1. RADIATION AWARENESS in Nevada Jon Bakkedahl N Nevada Radiation Control Program 775.687-7550 (main) 1-877-GETRAD1 jbakkedahl@health.nv.gov

2. Radiation Control Program Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health THE State Agency for Radiation Protection  (NRS 459) Public Health Public Safety National Security

3. In 1895, X-Rays discovered by Wilhelm Roentgen Stage set for the use of radiation Studies provide a detailed understanding of hazards and benefits of radiation

4. In 1896, Henri Becquerel discovered radiation from uranium ore Becquerel was studying a body's exposure to light of another color. This new found light was given the name “x-ray” for being unknown

5. In the same year, Marie and Pierre Curie discovered radium and polonium were radioactive elements in the same ore Credited with the world's first studies conducted into the treatment of cancer using radioactive isotopes.

6. Radiation Awareness Review Identify types of radiation Identify terminology and risks associated with radiation Identify self aid procedures for protection against radiation exposure understand the need for detection equipment

7. Radiation Control Program Ionizing Radiation  unstable  Physical change in atoms by making them electrically charged Non-Ionizing Radiation  Visible light/heat/radio waves/microwaves  Does not have sufficient energy to cause ionization

8. Ionizing Radiation? Ionizing radiation is electromagnetic energy or energetic particles emitted from a source  Electromagnetic energy: radio waves, light, x-rays, etc.  Source: unstable atoms of any material  Ionize: To strip electrons from other atoms causing chemical changes in molecules

9. Four Basic Types of Ionizing Radiation Alpha Beta Gamma/X-ray Neutron

10. Alpha Radiation Heavy charged particles Not penetrating  Travel centimeters in air or a few microns in tissue  Stopped by paper or clothing Internal hazard

11. Beta Radiation High energy small particle Moderately penetrating  Up to a few meters in air  Several millimeters in tissue Primarily internal hazard, some external

12. High and Low energy rays (photons) Very penetrating Difficult to shield Protective clothing will not protect against photon radiation External and internal hazard Gamma Radiation & X-rays

13. Uncharged high speed particle Can be very penetrating Requires special consideration for shielding External and internal hazard not likely to encounter dangerous levels of neutron radiation Neutron Radiation

14. Examples of Radioactive Materials MaterialEmitsUse Americium 241a, gSmoke detectors, density gauges Cobalt 60g, bMedical therapy, Industrial Radiography Cesium 137 g, bMany industrial uses Radium 226g, b, aMedical therapy, Dials Uranium 238 g, b, aReactors and weapons Iridium 192 g, bIndustrial radiography Technetium 99mgWorldwide Medical

15. Radioactive Material and Radioactivity Radioactive decay is measured in half- lives Half-life is unique to each radioactive isotope and can vary greatly Radioactive pharmaceutical products (called radiopharmaceuticals) typically have half-lives of a few hours or days

16. Radiation Half-life Time required for a radioactive substance to lose half of its radioactivity  Each radionuclide has a unique half-life  Fraction of a second to millions of years Examples: N-13~10 mins Tc-99m~6 hrs I-131~8 days Ir-192~73 days Co-60~5 years Cs-137~30 years Am-241~432 years Pu-239~24,400 years U-238~4,150,000,000 years 1 half-life2 half-lives3 half-lives4 half-lives5 half-lives6 half-lives7 half-lives8 half-lives9 half-lives 10 half-lives Radioactive Material

17. Progeny Each radioactive isotope decays to something else Progeny (daughters) might be more dangerous than parent You might be detecting progeny Example: Cs-137 b = Ba-137m (2.55 min ½ life) g

19. Units of Measure Traditional units of measure and International System of Units (SI) are used in measuring radiation and radioactivity For radiation measurement: ExposureAbsorbed DoseDose Equivalent Common Unitsroentgen (R)radrem SI Units coulomb/kilogram (C/kg) gray (Gy)sievert (Sv)

20. Units of Measure (Cont.) -Traditional units of curies (Ci) 1 Ci = that quantity of radioactive material in which 37 billion atoms disintegrate per second -SI units of Becquerel (Bq) 1 Bq = that quantity of radioactive material in which 1 atom disintegrates per second

21. Sources of Radiation From NCRP Report No. 160, “Ionizing Radiation Exposure of the Population of the United States” (2009)

22. Radiation Doses In Perspective Natural background and manmade radiation 360-500 mrem/yr (~20 +/- μR/h is background) Diagnostic chest x-ray10 mrem Flight from LA to Paris4.8 mrem Barium enema800 mrem Smoking 1.5 packs per day16,000 mrem/yr Heart catheterization45,000 mrem Mild acute radiation sickness200,000 mrem LD 50/30 for radiation450,000 mrem

23. Acute vs Chronic Dose Acute - Large dose/short time (300rem/hr)  May cause early effects  Bomb victims; radiography accidents Chronic - Small doses over time  May cause delayed effects  Possible for workers  Uranium Miners

24. Radiation Exposure Risks Increasing risk s  Thyroid Lung Liver Bone IrradiationExternal contamination IncorporationInternal contamination

25. Radiation Control Program Health Physics  The effects of radiation on the body Radiation Protection  Minimizing unwanted radiation exposure ALARA  time; distance; shielding  PPE

26. Time Source Result Dose 25 mrem 100 mrem per hour x 15 minutes (.25 hour) = 25 mrem

27. Distance Dose rate is ¼ when distance is doubled

28. Shielding

29. Basic Radiation PPE Protect your respiratory tract  Respirator, surgical mask, etc. Protect your skin  Gloves!  Outer clothing  Chemical suit is not always needed Downgrade every chance you get!  If radiation is the only hazard, longer time downrange caused by bulky PPE could be a greater hazard than contamination (ALARA)

30. Radioactivity –Hazardous? 3 Things you should know to find out what kind of hazards are present: What type of radiation is emitted?  Alpha, beta, or gamma Half-Life – long or short? Solid or Dispersible?

31. Detecting Ionizing Radiation Not detected by human senses Requires use of detection instruments No single instrument can detect or measure all types of radiation

32. Detection Instruments Dosimeter  Track total personal Dose (exposure)  Self Reading (pocket ion chamber); Lab (TLD, OSLD) Pager  Detects only (yes/no), poor measurement ability  Very Sensitive Personal Radiation Detector (PRD, PRM)  Real time dose and dose rate  pocket, belt clip size Survey instrument  Detects and measures with a variety of probes  Find source of radiation  Find surface contamination RIID (Radio-Isotope Identifier)  Detects and Identifies Gamma radiation sources

33. Geiger-Mueller (GM) Pancake Side/end Window Energy Compensated

34. Scintillators Crystal  Gamma Plastic  Gamma/Beta Zinc-Sulfide  Alpha

35. Ion Chambers Pressurized Non Pressurized Beta Window

36. Remote Handled

37. Waste Isolation Pilot Plant – WIPP US Department of Energy Transuranic Waste (TRU) Isotopes Heavier Than Uranium Generated by Weapons Labs High Alpha Component Inhalation Hazard 40 shipments/year across I-80 Beginning 2010

38. Industrial Radiography

39. Portable Density Gauges

40. Radiopharmaceutical packages

41. 26% radon potential All homes should be tested Elevated radon concentrations are found everywhere Radon potential based on actual data since 1989

42. Serious public health problem 2 nd leading cause of lung cancer No evidence of a threshold Effects of radon & smoking is sub- multiplicative in combination National Research Council conclusions:

43. How Radon compares to other causes of death

44. Radon is a global public health concern Radon is a problem in Nevada Radon is the leading environmental cause of cancer mortality in the U.S. and 8 th leading cause of cancer mortality overall. Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer for nonsmokers Your help is critical in getting the word out  http://BreathingEasier.info  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQLSStm_j wk

45. CONTROL THE SCENE AND ESTABLISH “SAFE” AREAS Recommended values to be used when Radiation Control staff are not yet at the site and responders have limited instrumentation THESE ARE RECOMMENDATIONS ! Responders should follow their department’s SOP’s and consult with state Radiation Control program.

46. RED – Radiological Exposure Device Hidden Sealed Source Uses a radiological source to expose people to radiation without their knowledge but does not contaminate

47. RDD - Radiological Dispersal Device (Dirty Bomb) Uses explosive or mechanical means to disburse radioactive material Weapon of Mass Disruption Trauma from explosion could kill Exposure to radiation could result in cancer RDDs planted by Chechen rebels were found and disarmed in 1995 and 1998

48. RDD Not Always Explosive Just Has To Disburse

49. IR-192 30 Ci Back Pocket 4 hrs Industrial Radiography Camera Irridium-192; 100+ Curies 74 day half life sources shipped several times/year

50. Ir-192/ ~3.3 Ci In coat pocket ~4 hours @ 5 Days @ 22 Days

51. Cs-137 3 months post-exposure Handled on and off over several hours Unknown activity, Probably several Ci

52. Coronary Angioplasty Patient Flouroscopy – X-Rays 1 hour exposure Photo is 22 Month post exposure

53. Poison (exposure or disbursal) Alexander Litvinenko Poisoned with Polonium-210 Died 11/23/2006 1 gram of Po-210 = 4500 Ci 3.5 micrograms is fatal 166 of 596 people tested in Britain had probable contact with Po-210 with 13 requiring further monitoring

54. Nevada Radiological Incident Response 24-hour duty officer 1-877-GET RAD 1 (438-7231) DPS Dispatch.....775-687-0400 ?