Re: Sandblasting Grit

[DOUG TURNER <turners@earthlink.net>]

Bill,

Glance at CFR 40.13(a) Unimportant quantities of source material.  I believe
your sand blasting grit is monzanite sand based ( probably from Brazil).  I
ran accross the same thing at a customer's site in Southern California.  The
direct readings on a drum of used grit was approximately 20 microrad/h above
background.  Local landfill's were refusing to accept the grit until they
read this section of the reg's.

Hope this helps,
Doug Turner turners@ earthlink.net

At 02:43 PM 5/24/96 -0500, you wrote:
>
>I am looking for information related to concentrations of naturally 
>occurring radionuclides (specifically Th and U) found in sandblasting grit. 
> I have been unable to find reference in NCRP reports.
>
>A government contractor possessed a license for thorium for purposes of 
>mag-thor panels for aircraft.  The license was terminated in the 60's.  The 
>NRC recently performed a survey of the government owned property and 
>confirmed grit on site contained Th and U.  The NRC stated in their report 
>"request that you (the Air Force) present evidence that indicates that the 
>thorium contained in the grit is not previously licensed material or submit 
>your proposal regarding the proper transfer or disposal of the sandblasting 
>grit ".   Purchase orders to obtain manufacturer of the grit and perform 
>analysis is not available and disposal as radioactive waste is in question.
>
>The concentrations in the grit are 15 pCi/gm Th and 21 pCi/gm U.  The NRC is 
>applying the release criteria found in NRC's Branch Technical Position, 
>Disposal or Onsite Storage of Thorium or Uranium Wastes From Past Operations 
>(Federal Register, Volume 46, Number 205, October 1981, pp 52061-52063). 
> The release criteria is 10 pCi/gm.
>
>Any information regarding this topic will be beneficial.
>
>==================================
>Mark L. Mays
>WPAFB Radiation Safety Officer
>88 ABW/EMB     Bldg 30089
>5490 Pearson Rd
>Wright-Patterson AFB, OH 45433-5332
>
>Voice:  (513) 257-2010  DSN 787-2010
>Fax:      (513)476-1534   DSN 986-1534
>e-mail:  maysm@wrigem.wpafb.af.mil
>
>