1. What is Radiation? What is Radioactivity?
Invisible energy waves or particles
What is Radioactivity?
The radioactivity is the property of some atoms to spontaneously give off energy as particles or rays. The atoms that make up the radioactive materials are the source of radiation.

2. Ionizing and Non-ionizing radiation?
Radiation carries a range of energy forming an electromagnetic spectrum.
Radiation that does not have enough energy to break chemical bonds but can vibrate atom is referred to as “Non-ionizing Radiations” e.g. radiowaves, microwaves, infrared, visible light etc.
Radiation that has enough energy to break chemical bonds is referred to as 'ionizing radiation, e.g. alpha particles, beta particles, gamma rays etc.

3. Sources of Ionizing Radiation
Naturally Occurring
Consumer Products
Foods and Containers
Medical Procedures
Nuclear Plants
Radiological Sites
Government & Industry

4. Ionizing Radiation

5. How to know if there is a radiation source or radiation area- Symbols?

6. "CAUTION RADIATION AREA"
How to know if there is a radiation source or radiation area- Symbols?
"CAUTION RADIATION AREA"
“CAUTION RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS"

7. Radiation Package Symbols

8. Regulation of Radiation Usage
Regulatory Authority
Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC): 10 CFR
PART 20: STANDARDS FOR PROTECTION AGAINST RADIATION
(Atomic Energy Act of 1954 and the Energy reorganization Act of 1974, as amended)
Purpose: Control the receipt, possession, use, transfer, and disposal of licensed material by any licensee in such a manner that the total dose to an individual (including doses resulting from licensed and unlicensed radioactive material and from radiation sources other than background radiation) does not exceed the standards for protection against radiation
EPA, DoE, DoT, OSHA

9. Regulatory Authority Agreement State Arkansas Department of Health
Radiation Control and Emergency Management
4815 W. Markham St., Slot H-30 Little Rock, AR Phone:
- State licensing authority
- Makes policies and procedures to regulates safe use of ionizing radiation within the state
- guides its licensees to implement state policies
- performs inspections, audits

10. Regulatory Authority UALR Radiation Safety Program
Radiation Safety Officer
Radiation Safety Committee
Radiation License- users, amendments
Radiation safety manual
Documentation, inventory, monitoring, surveys, wipe tests etc
Generally licensable devices
Sealed sources- x-ray tubes
Personnel safety training- users, ancillary workers, refresher training, UAMS training program

18. Radiation Protection Procedures
External Radiation Protection
Internal Radiation Protection
Survey Procedures or Monitoring
Radiation Spills
Waste Disposal Guidelines

19. Units of Radiation Exposure
Roentgen (R)
The roentgen is a unit used to measure a quantity called exposure. This can only be used to describe an amount of gamma and X-rays, and only in air. One roentgen is equal to depositing in dry air enough energy to cause 2.58E-4 coulombs per kg.
Rad (radiation absorbed dose)
The rad is a unit used to measure a quantity called absorbed dose. This relates to the amount of energy actually absorbed in some material, and is used for any type of radiation and any material. One rad is defined as the absorption of 100 ergs per gram of material. The unit rad can be used for any type of radiation, but it does not describe the biological effects of the different radiations.
Rem (roentgen equivalent man)
The rem is a unit used to derive a quantity called equivalent dose. This relates the absorbed dose in human tissue to the effective biological damage of the radiation. Not all radiation has the same biological effect, even for the same amount of absorbed dose. Equivalent dose is often expressed in terms of thousandths of a rem, or mrem. To determine equivalent dose (rem), you multiply absorbed dose (rad) by a quality factor (Q) that is unique to the type of incident radiation.

20. Radiation protection standards
105 CMR establishes radiation dose limits for occupationally exposed adults. These limits apply to the sum of the dose received from external exposure and the dose from internally deposited radioactive material.
Dose Category Adult Occupational
Dose Limit 
Total Effective Dose rem/year*
Equivalent (TEDE) 
Total Organ Dose rem/year to any individual
Equivalent (TODE) organ or tissue except the lens of the eye* 
Eye Dose Equivalent rem/year* 
Shallow Dose Equivalent rem/year* 
Embryo/Fetus Dose rem for the entire gestation period 
*Occupational dose limit for minors is 10% of the adult limit

21. A-L-A-R-A Radiation Dose Limit
ALARA is an acronym meaning As Low As Reasonably Achievable. It is a requirement of the agreement state (ADH) that all facilities possessing radioactive materials licenses to have a formal ALARA program. It is the policy of University of Arkansas at Little Rock to keep this exposure as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA).  

22. General Handling Precautions
Protective Clothing:
lab coats, gloves, masks, eye protection, sealing tapes etc
The Work Place
Designate Clean area, Hood, Absorbent paper, drip trays, locks, no food items
Manipulations of Radioactive Materials
plan ahead, pippetting, use minimum amounts, sealing tubes, reduce volatilization, proper monitoring, shielding, dosimeter, public perception

23. External Radiation Protection:
The Three Basic Rules
Time: Dose = Dose Rate x Time
Distance: The Inverse Square Law
ER2 = ER2 x (D1/D2)^2
Shielding: Radiation Energy
Shield Density
Shield Thickness
Bremsstrahlung
HVL & TVL
Concerns

24. Radiation Badges Generally exchanged quarterly or even monthly
Workers using gamma or high energy beta emitters need a whole body badge
Workers using > 10 mCi of gamma or beta emitters need a ring badge
Only wear while working
Do not wear for personal medical procedures
Exchange in a timely manner
Store away from radiation area when not in use
                         

25. Internal Radiation Protection
Mode of Entry into Body
Inhalation
Ingestion
Absorption
Injection

26. Internal Radiation Protection
Routes of Intake, Transfers and Excretion

27. Tissue Damage and Health Effects
Breakage of Chemical Bonds
Formation of New Chemical Bonds or Cross linkages
Damage to Macromolecules (DNA, RNA, Protein etc.
Production of Free Radicals
Overexposure may cause deformity, cancer etc.

28. Radioactive Waste Disposal
Disposal: a complex issue
Radiation Safety Officer can only dispose of radiation waste
Proper disposal - a key to protecting public health and environment
Different types of wastes-
Solid, liquid, Scintillation vials
Contamination with biohazard materials
Short Half Life (decayed in storage facility)
Long Half Life (disposed of by professional companies)
Seal Sources (disposed of by professional companies or returned to the manufacturer)

29. Precautions on Waste Disposal
Waste Minimization
minimize radioactivity use, alternative techniques, dispose only contaminated, rinsing liquid waste
Segregation by Half-Life
15 days (P-32)
15-90 days (S-35, Cr-51, I-125)
>90 days (H-3, C-14, Ca-45)
Prohibited Items
defacing, hazardous materials, sharps, lead pigs/shielding, gels, non-compatible liquids

30. Precautions for Radioactive Spills
Major Spills
decontamination by qualified personnel (RSO or team members)
Minor Spills
may be supervised by PI
Key to Success
containment, notification, evacuation, corrective action, monitoring

31. Precautions on Dosimetry
Film Badges
photographic film, do not expose to light,
TLD Ring
small crystal that absorbs energy and emits light when heated, so do not expose to heat, used for gamma or millicuries of high energy beta
Precautions
always use in radiation area, keep away from radiation area when not using, do not exchange occupational record

32. Individuals Requiring Radiation Safety Training
Three general categories of UALR employees with respect to their exposure to radiation:
Radiation Workers: Those workers whose major responsibilities involve working with sources of ionizing radiation or radioactive material.
Ancillary Workers: All personnel who may come in contact with or enter an area that contains radioactive material or sources of ionizing radiation e.g. janitorial staff.
Non-Radiation Workers: personnel who would not normally be expected to encounter radioactive material or radiation sources in the course of their employment at UALR. This group does not require radiation training.