard Bag.

          6. No Broken Glass or Sharps are to be deposited into the waste containers!  Contact REHS for special instructions.

          7. If you experience a spill when depositing waste, you are responsible for cleaning up the contamination and surveying the area.  If you are not sure what to do, contact the Authoree in your lab, REHS or Albert Le Goff. 

How to fill out the Radioisotope Disposal Form.

          1. A separate Disposal Form must be filled out for each isotope and each type of Radiation Waste (solid, liquid or scintillation vials) generated.

          2. In “Section I – Authoree Information”, enter the Authoree’s name and Authoree number, the building and room number where the waste is being stored (Boyden 327), and the Campus (Newark).

3. In “Section II – Radioactive Materials”, you must make a new entry for each deposit of waste made into the waste container.  The entry should include the Date, Isotope, Chemical Name, Chemical Form and Activity deposited.

-The “Chemical Name” is the name of the labeled compound (e.g. alpha-32P-dATP, L-(U-14C)Leucine etc.).

-The “Chemical Form” is the type of compound (e.g. nucleic acid, amino acid, protein etc.).

4. In “Section III – Chemical Components” on the reverse side, you must enter the other non-radioactive components of the waste you have generated and the relative concentrations.  This need only be entered once if the solution you use is consistently the same.

- Once the radioactivity has been allowed to decay in storage, REHS must be able to determine how to dispose of the remaining material chemical waste.  This information is critical to disposing of the waste safely.

-Solid waste normally contains tubes, gloves, paper towels etc. so only such components as acrylamide, urea etc. need be noted on the forms.

-For Scintillation Vials, note the brand of Scintillation fluid you are using.  You must use an REHS approved Biodegradable Scintillation Cocktail.  Contact REHS (x1220) for the list of approved cocktails.

5. The Authoree must sign the reverse side of the card next to “Authoree Signature”.  For Community Waste Disposal, this must be done BEFORE the card is posted in Boyden 327.

Disposal of Radioactive Waste

          Periodically, Albert Le Goff will arrange for the pick-up of Radioactive waste from Boyden 327.  Also, REHS may schedule a pick-up separately.  If you notice that any of the Community Radiation Waste containers are full, please contact Albert Le Goff.

          Further information regarding Radioisotopes and Radiation Waste can be obtained from REHS at 233-5-2550 or via their web-site.  If you keep a Radiation waste container in your laboratory, you can arrange for pick-up via the REHS web-site at: http://rehs.rutgers.edu/

          You may also contact Albert Le Goff at x1220 or at alegoff@newark.rutger.edu.