6 Colo. Code Regs. § 1007-1-4.16

Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 11, June 10, 2024

Section 6 CCR 1007-1-4.16 - Testing for Leakage or Contamination of Sealed Sources

4.16.1 The licensee or registrant in possession of any sealed source shall assure that:

4.16.1.1 Each sealed source, except as specified in 4.16.2, is tested for leakage or contamination and the test results are received before the sealed source is put into use unless the licensee or registrant has a certificate from the transferor indicating that the sealed source was tested within 6 months before transfer to the licensee or registrant. Sources that indicate contamination in excess of 185 Bq (0.005 microcuries) shall not be put into use.

4.16.1.2 Each sealed source that is not designed to emit alpha particles is tested for leakage or contamination at intervals not to exceed 6 months or at alternative intervals approved by the Department, after evaluation of information specified by 3.12.12.2 and 3.12.12.3 of these regulations, an Agreement State, a Licensing State, or the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

4.16.1.3 Each sealed source that is designed to emit alpha particles is tested for leakage or contamination at intervals not to exceed 3 months or at alternative intervals approved by the Department, after evaluation of information specified by 3.12.12.2 and 3.12.12.3 of these regulations, an Agreement State, a Licensing State, or the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

4.16.1.4 For each sealed source that is required to be tested for leakage or contamination, at any other time there is reason to suspect that the sealed source might have been damaged or might be leaking, the licensee or registrant shall assure that the sealed source is tested for leakage or contamination before further use.

4.16.1.5 Tests, and evaluations of tests, for leakage for all sealed sources, except brachytherapy sources manufactured to contain radium, shall be capable of detecting the presence of 185 Bq (0.005 µCi) of radioactive material on a test sample. Test samples shall be taken from the sealed source or from the surfaces of the container in which the sealed source is stored or mounted on which one might expect contamination to accumulate. For a sealed source contained in a device, test samples are obtained when the source is in the "off" position.

4.16.1.6 The test for leakage for brachytherapy sources manufactured to contain radium shall be 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 decay products has been determined with respect to collection method, volume and time.

4.16.1.7 Tests for contamination from radium decay products shall be taken on the interior surface of brachytherapy source storage containers and shall be capable of detecting the presence of 185 Bq (0.005 µCi) of a radium decay product which has a half-life greater than 4 days.

4.16.2 A licensee or registrant need not perform test for leakage or contamination on the following sealed sources:

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

4.16.2.2 Sealed sources containing only radioactive material as a gas;

4.16.2.3 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;

4.16.2.4 Sealed sources containing only hydrogen-3;

4.16.2.5 Seeds of iridium-192 encased in nylon ribbon; and

4.16.2.6 Sealed sources, except teletherapy and brachytherapy sources, which are stored, not being used and identified as in storage. The licensee or registrant shall, however, test each such 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 6 months before the date of use or transfer.

4.16.3 Tests for leakage or contamination from sealed sources shall be performed by persons specifically authorized by the Department, an Agreement State, a Licensing State, or the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission to perform such services.

4.16.4 Test results shall be kept in units of becquerel (or microcurie) and maintained for inspection by the Department. Records of test results for sealed sources shall be made and retained as specified in 4.43.

4.16.5 The following shall be considered evidence that a sealed source is leaking:

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

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

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

4.16.6 The licensee or registrant 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 Part.

4.16.7 Reports of test results for leaking or contaminated sealed sources shall be made pursuant to 4.58.

6 CCR 1007-1-4.16

Colorado Register, Vol 37, No. 14. July 25, 2014, effective 8/14/2014

38 CR 02, January 25, 2015, effective 2/14/2015

38 CR 05, March 10, 2015, effective 3/30/2015

38 CR 12, June 25, 2015, effective 7/15/2015

38 CR 14, July 25, 2015, effective 8/14/2015

39 CR 02, January 25, 2016, effective 2/14/2016

39 CR 16, August 25, 2016, effective 9/14/2016

39 CR 22, November 25, 2016, effective 12/15/2016

40 CR 11, June 10, 2017, effective 6/30/2017

40 CR 20, October 25, 2017, effective 11/14/2017

42 CR 24, December 25, 2019, effective 1/14/2020

43 CR 14, July 25, 2020, effective 8/14/2020

43 CR 18, September 25, 2020, effective 10/15/2020

44 CR 11, June 10, 2021, effective 7/15/2021

44 CR 14, July 25, 2021, effective 8/14/2021

45 CR 22, November 25, 2022, effective 12/15/2022