Understanding Radioactive Sources and Managing their Disposal
Radioactive sources are used around the world in the medical, energy production, industrial and agricultural fields. However, due to the potentially harmful effects of ionizing radiation, these sources must be controlled and managed effectively throughout their lifecycle—from their original manufacture to their eventual conditioning and final disposal.When sources are not managed safely and securely, they may pose a risk to the environment and to public health. In 2016, the IAEA, building on earlier activities, launched a technical cooperation (TC) project to support ‘cradle to grave’ management of sources, which will strengthen management and regulatory infrastructure in the 29 Member States participating in the project. As part of a training course organized under the project, 29 participants from 21 Member States joined IAEA experts in touring the research centres of Nuclear Engineering Seibsersdorf (NES) and the IAEA, co-located in Seibersdorf, Austria. In view of their experience in handling and disposing of waste at all radioactivity levels, NES experts were asked to present their work in the fields of decontamination, waste disposal, and waste management. Here, Dr Norbert Zoger of NES describes the newly-constructed storage facility at NES. The training course’s 29 participants all share an academic and professional background in nuclear science. As all the participants have experience as facility operators and waste managers, and are familiar with disused sealed radioactive sources (DSRS), they benefitted from the comprehensive presentation and the long discussions which followed. Following their visit to Nuclear Engineering Seibersdorf, the trainees visited the IAEA Nuclear Sciences and Applications Laboratories, specifically the Nuclear Science and Instrumentation Laboratory (NSIL) and Dosimetry Laboratory (DOL).
The Nuclear Science and Instrumentation Laboratory (NSIL) is largely responsible for conducting research and development in the field of x-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometry, which is used in the bio-medical, pharmaceutical, environmental, and agricultural disciplines. Here, an IAEA expert explains how XRF technology is needed to analyze centuries-old artefacts, to conduct non-destructive testing, and to measure particulates and pollutants in the air. The NSIL accommodates technical workshops and hands-on training courses, which are usually organized as part of IAEA technical cooperation projects. Its staff also support Member States in developing portable systems, new analytical methodologies, and best practices for in-situ testing and environmental assessments. Dosimetry is the scientific discipline which concerns the accurate measurement of ionizing radiation absorbed by human tissue, and it is vital in radiation medicine. Too much radiation could be fatal to patients, while too little might leave tumours unharmed and intact. In order to ensure the correct doses are given to patients, external dosimetry audits should be conducted at regular intervals.The Dosimetry Laboratory (DOL) ensures the safe application of ionizing radiation in the treatment of malignant tumours and cancers. The DOL provides dosimetry calibration services, organizes training courses, and delivers audits to hospitals and Secondary Standards Dosimetry Laboratories (SSDLs) around the world. For more than 50 years, the IAEA’s Dosimetry Laboratory has helped to improve the consistency of dosimetry in radiation medicine, ensuring that cancer patients treated with radiation beams receive the correct dose, no matter where in the world they’re being treated. Establishing and then sustaining ‘cradle-to-grave’ control of radioactive sources can be an intimidating undertaking. The management approach requires the commitment of stakeholders across both public and private sectors in each Member State, and makes necessary a strong network of collaborating experts in each region. With the support of this ongoing interregional project, the IAEA and the participating Member States are working to ensure that radioactive sources everywhere are properly managed from their cradle to their grave.
