The dry run was conducted in this rehabilitated laboratory facility since none
of the presently qualified NAEG laboratories met the ANSI laboratory standards
for handling transuranics in the millicurie and larger activity ranges.
The dry run was conducted after the REECo and LFE protocols were approved by
ERDA/NV.
LFE coordinated with REECo's Environmental Sciences Department for
the initial preparation and stocking of the facility and the overall monitoring
and health physics support during the exercise.
PROCEDURE
Approximately two pounds of various types of beef
(muscle, bone, liver, etc.)
were spiked with a radioactive source that was used to simulate the transuranics.
The isotope chosen for use was cobalt-60. This isotope was chosen for its
relative ease of detection and tracking through the sample preparation process.
The spiked samples were placed in a large aluminum pan and dried overnight in
a large vented drying oven.
After drying, the samples were cut into smaller
pieces inside the designated hot laboratory area, this area being a controlled
access area.
All utensils and the work areas were monitored continuously and
swipes were taken for documentation.
In addition to lapel (breathing zone)
air samples, general laboratory work area air samples were taken and analyzed.
The results of these swipes and air samples indicated that all radioactive
materials were being contained in the dissolving samples.
All nuclear counting
was performed by REECo in an area of the facility designated as the counting
room.
This room was equipped to immediately evaluate contamination problems
without undue delay in an emergency.
CONCLUSION
The comprehensive program of taking air samples and swipes indicated that the
work areas were free of radioactive contamination; the techniques of dry, wet,
and dry ashing; and the sawing of bone under rather rigorously controlled
conditions was indeed a feasible operation.
It was also concluded that the
NAEG facility itself could be made operational and functional to perform this
type of sample preparation.
Current budget limitations have prevented the permanent upgrading of the
facility to a Class B or Class A laboratory, but the facility in its present
condition can be used as an adequate Class C radiological laboratory.
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