Ariz. Admin. Code § 9-7-417

Current through Register Vol. 30, No. 50, December 13, 2024

Section R9-7-417 - Testing for Leakage or Contamination of Sealed Sources

A. A licensee in possession of any sealed source shall ensure that:

1. Each sealed source, except as specified in subsection (B), is tested for leakage or contamination and the test results are received before the sealed source is put into use unless the licensee has a certificate from the transferor indicating that the sealed source was tested within six months before transfer to the licensee or registrant.

2. Each sealed source that is not designed to emit alpha particles is tested for leakage or contamination at intervals not to exceed six months or at alternative intervals approved by the Department, after evaluation of information specified by R9-7-311(D)(2) or equivalent information specified by an Agreement State, a Licensing State, or the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

3. Each sealed source that is designed to emit alpha particles is tested for leakage or contamination at intervals not to exceed three months or at alternative intervals approved by the Department, after evaluation of information specified by R9-7-311(D)(2) or equivalent information specified by an Agreement State, a Licensing State, or the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

4. Each sealed source suspected of damage or leakage is tested for leakage or contamination before further use.

5. Tests for leakage for all sealed sources, except brachytherapy sources manufactured to contain radium, are capable of detecting the presence of 185 Bq (0.005 µCi) of radioactive material on a test sample. The person conducting the test shall take test samples from the sealed source or from the surfaces of the container in which the sealed source is stored or mounted on which contamination could accumulate. For a sealed source contained in a device, the person conducting the test shall obtain test samples when the source is in the "off" position.

6. The test for leakage from brachytherapy sources containing radium is capable of detecting an absolute leakage rate of 37 Bq (0.001 µCi) of Radon-222 in a 24-hour period when the collection efficiency for Radon-222 and its daughters has been determined with respect to collection method, volume, and time.

7. Tests for contamination from radium daughters are taken on the interior surface of brachytherapy source storage containers and are capable of detecting the presence of 185 Bq (0.005 µCi) of a radium daughter which has a half-life greater than four days.

B. A licensee need not perform tests for leakage or contamination on the following sealed sources:

1. Sealed sources containing only radioactive material with a half-life of less than 30 days;

2. Sealed sources containing only radioactive material as a gas;

3. Sealed sources containing 3.7 MBq (100 µCi) or less of beta or photon-emitting material or 370 kBq (10 µCi) or less of alpha-emitting material;

4. Sealed sources containing only Hydrogen-3;

5. Seeds of Iridium-192 encased in nylon ribbon; and

6. Sealed sources, except teletherapy and brachytherapy sources, which are stored, not being used, and identified as in storage. The licensee shall test each sealed source for leakage or contamination and receive the test results before any use or transfer unless it has been tested for leakage or contamination within six months before the date of use or transfer.

C. Persons specifically authorized by the Department, an Agreement State, a Licensing State, or the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission shall perform tests for leakage or contamination from sealed sources.

D. A licensee shall maintain for Department inspection test results in units of becquerel or microcurie.

E. The following is considered evidence that a sealed source is leaking:

1. The presence of 185 Bq (0.005 µCi) or more of removable contamination on any test sample.

2. Leakage of 37 Bq (0.001 µCi) of Radon-222 per 24 hours for brachytherapy sources manufactured to contain radium.

3. The presence of removable contamination resulting from the decay of 185 Bq (0.005 µCi) or more of radium.

F. A licensee shall immediately withdraw a leaking sealed source from use and shall take action to prevent the spread of contamination. The leaking sealed source shall be repaired or disposed of in accordance with this Article.

G. A licensee shall file a report with the Department within five days if the test for leakage or contamination indicates a sealed source is leaking or contaminated. The report shall include the equipment involved, the test results, and the corrective action taken.

H. A licensee shall maintain records of the tests for leakage required in subsection (A) for three years after the records are made.

Ariz. Admin. Code § R9-7-417

New Section R9-7-417 recodified from R12-1-417, at A.A.R. 813, effective March 22, 2018 (Supp. 18-1). Amended by final expedited rulemaking at 24 A.A.R. 2151, effective July 12, 2018 (Supp. 18-3).