Re: Thorium brick

[Amradinc@aol.com]

Depending on the industry, what you may be seeing is NORM deposition on the
brick.  The rare earth and petrochemical industries have been dealing with
this for sometime.  Depending on whether the state has regulations concerning
NORM will determine the disposal criteria.  Also, if there are any rad levels
on the brick, it may set off the alarms at the landfill and cause the
landfill not to except the waste regardless of the status of the states NORM
regulations.  As far as it being a mixed waste will depend on the industry it
was used in.  We have seen brick with high concentrations of HCl and other
potentially hazardous constituents.  The limit for NORM in most states with
regs is 5 pCi/gm Ra-226 or Ra-228.  We have seen brick with levels greater
than 200 pCi/gm.

Mitchell Davis, RRPT
Health Physicist
American Radiation Services, Inc
Amradinc@aol.com