BIOLOGY 201 –
RADIAOISOTOPE SAFETY
Summer 2007
WLS108
3:45 – 5:25 pm
Dates Lecture Number
July 16 M 1
17 T 2
18 W 3
19 Th 4
23 M 5
24 T 6
25 W 7
26 Th 8
30 M 9
31 T 10
August 01 W 11
02 Th 12
03 M 13
04 T 14 (Exam)
TENTATIVE
COURSE OUTLINE
The purpose of this course is to provide the students with a background knowledge of ionizing radiation, the basic concepts in radiation measurements, the proper safety procedures un the independent use of radioisotopes and to inform the student of current federal and state regulations, guidelines, and licensing procedures.
Goals
Description of course content
Requirements
Radionuclides
Nomenclature and general terminology
Symbols and designations
Basic structure of the atom
Bohr model
Isotopes, isobars, isotones
Nuclear binding energy
Mass defect
Orbital binding force
Types of radiation
Alpha (a) decay
Beta (b) decay
Electron capture
Characterisitc X-ray and electron transition
Positron decay
Gamma (g) decay (isomeric transition)
Internal conversion
Auger electrons
X-radiation
Neutrons (?)
Slow, fast
Decay schemes
Quantitative description of radioactive decay
Disintegrations
Half life
Decay constants
Simple and mixed decay schemes
Distance
Interaction of heavy, charged particles (alpha, protons, deuterons)
Linear energy transfer (LET)
Specific ionization (SI)
Range/distance of penetration
Interaction of beta particles
With electrons
Elastic and inelastic collisions
With nuclei
Bremsstrahlung
Cerenkov radiation
Energy estimate and penetration
Interaction of positrons
Annihilation photons
Interaction of gamma and X-radiation
Photoelectric absorption
Compton scattering
Pair production
Photodisintegration
Photon attenuation
Attenuation coefficients
Interaction of neutrons
Quantities and Doses
Physical quantities
Curie (Ci) and fractions
Becquerel (Bq) and multiples
Other units
Absorbes doses
Roentgen (R)
Rad
Gray (Gy)
Rem
Sievert (Sv)
Relative biological effectiveness (RBE)
Nature
Reactors
Types of reactions
Fission products
Accelerators
Measurements of Radioactivity
Detectors
Gas-filled
Ionization chambers and regions
Simple discharge
Saturation current
Proportional current
Limited proportionality
Geiger region
Spontaneous discharge
Counting Instruments
Simple ionization chambers
Proportional counters
Geiger counters
Problems and disadvantages
Neutron detectors
Scintillation Counting
Solid crystal detectors
Crystal
Photomultiplier tube
Counting System
Components
Detector
High voltage supply
Preamplifier
Amplifier
Pulse rise and decay
Overloading: amplitude and rate
Pulse height analyzer
Integral sorting
Differential sorting
Multichannel sorting
Recording and display
Timers, rate meters
Spectrometry
Photopeaks
Photofractions
Compton region
X-ray escape peak
Backscatter peak
Annihilation peak
Bremsstrahlung peak
Sum peak
Photopeak counting
Source of error
Background
Resolving time
Detector efficiency
Fractional emission of source
Geometry
Backscatter
Attenuation in window, air, sample, container, etc.
Self-absorption
Liquid Scintillation Counting
Basic process
Solvents
Fluors
Counting systems
Detection and collection of light
Pulse height analyzer
Quenching
chemical , color, optical
Quench correction
Internal standardization
Channels ratio
External standards
Special index of sample
Double isotope counting
Semiconductor counting
Autoradiography
Other types of detectors
Standards
Absolute (primary)
Secondary
Tertiary
Error
Determinate and indeterminate
Accuracy
Precision
Bias
Distribution of decay
Sigma value and confidence intervals
Biological Effects of Ionizing Radiation
Absorbed dose
External source
Internal source
Effective half-life
Total dose
Gamma dose
Absorbed fraction
Acute effects
Hemopoietic, gastro-intestinal, central nervous system damage, secondary infections
Delayed effects
Cancer
Genetic damage
Mechanisms
Direct effects
Indirect effects
Radical formation and combination with O2, role of –SH groups
Nuclear vs. cytoplasmic sensitivity
Chromosomal aberrations
Large dose vs. low dose
Genetic fitness
Sources of low-level radiation
Natural
Cosmic
Terrestrial
External, internal
Medical or dental
Occupational
Power plants
Fallout (?)
Miscellaneous
Common Sense
NRC guidelines
Title 10CFRpart20
Other NRC guidelines and updates
State administrative codes
Wisconsin HFS-157
ICRP
Personnel monitoring
Work area monitoring
Exposure limits
ALARA Principle
Sanitary sewer
Decay by storage
Incineration
Burial
Expense, space, permits
Special regulations of LSC and animal carcasses
Mixed waste
Where, how, from whom?
Agreement states, non-agreement states
What is a license; what dies it authorize; what does it oblige?
Types of licenses
Exempt usage
General license
Specific license
Limited scope
Broad scope
Types A, B, C
Human (medical) uses
Amendments
Administration: committee and RSO
Compliance, penalties
Acquisition
Bookkeeping
Disposal
Reporting
Survey
Loss of disposal sites
Biohazards vs. radiation hazards
Transportation
Training and turnover of employees
Miscellaneous Topics
Sources of labeled compounds
Availability
Labeling service
The press and the public
Cember J. Introduction to Health Physics. 2nd (1983) or 3rd (1996) edition. High level of technical difficulty.
Granier R, and Gambini D. Applied Radiobiology and Radiation Protection. High level of technical difficulty.
Turner JE. Atoms, Radiation, and Radiation Protection. High level of technical difficulty.
Hendee WR. Introduction to Health Physics. 2nd ed. 1973. Low to medium level of technical difficulty.
Chapman JM. The use of Radioactive Isotopes in the Life Sciences. 1981. Low level of technical difficulty.
Title 10CFR. Code of Federal Regulations, Part 19, 20, 30, 33, 35. Appears yearly. Source book for most regulations and licensing criteria. Mixed difficulty, but understandable for average science student if you read “federalese”.
HFS 157. Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services – Radiation Protection Section. Same level of technical difficulty as 10CFR. The major portion of this publication is identical to the contents of 10CFR, but the numbering is different and includes sections regulating the use of X-ray generating equipment.
Browne E, and Firestone RB. Table of Radioactive Isotopes. 1986. Source book for emission and decay properties of all known isotopes.
Publications of the International Commission on Radiological Protection. Intermittent publications for the past 40 years. Library has most, but not all.
Publications of the International Commission on Radiological Protection. Intermittent publication for the past 40 years. Library has most, but not all.
U.S. Federal:
Click on Electronic Reading Room on top of screen
Click on basic references
Select statutes and regulations
State of Wisconsin:
www.legis.state.wi.us/rsb/code/hfs/hfs110.html
Click on 157