Re: Shipping of spent Tc generators

[John Jacobus <crispy_bird@YAHOO.COM>]

I think there is some confusion as to what you mean by

"spent" generator.  The Mo/Tc generator is not kept

until it decays to background levels, but is returned

when the concentration of Tc-99m is not too low to

use.  We get a 7.5 Ci generator every week and return

it after 2 weeks.  With a half life of 66 hours, it is

certainly still radioactive.  And there are no

contaminants in the generator, just the decay products

of Tc-99m and Tc-99.



--- William V Lipton <liptonw@DTEENERGY.COM> wrote:

> 

> I agree with you in not understanding why a spent

> generator has to be

> shipped as radioactive material, unless there has

> not been enough time

> for the Mo-99 to decay;  ~ 30 days.  Is there some

> long-lived

> contaminant there in sufficient quantities?

> 

> Nevertheless, my previous concerns regarding

> training would also be

> relevant for your supplier.  Having to ask you such

> basic questions

> indicates that they are not qualified to make the

> shipment.  In any

> event, whomever ships this should have access to the

> required

> regulations.  My guess is that ICAO (IATA)

> regulations will apply.

> 

> The opinions expressed are strictly mine.

> It's not about dose, it's about trust.

> Curies forever.

> 

> Bill Lipton

> liptonw@dteenergy.com

> 

> Malek Chatila wrote:

> 

> >

> > Dear William,

> >

> > <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns =

> > "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

> >

> > Thank you for kind reply.Please note the

> following:

> >

> >   1. I definitely agree with you that the person

> who is going to

> >      perform a task must be competent; otherwise

> he should not perform

> >      it, or more importantly, be allowed to

> perform it.

> >   2. I am not the one who is doing the shipping;

> our local supplier is

> >      going to do it. I was chitchatting over the

> phone with the

> >      supplier when he informed me of the issue.

> >   3. As I have mentioned in my e-mail, I am on

> vacation and I did not

> >      have access to any of my references.

> >

> > Any way, your point is well taken.Next time, if I

> have a question that

> > pertains to what really should be discussed on

> radsafe, I will

> > definitely take the time to explain the issue at

> hand better.

> >

> > Sincerely,

> >

> > Malek Chatila, PhD.

> >

> >      ----- Original Message -----

> >      From: William V Lipton

> >      To: Malek Chatila

> >      Cc: radsafe@list.vanderbilt.edu

> >      Sent: Thursday, January 29, 2004 2:31 PM

> >      Subject: Re: Shipping of spent Tc generators

> >       As a start read the regulations, especially 

> 49 CFR 172,

> >      Subpart H.  One excerpt:  49 CFR 172.702(b): 

> "... a hazmat

> >      employee who performs any function subject to

> the

> >      requirements of this subchapter may not

> perform that

> >      function unless instructed in the

> requirements of this

> >      subchapter that apply to that function..." 

> In other words,

> >      don't ship radioactive material unless you've

> been trained

> >      to do it properly.  You're question indicates

> that you have

> >      not had this training.

> >

> >      The opinions expressed are strictly mine.

> >      It's not about dose, it's about trust.

> >      Curies forever.

> >

> >      Bill Lipton

> >      liptonw@dteenergy.com

> >

> >

> >      Malek Chatila wrote:

> >

> >     > Our local supplier of Mo/Tc generators was

> informed by the

> >     > manufacture that he will need to ship back

> the spent

> >     > generators as class 7, which did not make

> much sense.For

> >     > spent, (decayed to background levels) Mo/Tc

> generators,

> >     > what is the proper shipping name, class and

> identification

> >     > number (UN)?

> >     > <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns =

> >     > "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

> >     >

> >     > I am on vacation and I do not have access to

> my

> >     > references.  Any assistance provided is

> highly

> >     > appreciated.

> >     >

> >     > Malek

> >

> 





=====

+++++++++++++++++++

"I have sworn upon the altar of God, eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man."

Thomas Jefferson



-- John

John Jacobus, MS

Certified Health Physicist

e-mail:  crispy_bird@yahoo.com



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