Radiation Protection and Awareness in Australia

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Radiation Protection and Awareness in Australia

• ARPANSA

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Part 1. Introduction

• An outline of the functions and activities of the
  Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear
  Safety Agency (ARPANSA).

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Part 2. Radiation Sources in Schools

• Codes of Practice that apply to secondary schools
  
• Keith Dessent

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Part 3. The ARPANSA UV program

• ARPANSA and UV Radiation
• John Javorniczky

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Part 4. ELF

• Electricity and Health
• Ken Karipidis

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ARPANSA what is it ?

• A Federal Government agency charged with
  protecting the health and safety of people, and
  the environment, from the harmful effects of
  radiation (ionizing and non-ionizing).

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Some Key Activities

• Licensing (Commonwealth agencies only)
• Preparation of Codes/Standards/Guidelines
• Provide advice to Government
• PRMS, CTBT
• Therapy level calibrations (X-ray, ?-ray)
• UV, RF, ELF, radon
• Protection level calibrations (a, ß, ?, n)
• Emergency preparedness, visiting NP warships

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ARPANSA is / does / has / makes / offers

• Radiation measurements
• Assessment of radiation health issues
• Interacts with national and international
  organizations
• Directed research and development
• Partnerships with the States and Territories, and
  with academic and research organizations

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Part 2 ARPANSAs Radiation Protection
Series Codes of Practice for Schools
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The ARPANSA Radiation Protection Series of
Publications

• Replaces NHMRC publications.
• Drafts at various stages.
• Provide radiation protection guidance in
  Australia.
• Drafted by RHC under ARPANSA.

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ARPANSA Radiation Protection Series
4 levels of publication

• RADIATION PROTECTION STANDARDS
• CODES OF PRACTICE
• SAFETY GUIDES
• RECOMMENDATIONS

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Schools Code

• Code of Practice for the Safe Use of Ionizing
  Radiation in Secondary Schools (1986)
• NHMRC publication 19.
• Over 10 years old, therefore rescinded.
• Still followed by Regulatory Bodies.
• Currently under review probably a Safety Guide.
• New version expected in 2009.

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Schools Code

• Purpose To provide guidance on safe and proper
  practices in the use of radiation.
• School recognised as appropriate stage to instil
  respect for radiation.
• Pupils should not be exposed above trivial levels.

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Section 2 Exposure Modes

• External and Internal

• External
• Radiation from sealed unsealed radioactive
  sources
• X-rays

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External Exposure Radioactive Material

• Depends on

• Type of radiation emitted
• ?, ?, ?
• Energy of the radiation
• Activity of source
• Distance from source
• Shielding
• Duration of exposure

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External Exposure X-rays

• Depends on

• kV(peak) and mA
• duration of exposure
• shielding
• distance from tube
• filtration
• amount of scattering

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Internal Exposure Radioactive Material

• Results from ingestion or inhalation.

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Internal Exposure Radioactive Material

• Results from ingestion or inhalation.

• Amount taken in will depend on
• activity of sources and physical state
• liquid, gas, powder, aerosol etc
• concentration and chemical form
• handling method and duration, precautions taken,
  personal hygiene
• entry site
• skin, wound, mouth, nose, eye etc.

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Internal Exposure Radioactive Material
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Internal Exposure Dose Received

• Dose received will depend on
• type of material
• type and energy of radiation
• solubility
• physical and chemical form
• effective half life
• biological behaviour
• 33 of iodine goes to thyroid
• radium and strontium are bone seekers
• caesium to muscles

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Section 3 Shielding

• Amount and type depends on radiation.

• Alpha (?) stopped by sheet of paper.
• Beta (?) stopped by aluminium, perspex.
• Gamma (?) needs concrete, iron, lead.
• X-rays 2-3 mm lead should stop almost
  completely.

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Section 4 Dose Limits

• Recommended limit for students lower than public.
• 500 µSv in a year
• half the public limit

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Doses Compared

• Limit for students 500 µSv in a year.
• Limit for public 1,000 µSv in a year.
• Limit for worker 20,000 µSv in a year
• Some background radiation levels
• Melbourne - ?2,000 µSv per year
• Kerala, India up to 30,000 µSv per year (the
  average life span of Kerala residents is 72
  years, while for all India, it is only 54 years
  (Goraczko 2000).)
• Ramsar, Iran up to 130,000 µSv per year!!!
• Air crews (jet aircraft) - 3,000-6,000 µSv per
  year
• CT Scan up to around 20,000 µSv (dependent on
  procedure)

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Section 5 Responsibility

• Must be clearly assigned.
• Ultimate Department of Education (or relevant
  educational authority).
• Delegation to Principal.
• Delegation then to responsible teacher.

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Responsibility Responsible Teacher

• Ensure dose limits are not exceeded during
  experiment.
• In charge of obtaining, storage, use and return
  of radioactive sources.
• Only approved sources are used.
• All sources are stored and accounted for.
• If misplaced, reported to the Principal.
• Contingency plan for accidental exposure.
• Identify equipment that might produce X-rays.
• Routine checks of all sources (?5 yrs).

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Section 6 General Rules

• Simple experiments only.

• Consider minimising number ofexperiments each
  year.
• Generally use only sealed sources.
• NO deliberate exposure of students.
• Licensing might be an issue, need to check.
• Undesirable to accumulate large volumes of ore
  samples.
• Radioactive luminous paint must not be recovered.

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Sections 7 8 X-ray Units

• Only for specialised trade or technical courses.
• Subject to Regulatory Authority approval.
• Another Code of Practice will also apply.
• Radiation limits in School Code will apply.

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Sections 9 and 10 Radioactive Sources (General
Sealed)

• Minimum practical activity.
• Wipe testing after 10-years of age.
• May only be used under direct supervision.
• Must be stored in a locked, labelled container.
• Each source must be permanently labelled
• Radioactive
• Type and activity of source
• Year of manufacture (T½ lt10 yrs)
• Physical dimensions such they cannot easily be
  lost.

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Section 11 Unsealed Sources

• Extra care needed to avoid spillage.
• Only uranium or thorium ore samples or
  short-lived progeny of caesium-137 or
  strontium-90, unless approved.
• Kept in containers
• to reduce chance of spillage
• labelled with radionuclide and activity.
• Dilution, dispensing and disposal only by
  adequately trained staff member.

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Unsealed Sources Laboratory Facilities

• Code specifies requirements for laboratories
• Consistent with good housekeeping requirements
  for any hazardous material
• Covers storage (including signage and shielding),
  use and disposal requirements

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Unsealed Sources Laboratory Procedure

• Code outlines laboratory procedures
• Consistent with good housekeeping requirements
  for other hazardous agents
• Covers
• safe use
• routine surveys
• what to do in the event of a spill including
  decontamination and notifications

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Radioactive Source Disposal

• Regulated (in Victoria) by the Radiation Safety
  Section of DHS
• Information sheet available on DHS website
  http//www.health.vic.gov.au/environment/downloads
  /radiation/disposal_of_school_sources.pdf
• Contact RSS on 1300 767 469 for further info

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Schools Code Lasers

• Code of practice for the safe use of lasers in
  Schools (1995)
• NHMRC publication 36
• Now over 10 years old
• Followed by Regulatory Bodies
• Currently listed as a Low Priority review

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Lasers in Schools Code

• Allows only Class 1, Class 2 (cw) or Class 3 (cw
  visible).
• Outlines responsibilities.
• Details reporting requirements
• incidents
• equipment failure

• General working rules.
• Requirements for operation.
• Also provides information on laser
  classification, hazards, labelling, alignment.

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ARPANSA Web Site
http//www.arpansa.gov.au/Publications/codes/index
.cfm
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As a last thought, is radiation really a dirty
word?

• Lets look at some accidents and see

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Some Manmade Accidents Chronological
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Some Manmade Accidents Deaths
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Risk perception???
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Thank You
Questions ????