Airborne and Surface Contamination Limits Flashcards
State Purpose of Airborne radioactivity Limits
Prevent the inhalation of airborne radioactivity from causing significant internal radiation dose.
Preclude the need to monitor non-radiation workers in uncontrolled spaces
Airborne radioactivity limits for NNPP and Nuclear Weapons Program
NNPP Airborne Radioactivity 1 x 10^-9 uCl/ml for long lived particulates
Limits is such that whole-body exposure will be less than 500mrem/year or 10 mrem/week if concentrations in air are maintain below the limits
Nuclear Weapons Airborne Radioactivity limit: 100uCli/m^3 by the AN/PDR 73 to monitor for tritium
Airborne radioactivity levels and the proper respiratory protection needed for NNPP
Greater or equal to 1 x 10^-9uCl/ml, but less than 1x10^-7 uCli/ml: Full-faced Filtered respirator (Mark V)
Greater than or equal to 1 x 10^-7uCl/ml, but less than 1x10^-6uCl/ml: Forced Air supply (EAB,SCBA)
Greater than or equal to 1 X 10^-6uCl/ml: No personnel entry (Evacuate Space)
Name methods used to control airborne exposure per NNPP
Engineering Controls
Administrative Controls
Personal Protective Equipment
Engineering Controls used to control airborne exposure
Contamination containment
Drapes, catches, glove-bags and gloveboxes
Engineered ventilation
HEPA-Filtered
Administrative Controls used to control airborne exposure
Establish airborne radioactivity limits
Limit surface contamination levels
Personnel Protective Equipment used to control airborne exposure
Respiratory protection
Mark V Gas Mask, EABs, and SCBA’s
Anti-Contamination Clothing (Anti-C’s)
Purpose of the Surface contamination limits
Minimize ingestion or inhalation of radioactivity
Minimize the environmental buildup of radioactivity
Control external radiation exposure
Loose Surface contamination limits for Alpha, Beta, and Gamma contamination NNPP
Beta and Gamma contamination:
- can be removed by dry swipes: 450uuCli/100^2
- Fixed not easily removed by normal decontamination: 450uuCi/100cm^2
Alpha Contamination:
Loose Alpha shall be undetectable (MDA= 50uuCi/frisk
Alpha monitoring is not required unless the material is exposed to Alpha contamination
Three precautions involving a Controlled Surface Contamination Area (CSCA)
Radiologically Controlled Area
- Control Point Area (CPA) and watch as required for access
- Boundaries and posting required
- No eating, drinking, smoking, chewing, etc
- Anti-contamination clothing (Anti-C’s) required
Radiological Controlled Area
1. CSCA
2. Area that contains one or more CSCA’s
3. Area established to allow personnel to move between CSCA’s or to areas of lower background radiation levels for frisking
4. CPA and watch are required for access
Controlled Surface Contamination Area
Area known to exceed the limits of greater than (450uuCi/100cm^2) for Beta/Gamma.
Greater than 50uuCi or detectable Alpha
Purpose of potable water contamination limits
Drinking normal quantities of water, you will not exceed whole body exposure limits in one year
Waterborne contamination limits for nuclear powered vessels
Nuclear-powered ships and IMA’s: 5 x 10^-7 uCi/ml
Non-nuclear ships: 1 x 10^-6 uCi/ml
Requirements for Diver radiological controls
Dosimetry is required when any diver comes within 50ft of the reactor compartment of a Naval-Nuclear powered ships
Prior to diving operations, all divers must be briefed on the locations of the reactor compartment (RC), sea chests for reactor systems and radioactive liquid waste discharge
when the reactor is critical, avoid diving operations unless absolutely necessary. If diving operations are required with the reactor critical, no diver may approach within 10 ft of any hull surface in way of the RC. Requirement is in effect until 15 minutes after reactor is shutdown.
Between 15 minutes and 24 hours after the reactor is shutdown, diving operations may be conducted less than 10 ft from RC if:
- Diver issued a SIPD/EPD, 10 min max stay time. If additional time, diver must exit area ad return with new 10 stay based on EPD/TLD readings
Divers shall not touch sea chest for Reactor systems or radioactive liquid waste unless rubber gloves are worn. If touched much towel dry dried and a whole-body frisk performed with suit on. Suit removed and diver is toweled dried, then another whole-body frisk.
