Re: Laundered PPE Acceptance Criteria

[Mike Lantz <mlantz33@cybertrails.com>]

I'd add only one comment to the list relative to this question.  The
difference between the limits that are "set" and what actually remains in the
laundered PC's is entirely dependent upon the type of laundry monitor you
utilize.  I say this because the vast majority of laundry monitors in use are
gas flow proportional monitors.

With that type of laundry monitor, low energy beta emitters like Co-60
particles pass easily through at levels much higher than the "limit".  If they
are on the inside of the PC's or in the seams, activities ten to fifty times
higher than expected can pass.  Gamma scintillators should always be in series
with these beta sensitive gas flow proportional monitors.

Mike Lantz

dennis.hadlock@srs.gov wrote:

> The DOE Radiological Control Standard (DOE-STD-1098-99) recommends that
> laundered protective clothing should be less than 10,000 dpm/100cm^2
> beta-gamma/Uranium and less than 1,000 dpm/100cm^2 transuranics and other
> alpha emitters in order to be re-used.  I would like to know what criteria
> non-DOE nuclear facilities use for returned laundry.  I searched the
> archives and came up with two existing standards; NHMRC Radiation Health
> Series 38 (Australia) titled "Recommended limits on radioactive
> contamination on surfaces in laboratories (1995)" and U. S. NRC Regulatory
> Guide 8.23 "Radiation Safety Surveys for Medical Institutions".  Are there
> any other standards in existence?  If your criteria is not based on a
> standard, what is the basis?
>
> Thanks for your time.  Please respond to me directly unless you feel the
> information would be appreciated by the list.
>
> Dennis Hadlock, RRPT, CHMM, CHP
> Principal Health Physicist
> Westinghouse Savannah River Company
> Phone: 803.952.4207
> Fax:      803.952.4429
> dennis.hadlock@srs.gov
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