Airborne Monitoring

Question 1

What is the tracer radionuclide of the ACP control system? MFP? U? TRU?

Answer 1

Cobalt-60
Cs-137
U-235
Pu-239

Question 2

What is the airborne limit of the ACP system (beta/gamma)? MFP system (beta/gamma)? U system (alpha)?? TRU system (alpha)?

Answer 2

1 x 10^-9 uCi/ml
2 x 10^-10 uCi/ml
2 x 10^-12 uCi/ml
4 x 10^-13 uCi/ml

Question 3

Why are the predominant radionuclides for each control system of major concern?

Answer 3

Long radioactive half-life
Concentrations
Energy and number of alphas, betas, and gammas produced in decay
The limiting organ where dose is received in the body

Question 4

What is a ‘tracer’ radionuclide?

Answer 4

The one radionuclide in a mixture that if controlled to its limits, will maintain the control system limits

Question 5

What is the airborne radon daughter radioactivity limit?

Answer 5

1 x 10^-8- uCi/ml above outdoor background levels

Question 6

What is the sample volume size for ACP/MFP/U air samples? TRU air samples? Radon?

Answer 6

5.6 m3
11.3 m3
0.85 m3

Question 7

For beta/gamma air samples (ACP), what is the beta/gamma activity if you read 100 corrected counts per minute (CCPM)? 250 CCPM?

Answer 7

8 x 10^-11 uCi/ml
2 x 10^-10 uCi/ml

Question 8

For alpha air samples (U), what is the alpha activity if you read 4 counts per minute (CPM)?

Answer 8

2 x 10^-12 uCi/ml

Question 9

For radon air samples, what is the beta/gamma activity if you read 100 CCPM? 500 CCPM?

Answer 9

2 x 10^-9 uCi/ml
1 x 10^-8

Question 10

For alpha air samples (TRU), what is the alpha activity if you read 2 CPM?

Answer 10

4 x 10^-13 uCi/ml

Question 11

What situations require airborne surveys every four hours?

Answer 11

In occupied rad work facilities where radiological work is performed
In occupied areas where surface contamination exceed the limits of Article 502
During rad work that has been known to cause or has the potential for airborne radioactivity

Question 12

When are air samples required to be taken in the ‘work space’?

Answer 12

In rad facilities when rad work is performed in these spaces
When opening a rad system to the atmosphere
Before removal of respiratory protection when exiting an airborne rad area
Whenever airborne rad levels are greater than Article 402 limits

Question 13

How often are Staplex air samples required to be calibrated? ICAMs?

Answer 13

6 months
12 months

Question 14

If radon is suspected on an air sample planchet, the planchet must be kept in a petri dish and counted down. How is the petri dish labeled?

Answer 14

Counts
Initials
Date
Time
Location

Question 15

What is the count time for beta/gamma on an Staplex planchet? Alpha count time?

Answer 15

15 seconds
60 seconds