Re: : Leak Testing Sealed Sources

[LIPTONW@detroitedison.com]

In the U.S., the Nuclear Regulatory Commission typically specifies leak
testing requirements in the user's license.  Our license requires leak
testing
for sealed sources with activities greater than 100 uCi beta-gamma or 5 uCi
alpha.  The acceptance criteria for the leak test is less than 0.005 uCi of
removable contamination. These thresholds are based on personnel protection.


In many situations, however, it would be a good practice to leak test lower
level sources, since contamination in a laboratory setting can cause other
problems, such as raising backgrounds on analytical instruments or causing
public relations problems.

The opinions expressed are strictly mine.
It's not about dose, it's about trust.

Bill Lipton
liptonw@detroitedison.com

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• To: Multiple recipients of list <radsafe>
• Subject: : Leak Testing Sealed Sources
• From: HALEEM MAHMOUD SAID <mshaleem@dpc.kfupm.edu.sa>
• Date: 04 Feb 98 05:00:08
• Reply-to: UNIX2.DECO.COM:radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu
• Sender: radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu

I am having troubles convincing people here regarding the leak testing of
sealed sources.  AT our university we have smalled sealed sources of
alpha and gamma.  The activities range from few microcuries down to
submicrocuries.  Most of the sources are rarely used.  I need your
cllective efforts in helping me in pointing out what are the trigger
levels for leak testing of sealed radioactive sources.

YOUR input is much appreciated. Thanks

Mahmoud Haleem
KFUPM
P.O.BOX 1061
Dhahran, 31261
Saudi Arabia
mshaleem@dpc.kfupm.edu.sa

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