Transport of Radioactive Material PDF

# Chapter 11 ## Transport of Radioactive Material ### Introduction Use of radioactive material (RAM) in medicine, industry, agriculture and research necessitates its transport from one place to another. The activity of the sources used in various applications may range from a few kBq to PBq. In vie...

# Chapter 11 ## Transport of Radioactive Material ### Introduction Use of radioactive material (RAM) in medicine, industry, agriculture and research necessitates its transport from one place to another. The activity of the sources used in various applications may range from a few kBq to PBq. In view of the radiation hazard associated with the transport of RAM, these are required to be transported in accordance with the national/International regulations. ### 1. Regulatory Aspects Transport of radioactive material in India is governed by the safety code AERB/NRF/TS-SC/1(Rev.1)-2016) issued by Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB), Mumbai. This code is based on the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) regulations for the "Safe Transport of Radioactive Material". The regulations apply to the transport of radioactive material by all modes on land, water or in the air, including transport, which is incidental to the use of the radioactive material. The scope of the regulations includes design, manufacture, maintenance and repair of packaging, and the preparation, consigning, loading, carriage including in-transit storage, unloading and receipt at the final destination of loads of radioactive material and packages. The regulations do not apply to: - radioactive material that is an integral part of the means of transport - radioactive material moved within an establishment which is subject to appropriate safety regulations in force in the establishment and where the movement does not involve public roads and railways. - radioactive material implanted or incorporated in to a person or live animal for diagnosis or treatment - radioactive material in consumer products which have received regulatory approval, following their sale to the end user ### 2. Some Definitions 1. Radioactive Material Radioactive Material shall mean any material containing radionuclides where both activity concentration and total activity in the consignment exceed the values given in the “Regulations for Safe Transport of Radioactive Material” of IAEA (See fourth and fifth columns of Table I). 2. Special form radioactive material Special form radioactive material shall mean either an indispersible solid radioactive material or a sealed capsule containing radioactive material. 3. A1 and A2 values A1 shall mean the maximum activity value of special form radioactive material, which is listed in the regulations of IAEA that can be transported in a Type A package. A2 shall mean the maximum activity value of radioactive material, other than special form radioactive material, which is listed in the regulations of IAEA that can be transported in a Type A package. | Radionuclide (atomic no.) | A1 (TBq) | A2 (TBq) | Activity concentration exempt material for (Bq/g) | Activity limit for an exempt consignment (Bq) | |---|---|---|---|---| | Am-241 | 1 x 10 -1 | 1 x 10 -3 | 1 x 10 0 | 1 x 10 4 | | Cd-109 | 3 x 10 -1 | 2 x 10 -3 | 1 x 10 4 | 1 x 10 6 | | Cf-252 | 5 x 10 -2 | 3 x 10 -3 | 1 x 10 1 | 1 x 10 4 | | Co-60 | 4 x 10 -1 | 4 x 10 -1 | 1 x 10 1 | 1 x 10 5 | | Cs-137 | 2 x 10 0 | 6 x 10 -1 | 1 x 10 1 | 1 x 10 4 | | Fe-55 | 4 x 10 1 | 4 x 10 1 | 1 x 10 4 | 1 x 10 6 | | Kr-85 | 1 x 10 1 | 1 x 10 1 | 1 x 10 5 | 1 x 10 4 | | Pm-147 | 4 x 10 1 | 2 x 10 0 | 1 x 10 4 | 1 x 10 7 | | Ra-226 | 2 x 10 -1 | 3 x 10 -3 | 1 x 10 1 | 1 x 10 4 | | Th-232 | Unlimited | Unlimited | 1 x 10 1 | 1 x 10 4 | | Tl-204 | 1 x 10 1 | 7 x 10 -1 | 1 x 10 4 | 1 x 10 4 | 4. Contamination Contamination shall mean the presence of a radioactive substance on a surface in quantities in excess of 0.4 Bq/cm² for beta and gamma emitters and low toxicity alpha emitters (natural uranium, depleted uranium, natural thorium, 235U or 238U, 232Th, 230Th when contained in ores or physical and chemical concentrates, or alpha emitters with a half-life of less than 10 days), and 0.04 Bq/cm² for all other a emitters. 5. Exclusive use Exclusive use shall mean the sole use, by a single consignor, of a conveyance or a large freight container, in respect of which all initial, intermediate and final loading and unloading is carried out in a accordance with the directions of the consignor or consignee. 6. Package Package shall mean the packaging with its radioactive contents as presented for transport. Following are the different types of packages used for transport of the radioactive materials: - Excepted Package - Industrial (IP-1, IP-2, IP-3) Package - Type A Package - Type B(U) - Type (M) Package - Type C Package 7. Excepted Package This type of package is the simplest one. It is used for transport of radioactive material of very small activity (excepted limit). It is widely used for transport of radioactive material used in medical and research applications. 8. Excepted limit of activity of a Radioisotope It is the activity of a radioisotope which is 10-3 A₁ value if the source is in special form, or 10-3 A2 value if the source is in other than special form or 10 -4 A2 if the source is in liquid form. This is the maximum activity of a radioisotope that can be carried in an Excepted Package provided the external radiation level does not exceed 0.5 mrem/h. 9. Industrial Packages (Type IP-1, Type IP-2, Type IP-3) This type of package is used for carriage of radioactive material in bulk quantity, like Low Specific Activity (LSA) material and Surface Contamination Objects (SCO). 10. Type A Package Type A packages are designed in such a way that they can withstand the normal conditions of transport such as falling from a small height, meeting the rain water, stacking of the packages during storage and puncture due to the fall of a small pointed steel rod on to the package. They are widely used for transport of radioactive material for use in medical and industrial applications. 11. Type B(U)/(M) Package Type B(U) and Type B(M) packages are designed such that they can withstand the normal as well as accidental conditions of transport such as falling of the package from a large height, catching fire and immersion in water. The difference between the packages certified as Type B(U) and Type B(M) is that Type B(U) packages can be used throughout the world without obtaining approval of the package design from the Competent Authority of the country though, into, within which the radioactive material is to be transported whereas multilateral approval is required for Type B(M) packages from all the competent authorities of the countries except from the competent authority of the country of origin of design of the package, through, into, within which the radioactive material is purposed to be transported. 12. Type C Package This type of package is designed in such a way they can withstand the very severe accidental condition of transport like mid-air crash of planes. They are mainly used for transport of very high activity of radioactive material by air. 13. Contamination level for packages The non-fixed contamination on the external surfaces of any package shall not exceed (a) 4 Bq/cm² for ẞ, y and low toxicity a emitters (b) 0.4 Bq/cm² for all other a emitters. 14. Categories of packages Radioactive packages other than the "Excepted Package" are categorized into three categories based on the maximum radiation levels on the external surface and at 1 m from the external surface of the package. The number which is equal to the maximum radiation level (expressed in mrem/h) at 1 m from the external surface of the package is called Transport Index (TI). Table 2 gives the different categories of the package. | Conditions | Transport Index | Maximum radiation level at any point on external surface | Category | |---|---|---|---| | 0 | Not more than 0.005 mSv/h | I-WHITE | | More than 0 but not more than 1 | More than 0.005 mSv/h but not more than 0.5 mSv/h | II-YELLOW | | More than 1 but not more than 10 | More than 0.5 mSv/h but not more than 2 mSv/h | III-YELLOW | Though the Excepted packages are not categorized to any one of the above three categories the external radiation level of such packages are restricted to 0.005 mSv/h. **Fig. 11.1. Different categories of label.** **Marking, Labeling and Placarding** **Marking** An Excepted package containing radioactive material should be durably marked the following: - Name & address of the consignor (sender) - Name and address of the consignee (receiver) - Appropriate UN number (List shown in Table 2). Any package other than "Excepted Package" containing radioactive material should bear the following markings: - Name & address of the consignor (sender) - Name and address of the consignee (receiver) - Type of package such as Type IP-1 or Type IP-2 or Type IP-3 or TYPE A or TYPE B(U)or B (M) or Type C. Type A package would contain a registration no. and for Type B(U)/(M), Type C packages a Competent Authority identification mark and serial number. - Appropriate UN number and corresponding shipping name (List shown in Table 2). (This depends upon type of radioactive material being transported) - Gross weight of the package if it is more that 50 kg for international transport, 30 kg for domestic transport. | UN No. | PROPER SHIPPING NAMEª and description | Subsidiary risks | |---|---|---| | 2910 | Radioactive Material, Excepted Package - Limited Quantity of Material | | | 2911 | Radioactive Material, Excepted Package - Instruments Or Articles | | | 2909 | Radioactive Material, Excepted Package - Articles Manufactured From Natural Uranium Or Depleted Uranium Or Natural Thorium | | | 2908 | Radioactive Material, Excepted Package - Empty Packaging | | | 2915 | Radioactive Material, Type A Package, Non-Special Forma | | | 3332 | Radioactive Material, Type A Package, Special Form | | | 2916 | Radioactive Material Type B(U) Package | | | 2917 | Radioactive Material, Type B(M) Package | | | 3323 | Radioactive Material, Type C Package | | | 2919 | Radioactive Material, Transported Under Special Arrangement | | **Consignors Responsibilities** The consignor is responsible for proper labeling, marking and placarding, removal of any irrelevant displays. The consigner shall include in the transport documents (which should be handed over to the carrier) the following information. - Particulars of the consignment - Consignors declaration “I hereby declare that the contents of this consignment are fully and accurately described above by the proper shipping name and are classified, packed, marked and labeled, and are in all respects in proper condition for transport by (insert mode(s) of the transport involved, say if it is by road, you have to write, 'by road', if it is by sea, you have to write 'by sea') according to the applicable international and national government regulations". (Signature of the consignor) - Instructions to the carriers: Information about how to store, handle, and restrictions on the mode of transport, emergency arrangements appropriate to the consignment. - TREMCARD: The transport documents should include a TREMCARD (i.e. Transport EMergency CARD) which should spell out the action plan for the vehicle crew and also the person at the scene of an accident. - Permission for transport of radioactive material issued by AERB It should be noted that the consignor should keep in touch with the consignee till the radioactive consignment reaches safely at the destination. Any case of unusual occurrence related with transport of radioactive material should be immediately reported to Head, Radiological Safety Division, AERB, Niyamak Bhavan, Anushaktinagar, Mumbai - 400 094. Ph: 022 - 25990656, Fax: 022-25574287, for advice and further course of action. **RASD**