IAEA International Atomic Energy Agency Use of radiation source in consumer products Day 6 – Lecture 7

IAEA Objective To describe the various types of consumer products that contain radioactive materials, To discuss the radiological protection principles and to show how they are applied to the regulation of consumer products 2

IAEA Contents Early consumer products Ionization Chamber Smoke Detectors Time Pieces Anti-static brushes and Other products Radiation Protection Justified or unjustified uses Exemptions Disposal 3

IAEA A long history When radiation and radioactivity were first discovered there was a rush to exploit this new “wonder of science”. The emphasis was on “benefit” or what was thought might be a benefit with little thought or awareness of harm. This lead to “products” available to the public – indeed heavily marketed – such as:- 4

IAEA Early consumer products Radium compress for rheumatism Radium shoe liners Radium face cream Radon “sparklets” bulbs to produce radon water 5

IAEA Glow-in-the-dark products Radium/phosphor paints used for: Clocks and watches Aircraft instrument dials Bell pushes Boat instruments and signs Compasses Car speedometers and dials Thermostat dials 6

IAEA Radiation protection In the 1950s came recognition that such widespread distribution of products with essentially no control was undesirable Justification was introduced – or at least avoidance of unnecessary exposure 1960s – 1970s re-examination of existing products and consideration of new products was at its height 7

IAEA Products Before dealing with the application of radiation protection principles and the regulation of products it is useful to have more idea of the types of products available. 8

IAEA Ionization Chamber Smoke Detectors The most widely used product Uses an alpha source to increase sensitivity to the out-of-balance current between a sealed chamber and one open to admit smoke Am-241 up to 40 kBq Annual doses around μSv 9

IAEA Timepieces Alarm clocks and watches Were very common but much less so now Radium paint replaced by tritium or Pm-147 Annual dose to wearer around 0.1μSv 10

IAEA Gaseous Tritium Light Sources (GTLS) Glass tubes coated internally with a phosphor and filled with tritium gas Primarily commercial uses such as EXIT signs Largest domestic use was in UK to illuminate circular “trimphone” dials Also used in watches, compasses, fishing floats, light switches, bell pushes Activity GBq 11

IAEA Lightening preventers An alpha source on the end of a lightening rod so the additional ionization would attract the lightening Effectiveness now seriously doubted Removed for disposal where encountered 12

IAEA Anti-static brushes Use an alpha source with a fine haired brush to dispel static electricity Used with records (vinyl) and photographic negatives 18 MBq Po-210 or 1 MBq Am-241 Popularity has declined recently 13

IAEA Thoriated gas mantles For use in incandescent lamps for camping and caravanning, but also home lighting in some countries. Doses mainly from inhalation and ingestion during burning and from broken mantles during replacement Annual doses a few μSv but could be more for home lighting 14

IAEA Coloured enamels Uranium salts are used to give a strong yellow colour to enamels Pottery, cloisonné jewellery, badges, key fobs etc Doses very low but for items kept in a pocket (key fobs) could be a few μSv 15

IAEA Gemstones Irradiation can enhance the colour of gemstones and increase the value X-rays do not cause any subsequent dose Neutron irradiation can induce activity, minimised by choice of stones to avoid impurities and storage after irradiation for decay Doses to wearers claimed to be small 16

IAEA Other products Camera lenses containing thorium False teeth containing uranium 17

IAEA Radiation Protection Principles There are three main principles of radiation protection; Justification Optimisation Dose limits All are really used when dealing with consumer products 18

IAEA Justification “No practice or source within a practice should be authorized unless the practice produces sufficient benefit to the exposed individuals or to society to offset the radiation harm that it might cause i.e. the practice should be justified, taking into account social, economic and other relevant factors”. 19

IAEA Unjustified uses The following practices are deemed to be not justified : (a) practices involving food, beverages, cosmetics or any other commodity or product intended for ingestion, inhalation or percutaneous intake by, or application to, a human being; and (b) practices involving the frivolous use of radiation or radioactive substances in commodities or products such as toys and personal jewellery or adornments.” 20

IAEA Also unjustified Distribution to the public of sources or radioactive substances not in a complete consumer product The use cannot be predicted - so the benefit and detriment cannot be assessed. 21

IAEA Optimisation Optimization requires the: magnitude of individual doses number of people exposed, and the likelihood of incurring exposures to be kept As Low As Reasonably Achievable (the ALARA principle). 22

IAEA Optimisation Optimisation is more qualitative and design- oriented: Use most appropriate radionuclide for half-life, radiation type, energy and minimum activity necessary for product to work Chemical and physical form for safety in use and accidents Mechanical construction to prevent access to source 23

IAEA Dose limitation Dose limits should ensure that no individual faces an unacceptable risk in normal circumstances Dose limits for public apply but these cover several sources so normally for consumer products a small fraction of 1 mSv. 24

IAEA Exemption The principles of exemption in the BSS have been used by some authorities for consumer products, but not unjustified products Limit for each product 10 µSv individual dose to user Collective dose < 1 mSv per year If single product activity less than exemption levels in BSS then can be automatically exempted 25

IAEA Labelling Safety of products should not depend on labelling so not essential requirement Desirable to identify product, inform consumer and reduce risk of misuse Label may be on package where impractical on product e. g. gas mantles 26

IAEA Disposal Some authorities have tried to impose restrictions but not really practical for members of the public. Disposal in normal household refuse should be part of safety assessment and approval implies that this is safe. 27

IAEA Conclusions Large numbers of consumer products in use in most countries Decision on whether to permit a particular product usually lies with National Regulatory Authority Permitted products need optimised design and good quality control. 28

IAEA Where to Get More Information  International Atomic Energy Agency, Postgraduate Educational Course in Radiation Protection and the Safety of Radiation Sources (PGEC), Training Course Series 18, Vienna (2002 )  IAEA safety standards, Radiation Protection and Safety of Radiation Sources: International Basic Safety Standards, Interim Edition (GSR Part 3, 2011). 29