Environmental Health & Safety

Radiation Safety

Radioactive Waste Management

The management of radioactive waste is closely monitored by numerous regulatory agencies. At TSRI radioactive waste is managed in full compliance with all regulatory mandates while attempting to minimize all associated costs. Radioactive waste is segregated based upon physical form and half-life, as well as other hazardous constituents.

Segregating radioactive waste by half-life classification (GROUPS) is critical to properly managing radioactive waste. Segregation by groups allows Environmental Health and Safety to efficiently and effectively decay waste containing only short-lived isotopes. By holding these wastes for seven (7) to ten (10) half-lives and then performing appropriate surveys, EH&S can dispose of these previously radioactive wastes as non-radioactive. At the present time, the radioactive waste "decay program" saves the institution approximately $350,000 per year.

Half-Life Classification Groups
Group 1- Half-Lives of 15 days or less
Group 2- Half-lives between 15 and 65 days
Group 3- Half-lives between 65 and 90 days
Group 4- Half-lives Greater than 90 days EXCLUDING H-3 and C-14
Group 5- H-3 and C-14

Physical Form Classifications

Dry Solid
Dry solid waste includes paper, plastic, unbroken glass (no Pasteur pipettes), and gels. LIQUIDS are NOT ALLOWED in the dry waste. Tubes, bottles, and vials must be completely emptied of all of their contents prior to being placed into the radioactive waste. Beta Plates/Well Plates are not to placed in the dry waste; keep these items separate from all other radioactive waste. Do not place lead "pigs" in the dry waste; keep them separate and return to EH&S for recycling.

Liquids
Do not mix aqueous and organic-based solutions. Only the 1-liter sterile water or saline bottles, plastic 1-gallon bottles with screw caps, and carboys provided/approved by EH&S may be used for the collection of radioactive waste. All liquid waste must be placed inside an appropriate secondary container. As is the case with all hazardous waste, containers must be kept closed at all times except when waste is actually being added. You may not dispose of radioactive liquids into your sink drains.

Beta Plates/Well Plates
Beta plates/well plates present a unique problem since they contain small amounts of liquids on an otherwise solid waste. Our radioactive waste broker requires that these materials be kept separate from all other radioactive waste streams.

Liquid Scintillation Vials
In general, liquid scintillation vials are collected in 2-cubic-foot cardboard boxes, double-lined with a 4-mil plastic bag. Due to disposal requirements, only vials with scintillation cocktail may be placed in these containers (no plastic bags, vial flats, or other extraneous materials). If you are utilizing a scintillation fluid which yields offensive odors, a thirty-gallon drum can be utilized in addition to the cardboard box. This process is generally successful in remedying the problem. One-gallon, wide-mouth jugs may be utilized if only a small number of scintillation vials are generated. Do not place this container in the cardboard box or drum. Call 4-4093 to have vials picked up. It is strongly recommended that scintillation cocktail be restricted to non solvent-based materials.

Radioactive "Sharps"
"Sharps" (Pasteur pipettes, needles, broken glass, razor blades, or anything else that can readily cut or puncture a plastic bag or cardboard box and is contaminated with radioactive material) must be placed in an appropriate radioactive sharps container. Puncture-resistant plastic containers appropriate for the management of radioactive sharps are available from EH&S by contacting 4-4093.

Animal Carcasses and Cage Litter
Animal carcasses and cage litter which contain or are contaminated with radioactive material must be appropriately bagged, labeled, and stored in a freezer until they can picked up by EH&S.

Waste which is both Biohazardous and Radioactive
Waste which is both biohazardous and radioactive must be rendered non-biohazardous/non-infectious prior to transfer to EH&S. Contact EH&S, Environmental Services, and/or Animal Resources for assistance.

Removal of Radioactive Waste from the Laboratory
Radioactive waste is removed from the laboratory on a request basis only. Call extension 4-4093 to arrange for the pickup of your waste. Be sure that your waste has a radioactive waste tag which is accurately and completely filled out. Radioactive waste will not be removed from the laboratory if the tag is absent or incomplete. In general, radioactive waste which is called in for pickup prior to 8 a.m. on the scheduled pickup day will be removed by 4 p.m.

Waste Supplies
Supplies such as waste tags, liquid waste containers, dry waste bags, sharps containers, etc. are supplied by EH&S. For delivery to your lab please leave a message on the waste voicemail 4-4093.

Radioactive Waste Pickup Schedule