Isotope laboratory

General information

It is compulsory to take a course in handling radioactivity before the work commences. All use of radioactivity must be registered with the radiation protection coordinator in the department. All use of radioactive isotopes must be logged.

Work with radioactive isotopes must take place in well-ventilated premises, at designated locations or in special laboratories B/C. A risk assessment must be made of the work procedure before commencement. Always use protective paper, gloves and a laboratory coat. Specially-labelled pipettes must be used and/or pipette tips with a filter. Use only disposable equipment (centrifuge tubes, pipettes etc.).

The waste must be logged when it is placed in the waste room (Room 0115). The log can be found at the entrance of the waste room.

Waste management of

• Isotopes
• LSC liquid
• Contaminated utstyr

Protective Equipment

• Gloves that also protect against the chemicals that are used
• Laboratory coat
• Safety glasses
• If relevant, lead or plexiglass, depending on the nuclide

Labelling radioactive Waste

Radioactive waste must be labelled with a label for radioactive waste. The labels are in Room 0115.

LSC Liquid

Tubes with LSC liquid must be collected in special yellow toxic waste containers. Record and total the count rate for the tubes. The container must be labelled with a declaration form for toxic waste and a label for radioactive waste and must be placed in Room 0115. See more information about handling radioactive waste.

For large volumes of LSC liquid that is not radioactive, please refer to the safety data sheet for waste management. Newer LSC liquids that are less harmful to the environment should be used if possible.

The specific handling of ³H, ¹⁴C, ³²P, ³⁵S, ⁵¹Cr, ¹²⁵I and ¹⁸F is described below.

³H-Tritium

Half-life: 12.32 years

Radiation: Beta (0.01859 MeV)

Maximum Level for waste: 100 Bq/g

Maximum level for C lab: 1x1010 Bq (with 3H-Thymidine, 1x109)

Protective Equipment

• Gloves
• Laboratory coat

Procedure for disposal

• All waste must be properly packaged.
• Radioactive waste that is also toxic waste must be marked with a label for radioactive waste and a declaration form for toxic waste.
• Liquid radioactive waste is collected in glass bottles and marked with a completed label for radioactive waste. The waste is placed in Room 0115.
• Radioactive waste must be logged when it is placed in the waste room. The log can be found at the entrance to Room 0115.

¹⁴C

Half-life: 5730 years

Beta radiation (0.156 MeV)

Limit: 10 Bq/g

Maximum level for C lab: 1 x 108 Bq

Protective Equipment

• Gloves
• Laboratory coat

Procedure for disposal

• All waste must be properly packaged.
• Radioactive waste that is also toxic waste must be marked with a label for radioactive waste and a declaration form for toxic waste.
• Liquid radioactive waste is collected in glass bottles and marked with a completed label for radioactive waste. The waste is placed in Room 0115.
• Radioactive waste must be logged when it is placed in the waste room. The log can be found at the entrance to Room 0115.

³²P

Half-life: 14.29 days

Radiation: Beta (1.709 MeV)

Maximum level for waste: 1 000 Bq/g

 Maximum level for C lab: 1x106 Bq

Protective Equipment

• Gloves
• Laboratory coat
• Safety glasses
• Plexiglass
• Dosimeter

Procedure for disposal

• All waste must be properly packaged and placed behind plexiglass in Room 0115.
• Radioactive waste that is also toxic waste must be marked with a label for radioactive waste and a declaration form for toxic waste. Make sure that the container contains information on when the waste has become inactive, i.e. when it is no longer radioactive.
• Liquid radioactive waste is collected in glass bottles and marked with a completed label for radioactive waste. The waste is placed in Room 0115.
• Radioactive waste must be logged when it is placed in the waste room. The log can be found at the entrance to Room 0115.

³⁵S

Half-life: 87.5 days

Radiation: Beta (0.167 MeV)

Maximum level for waste: 100 Bq/g

Maximum level for C lab: 1 x 109 Bq

Protective equipment

• Gloves
• Laboratory coat
• Plexiglass
• Dosimeter

Procedure for disposal

• All waste must be properly packaged.
• Radioactive waste that is also toxic waste must be marked with a label for radioactive waste and a declaration form for toxic waste. Make sure that the container contains information on when the waste has become inactive, i.e. when it is no longer radioactive.
• Liquid radioactive waste is collected in glass bottles and marked with a completed label for radioactive waste. The waste is placed in Room 0115.
• Radioactive waste must be logged when it is placed in the waste room. The log can be found at the entrance to Room 0115.

⁵¹Cr

Half-life: 27.7 days

Radiation: Gamma (0.32 MeV)

Maximum level for waste: 100 Bq/g

Maximum level for C lab: 1 x 108 Bq

Protective equipment

• Gloves
• Laboratory coat
• Safety glasses
• Lead/protective lead apron
• Dosimeter

Procedure for disposal

• All waste must be properly packaged and placed in a lead container in Room 0015.
• Radioactive waste that is also toxic waste must be marked with a label for radioactive waste and a declaration form for toxic waste. Make sure that the container contains information on when the waste has become inactive, i.e. when it is no longer radioactive.
• Liquid radioactive waste is collected in glass bottles and marked with a completed label for radioactive waste. The waste is placed in Room 0115.
• Radioactive waste must be logged when it is placed in the waste room. The log can be found at the entrance to Room 0115.

¹²⁵I

Half-life: 59.4 days

Radiation: Gamma (0.035 MeV)

Maximum level for waste: 100 Bq/g

 Maximum level for C lab: 1 x 107 Bq

Protective equipment

• Gloves
• Laboratory coat
• Safety glasses
• Lead/protective lead apron
• Dosimeter

Procedure for disposal

• All waste must be properly packaged and placed in a lead container in Room 0015.
• Radioactive waste that is also toxic waste must be marked with a label for radioactive waste and a declaration form for toxic waste. Make sure that the container contains information on when the waste has become inactive, i.e. when it is no longer radioactive.
• Liquid radioactive waste is collected in glass bottles and marked with a completed label for radioactive waste. The waste is placed in Room 0115.
• Radioactive waste must be logged when it is placed in the waste room. The log can be found at the entrance to Room 0115.

¹⁸F

Half-life: 110 minutes

Radiation: Photoner (0.511 MeV)

Maximum level for waste: 10 Bq/g

 Maximum level for C lab: 1 x 107 Bq

Protective Equipment

Gloves

Laboratory coat

Safety glasses

Lead/protective lead apron

Dosimeter

Procedure for disposal

• 18F waste is stored behind lead shielding in the laboratory until the activity is less than the limit for waste. The waste can be regarded as toxic waste.