re: Cs137/Ba137m generators

["Michael Stabin" <michael.g.stabin@vanderbilt.edu>]

Date: Wed, 14 Nov 2001 13:05:04 -0500

From: Harry Newman <hresources@NEXTEP.CC>

Subject: re: Cs137/Ba137m generators



Walt,

I always have interpreted and exempt quantity as appling to a device.

Remember, the MANUFACTURER of the device is licensed to distribute the

device as exempt.  Therefore, the device itself has been through the

regulatory grist mill and has been deemed acceptable for manufacture and for

general distribution.



I don't have experience with these units and withold comment on the safety

issues.  However, I would advise a good written training program for users,

with signed acknowledgement of receipt of training.



Harry J. Newman, CHP

NEXTEP Environmental, Inc.

Louisville, KY

hnewman@nextep.cc



  >>  Hi,



  >>  I have a couple of questions

  >>   regarding the use of Cs137/Ba137m

  >>

  >>  isogenerators.   It is my reading

  >>   of the NRC regs that possession

  >>   of more

  >>  than one of these as exempt

  >>   quantity units requires

  >>   licensing.  Do you all

  >>  agree?   Second, while it seems

  >>   that these are marketed and used

  >>   as "safe",

  >>  besides, the typical "wear gloves

  >>   and lab coat" admonishments there

  >>   is

  >>  little discussion of safety issues

  >>   in the protocols that faculty

  >>   use.   In

  >>  fact, in one protocol I found on

  >>   the web, they use M&M's to model   >>  radioactive decay in the same

lab

  >>   they do the Ba137m halflife

  >>  measurements!   I realize that the

  >>   short half life of the Ba137m is

  >>   short

  >>  enough to make potential exposures

  >>   low, but has anyone done any

  >>  "worst-case" modelling on these?    >>   I'd appreciate your thoughts

on

  >>   the

  >>  general use of these isogenerators

  >>   in undergraduate labs, and

  >>   especially

  >>  any thoughts on potential

  >>   regulatory issues such as safety

  >>   training and

  >>  licensing.



  >>  Thanks

  >>  walt



  >>  ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

  >>  ++++++++++++++++++++

  >>  Walt W. Lilly

  >>  Professor of Biology

  >>  Radiation Safety Officer

  >>  Southeast Missouri State

  >>   University

  >>  Cape Girardeau, MO 63701



  >>  (573) 651-2359

  >>  wlilly@biology.semo.edu

  >>  http://biology.semo.edu/wlilly/lab

  >>  /

  >>  Cape Central Marching Band --

  >>   http://biology.semo.edu/chsband/

  >>  ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

  >>  ++++++++++++++++++++





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