Chapter 3
Control of Radiation Hazards
A.
Substitution - Use of a nonradioactive or less hazardous radioactive material for a highly hazardous radioactive material where
possible
1.
Factors determining the choice of a radioactive material
a.
Short half life
(1)
Use of radioactive material with short half life reduces total time it is potentially dangerous
b.
Type of radiation
(1)
c.
Considerations of effective range and ease of shielding
(a)
Substitute beta for gamma radiation
(bo)
Substitute alpha for beta radiation
(c)
Except when ingestion is possible
Energy of the radiation
(1)
Generally speaking, the lower the energy the less the
external hazard
(2)
The isotope having the lowest total energy should be
selected
(3)
When ingestion is possibility, select isotope with
highest permissible body burden
2.
When ingestion is a possibility, alpha emitters are most hazardous, then beta, finally ganma
B.
Shielding - Maintain effective barriers around a radiation source
to render it biologically ineffective
3-1
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