[ RadSafe ] Ni-63 "Sealed" Sources

[Cary Renquist]

They are quasi-sealed sources.
The wipe limits specified in the SS&DR (Sealed Source and Device Registration) for the foils (US Nuclear Regulatory Commission) are 50 nCi (1.85 kBq) for the inactive side and 500 nCi (18.5 kBq) for the active plated side.

There was even a proposal within the NRC to not require leak testing Ni-63 sources:  (I think that the NRC changed the wipe criteria for the inactive side to 50 nCi at that time rather than do as Hickey recommended)
https://www.nrc.gov/docs/ML0121/ML012140304.pdf

Best regards,
Cary

-----Original Message-----
From: RadSafe <radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu> On Behalf Of Refael Srebro
Sent: Monday, September 3, 2018 5:18 AM
To: 'The International Radiation Protection (Health Physics) Mailing List' <radsafe at health.phys.iit.edu>
Subject: Re: [ RadSafe ] Ni-63 "Sealed" Sources

Hi

I never checked the inlet but I learned today that on the new sniffers they recommend to take a sample from the inlet too Because when the sniffer is not measuring there is a flow of air to clean it so now this is a good reason to check the inlet.
The source is a sealed source has much that a very low energy beta can be sealed. I think that when the source is send from the manufacturer There is no contamination on the source. 


Rafi Srebro
Radiation Safety Officer
srebro at bgu.ac.il
Tel: +972-8-6461314 | Cell: +972-52-8795999


-----Original Message-----
From: RadSafe [mailto:radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu] On Behalf Of Chris Alston
Sent: Monday, September 03, 2018 2:52 PM
To: Radsafe List
Subject: Re: [ RadSafe ] Ni-63 "Sealed" Sources

Rafi

It’s not really a sealed source in the typical meaning of the term.  It’s a piece of solid metal, which, in the USA, is part of the definition.  Out of curiosity, what do you see when you wipe the inlet (I know that this is much more of a hassle with contemporary instruments)?

Cheers
Ca

On Sep 3, 2018, at 7:10 AM, Refael Srebro <srebro at bgu.ac.il> wrote:
> Hi
> I check ECD and sniffers  for contamination : smear test in liquid scintillation,
> And in many of the  samples I find contamination above background . Most of the time it is less than 185 Bq
> But in Israel when the sample is not taken directly from the source, contamination is defined , above 0.37 Bq.
> It is Ni-63 (not noise or chemo luminesce)  .
> The source is a sealed source so why after the instruments is used  I find contamination in the outlet or on the detector case ?
> Thanks
> Rafi Srebro
> Radiation Safety Officer
> srebro at bgu.ac.il<mailto:srebro at bgu.ac.il>

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