CH6 & 7: Radioactive & Waste Management Flashcards
Radioisotopes are…
radioactive isotopes, an element that has an different number of neutrons making it unstable
Half-life is…
the time it takes for half of the atoms of a radioactive isotope to decay
Radioactive Labs should have a…
- logbook, where all incoming materials are registered
- efficient air-conditioning
- fume cupboards
- detectors
Becquerel (Bq) is…
the activity of one nucleus decaying per second
A, B, C Classifications of Labs:
A: Larger Scale radioactive substances requiring a license, safety plans, PPE measures, and clear work procedure
B: space for changing clothes and negative air pressure
C: Designed similarly to regular chem labs with additional radiation protection
Radio-Pharmacy Guidelines include:
- Limited access to trained personnel and students
- Must wear different colored PPE, if anything is contaminated, it must be disposed of
- Never wear lab coats out of lab, and never work with injuries
- Absorbing material should be put down before an experiment
- Energy of material’s radiation determines the amount of type of PPE
- always work in a fume hood
- Seal materials tightly
Always bookkeep this information…
All radioactive compounds preset in lab
Time opened
Type of isotope
Activity
Date
Name of person Responsible
Ways to prevent radiation hazards:
Materials should be put directly back into storage after use
Keep solutions away from working areas
All solutions should be labeled fully
Strength of radiation should always be as small as possible
Storage of radioactive material should never exceed…
If stored with other employees, it should never exceed…
7.5 uSv/H
2.5 uSv
Staff and students shouldn’t work with more than…
20 uSv/year
Containers with hazardous waste should be filled up to…
60% MAX
any more and pressure build up may explode the container
(Never store where the sun can heat the content)
General Waste Disposal Procedures:
Don’t use metal containers for corrosives
Waste can be stored in a fridge
Broken glass and needles must be put in sharps containers
Biohazards can be autoclaved or sent to be incinerated
How long should radioactive waste be stored?
10 half-lives in the fridge, 20 half-lives to be disposed of as regular waste
Hazardous Chemical Sorting - Acids and Bases
Should never be mixed as they cause violent reactions
Hazardous Chemical Sorting - Alkali, alkaline metals, Al, Zn, Reactive metals, and metal hydroxides
do NOT mix with any acids or bases. this creates H-gas leading to fires and explosions
