Decay in Storage

["jimsims@vaxb.acs.unt.edu" <JIMSIMS@vaxb.acs.unt.edu>]

At the UNT Health Science Center, we have utilized Decay in Storage (
DIS) for more than 8 years.  We hold isotopes with HL's less than 120 days
for 10 HL's, then survey and then toss dry trash in the regular dumpster
(after removing labels, lead, etc.).  We have a specific license with about
35 authorized users and 170 people on badges.  We utilize a 336 sq. foot.
facility: cinder block filled with sand, metal roof, concrete floor, no
heating and no air conditioning.  With metal shelving on most walls,
we store packages of wastes which consist of items double-bagged in plastic
with a pastboard outer container.

Most of our DIS consists of 32P, 35S, 125I, 86Rb.

We estimate that we have saved several hundred thousand dollars by DI
Sing the waste.

We also hold liquids.  We often supply 0.5, 1.0 and 16 liter containers
to users which we recycle as wastes are decayed and containers reach back-
ground.

James Sims, Ph.D., Safety Officer, RSO
Safety Office
University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth
3500 Camp Bowie Blvd.
Fort Worth, TX  76107 - 2699
jimsims@unt.edu
817-735-2697 (voice)
817-735-2486 (FAX)