DOE-STD-1136-2017 (Reaffirmed 2024), Good Practices for Occupational Radiological Protection in Uranium Facilities
This Technical Standard provides operational guidance, practical lessons learned and experience gained, guides to good practice, and reference information on the safe handling of uranium. The Technical Standard provides information to assist uranium facilities in complying with Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 835, Occupational Radiation Protection (10 CFR Part 835). This Technical Standard supplements the DOE G 441.1‐1C Chg 1 (Admin Chg), Radiation Protection Programs Guide for Use with Title 10, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 835 (2011a); DOE Orders; and DOE‐STD‐1098‐2017, Radiological Control (2017b), and its sole purpose is the protection of workers, the public, and the environment from the hazards that are inherent in uranium storage, processing, and handling.
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Earlier documents this one replaced.
Document text
Text extracted from the attached file. Refer to the original document for the authoritative version.
Section 1
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
Change Notice No.1
Reaffirmation
April 2024
DOE STANDARD
GOOD PRACTICES FOR
OCCUPATIONAL RADIOLOGICAL
PROTECTION IN URANIUM FACILITIES
U.S. Department of Energy AREA SAFT
Washington, DC. 20585
DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT A. Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
NOT MEASUREMENT
SENSITIVE
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
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DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
iii
FOREWORD
This Technical Standard discusses, but does not establish any, requirements for DOE uranium facilities.
Its purpose is to provide information that will assist DOE and DOE‐contractor health and safety
professionals in developing programs that will provide an appropriate level of protection to both
affected workers and members of the public affected by DOE uranium‐handling activities. This Technical
Standard provides guides to good practice, updates existing reference material, and discusses practical
lessons learned relevant to the safe handling, processing, and storage of uranium. The technical
rationale for the guidance provided herein is explained to allow affected individuals to adapt the
recommendations to similar situations throughout the DOE complex. This Technical Standard provides
information to assist uranium facilities in complying with Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations,
Part 835 (10 CFR Part 835), Occupational Radiation Protection and various DOE Orders. This technical
standard supplements DOE G 441.1‐1C Chg 1 (Admin Chg), Radiation Protection Programs Guide for Use
with Title 10, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 835, Occupational Radiation Protection (DOE, 2011a) and
DOE‐STD‐1098‐ 2017, Radiological Control (DOE, 2017b).
This Technical Standard has been updated to include provisions in the 2007 amendment to 10 CFR Part
835. This amendment updated the dosimetric terms and models for assessing radiation doses, both
internal and external. Of particular interest for this Standard, the biological transportability of material is
now classified in terms of absorption types: F (fast), M (medium) and S (slow). Previously this was
classified in terms of material class: D (days), W (weeks) and Y (years). Throughout this Standard,
discussions of previous studies describing the biological transportation of material in the body will
continue to use D, W and Y, as appropriate. Discussions of other requirements which have not amended
their dosimetric terms and models continue to use the older terminology.
This Technical Standard does not include every requirement applicable to DOE uranium facilities.
Individuals responsible for developing and implementing radiation protection programs at uranium
facilities should be knowledgeable of the requirements that apply to their facilities.
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DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
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Table of Contents
1 INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................................... 1
1.1 Purpose and Applicability .............................................................................................................. 1
1.2 Definitions ..................................................................................................................................... 1
1.3 Discussion ...................................................................................................................................... 1
2 PROPERTIES AND RELATIVE HAZARDS ................................................................................................... 2
Section 2
2.1 Nuclear Properties of Uranium...................................................................................................... 2
2.1.1 Isotopic Characterization ....................................................................................................... 2
2.1.2 Decay Chains ......................................................................................................................... 5
2.1.3 Enrichment ............................................................................................................................ 8
2.1.4 Contaminants from Recycled Uranium and Associated Hazards ........................................... 9
2.2 Physical and Chemical Properties ................................................................................................ 14
2.2.1 Uranium Fuel Processing ..................................................................................................... 14
2.2.2 Uranium Metal .................................................................................................................... 15
2.3 Radiological Characteristics and Effects ...................................................................................... 16
2.3.1 Alpha‐Neutron External Hazard ........................................................................................... 17
2.3.2 Mode of Uranium Entry into the Body ................................................................................ 17
2.4 Chemical Toxicity ......................................................................................................................... 19
2.4.1 Human Response Indicators ................................................................................................ 23
2.4.2 Transfer to the Fetus ........................................................................................................... 24
2.5 Chemical versus Radiological Hazards ......................................................................................... 24
2.6 Natural Uranium Balance in Man ................................................................................................ 31
2.7 Industrial Hazards ........................................................................................................................ 32
2.7.1 Hydrogen Fluoride ............................................................................................................... 32
2.7.2 Nitric Compounds ................................................................................................................ 33
2.7.3 Hydrogen Gas ...................................................................................................................... 33
2.7.4 Fire ....................................................................................................................................... 33
3 RADIATION PROTECTION ..................................................................................................................... 35
3.1 Regulations and Standards .......................................................................................................... 35
3.2 Radiation Protection Programs ................................................................................................... 35
3.2.1 Organization and Administration......................................................................................... 36
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
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Section 3
3.2.2 ALARA Program ................................................................................................................... 41
3.2.3 External Dosimetry Program ............................................................................................... 45
3.2.4 Internal Dosimetry Program ................................................................................................ 45
3.2.5 Area Monitoring and Control ............................................................................................... 45
3.2.6 Radiological Controls ........................................................................................................... 54
3.2.7 Emergency Exposure Situations ........................................................................................... 55
3.2.8 Nuclear Accident Dosimetry ................................................................................................ 55
3.2.9 Records ................................................................................................................................ 55
3.2.10 Radiation Safety Training ..................................................................................................... 56
3.3 Related Programs ........................................................................................................................ 58
3.3.1 Onsite Packaging and Transportation .................................................................................. 58
3.3.2 Approval for Editorial Changes ............................................................................................ 59
3.3.3 Conduct of Operations ......................................................................................................... 59
3.3.4 Integrated Safety Management ........................................................................................... 62
4 CONTAMINATION CONTROL ............................................................................................................... 64
4.1 Air Monitoring ............................................................................................................................. 64
4.1.1 Internal Versus External Dose Philosophy ........................................................................... 64
4.1.2 Purpose of Air Monitoring ................................................................................................... 65
4.1.3 Regulations and Limits ......................................................................................................... 67
4.1.4 Theoretical Considerations and Uncertainties ..................................................................... 67
4.1.5 Samplers and Instrumentation ............................................................................................ 72
4.1.6 Sample Activity Measurement ............................................................................................. 76
4.1.7 Continuous Air Monitors (CAM) .......................................................................................... 77
4.1.8 Monitoring Strategies and Protocols ................................................................................... 77
4.2 Surface Contamination Control ................................................................................................... 80
4.2.1 Reporting and Documenting Contamination Levels ............................................................ 81
Section 4
4.2.2 Monitoring ........................................................................................................................... 82
4.2.3 Release Criteria .................................................................................................................... 88
4.2.4 ALARA Guidelines ................................................................................................................ 93
4.3 Personnel Contamination Control ............................................................................................... 93
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
vii
4.3.1 Monitoring Philosophy ........................................................................................................ 93
4.3.2 Monitoring Program ............................................................................................................ 94
4.3.3 Protective Clothing .............................................................................................................. 95
4.3.4 Respiratory Protection ......................................................................................................... 95
4.3.5 ALARA Guidelines ................................................................................................................ 95
4.3.6 Release Criteria .................................................................................................................... 96
4.4 Decontamination and Decommissioning Techniques .................................................................. 96
4.4.1 Personnel Decontamination ................................................................................................ 96
4.4.2 Equipment and Surface Decontamination ........................................................................... 97
5 INTERNAL DOSIMETRY ......................................................................................................................... 99
5.1 Internal Dose Evaluation Program ............................................................................................... 99
5.1.1 Performance Capabilities for Internal Exposure Monitoring ............................................. 100
5.1.2 Protection of the Embryo/Fetus, Minors, and Members of the Public .............................. 108
5.2 Characterization of Internal Hazards ......................................................................................... 108
5.3 Scope of Bioassay Program ........................................................................................................ 110
5.3.1 Classification of Bioassay Measurements .......................................................................... 110
5.3.2 Monitoring Requirements and Selection of Employees .................................................... 112
5.3.3 Selection of Bioassay Monitoring Techniques ................................................................... 113
5.4 Establishing Bioassay Frequency ............................................................................................... 115
5.4.1 Frequency Based on Program Sensitivity ........................................................................... 116
5.4.2 Frequency Based on Potential Risk of Intake ..................................................................... 118
5.4.3 Special Bioassay as Supplements to Routine Bioassay Programs ...................................... 118
Section 5
5.4.4 Long‐term Follow‐up Bioassay Programs .......................................................................... 119
5.4.5 Other Frequency Situations ............................................................................................... 119
5.5 Administration of a Bioassay Program ...................................................................................... 119
5.5.1 In Vivo Monitoring ............................................................................................................. 121
5.5.2 Urine Sampling .................................................................................................................. 122
5.5.3 Fecal Sampling ................................................................................................................... 124
5.5.4 Conditions for Adjustments of Action Levels ..................................................................... 125
5.6 Interpretation of Bioassay Results ............................................................................................. 125
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
viii
5.6.1 In Vivo Count Results ......................................................................................................... 126
5.6.2 Urine Sample Results ......................................................................................................... 127
5.6.3 Fecal Sample Results ......................................................................................................... 128
5.6.4 Use of Air Sample Data in Internal Dosimetry ................................................................... 128
5.7 Dose Assessment ....................................................................................................................... 129
5.7.1 Methods of Estimating Intake ........................................................................................... 130
5.7.2 Alternate Methods of Intake Assessment ......................................................................... 131
5.7.3 Estimating Effective Dose from Intakes of Uranium .......................................................... 131
5.8 Reference and Action Levels ...................................................................................................... 132
5.9 Response to Suspected Intakes ................................................................................................. 135
5.9.1 Emergency Action Planning ............................................................................................... 137
5.9.2 Medical Emergency Response Plan ................................................................................... 137
5.9.3 Responsibilities for Management of Internal Contamination ............................................ 138
5.9.4 Immediate Medical Care.................................................................................................... 138
5.9.5 Contaminated Wounds...................................................................................................... 139
6 EXTERNAL DOSIMETRY ...................................................................................................................... 140
6.1 DOSE LIMITS .............................................................................................................................. 140
6.1.1 Limiting Quantities ............................................................................................................ 140
Section 6
6.1.2 Operational Quantities ...................................................................................................... 144
6.2 RADIATIONS IN URANIUM FACILITIES ........................................................................................ 144
6.2.1 Alpha and Beta Doses ........................................................................................................ 148
6.2.2 Gamma Doses .................................................................................................................... 149
6.2.3 Neutron Dose Equivalents ................................................................................................. 149
6.3 RADIATION DETECTION AND EVALUATION ............................................................................... 152
6.3.1 Portable Survey Instruments‐‐Beta Radiation Response ................................................... 152
6.3.2 Portable Survey Instruments‐‐Gamma Radiation Response .............................................. 156
6.3.3 Portable Survey Instruments‐‐Neutron Response ............................................................. 158
6.4 PERSONNEL DOSIMETRY ........................................................................................................... 159
6.4.1 Energy Dependence ........................................................................................................... 160
6.4.2 Angular Dependence ......................................................................................................... 160
6.4.3 Dosimetry Practices ........................................................................................................... 160
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
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6.4.4 Extremity Dosimetry .......................................................................................................... 161
6.4.5 Dose to Lens of Eye ............................................................................................................ 163
6.5 External Dose Control ................................................................................................................ 163
6.5.1 Time ................................................................................................................................... 163
6.5.2 Distance ............................................................................................................................. 164
6.5.3 Shielding ............................................................................................................................ 164
6.5.4 Geometry........................................................................................................................... 166
6.6 Recordkeeping ........................................................................................................................... 166
7 NUCLEAR CRITICALITY SAFETY ........................................................................................................... 167
7.1 REGULATIONS AND STANDARDS ............................................................................................... 167
7.2 Criticality Control Factors .......................................................................................................... 168
7.2.1 Controllable Factors .......................................................................................................... 168
7.2.2 Administrative Practices .................................................................................................... 170
Section 7
7.3 CRITICALITY ACCIDENT EXPERIENCE .......................................................................................... 173
7.3.1 Types of Criticality Accidents ............................................................................................. 173
7.3.2 Summary of Past Criticality Accidents ............................................................................... 174
7.4 CRITICALITY ALARMS AND NUCLEAR ACCIDENT DOSIMETRY .................................................... 174
7.4.1 Criticality Accident Alarm System (CAAS) .......................................................................... 174
7.4.2 Nuclear Accident Dosimetry .............................................................................................. 175
7.5 RESPONSIBILITIES OF RADIOLOGICAL CONTROL STAFF ............................................................. 179
7.5.1 Routine Operations ........................................................................................................... 179
7.5.2 Emergency Response Actions ............................................................................................ 179
7.5.3 Special Considerations during Decommissioning Activities ............................................... 180
8 WASTE MANAGEMENT ...................................................................................................................... 181
8.1 POTENTIALLY CONTAMINATED WASTES ................................................................................... 181
8.1.1 Solid Waste ........................................................................................................................ 182
8.1.2 Liquid Waste ...................................................................................................................... 182
8.2 DESIGN OF WASTE PROCESSING SYSTEMS ................................................................................ 182
8.2.1 Objectives .......................................................................................................................... 182
8.2.2 Effluents ............................................................................................................................ 183
8.3 Treatment .................................................................................................................................. 183
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
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8.3.1 Airborne Wastes ................................................................................................................ 183
8.3.2 Liquid Waste ...................................................................................................................... 184
8.3.3 Solid Waste ........................................................................................................................ 184
8.4 Monitoring ................................................................................................................................. 185
8.4.1 Air and Gaseous Effluents .................................................................................................. 185
8.4.2 Liquid Effluents .................................................................................................................. 185
8.4.3 Water Collection System ................................................................................................... 186
8.5 Waste Minimization .................................................................................................................. 186
Section 8
9 EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ............................................................................................................. 189
9.1 Emergency Management in DOE ............................................................................................... 189
9.1.1 Basis for DOE Emergency Management Policy .................................................................. 189
9.1.2 Requirements Pertaining to All DOE Operations ............................................................... 190
9.2 Specific Guidance on Emergency Management for Uranium Facilities ..................................... 191
9.2.1 Technical Planning Basis .................................................................................................... 191
9.2.2 Program Elements ............................................................................................................. 195
10 DECOMISSIONING ......................................................................................................................... 200
10.1 REGULATORY FRAMEWORK ...................................................................................................... 200
10.1.1 Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 (RCRA) ................................................ 200
10.1.2 Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) ..... 200
10.1.3 National Environmental Policy Act .................................................................................... 201
10.1.4 DOE Directives and Standards ........................................................................................... 201
10.2 Residual Radioactivity Levels ..................................................................................................... 202
10.2.1 Public Dose Limits .............................................................................................................. 202
10.2.2 ALARA process requirements ............................................................................................ 202
10.2.3 Dose Constraints ................................................................................................................ 203
10.2.4 Authorized Limits ............................................................................................................... 203
10.2.5 Survey and Monitoring ...................................................................................................... 204
10.3 Design Features for New Facilities ............................................................................................. 204
10.3.1 Building Materials .............................................................................................................. 205
10.4 Ventilation Systems ................................................................................................................... 206
10.4.1 Piping Systems ................................................................................................................... 206
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
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10.4.2 Soil‐Contamination Considerations ................................................................................... 206
10.4.3 Other Features ................................................................................................................... 206
10.5 DECOMMISSIONING PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS ..................................................................... 207
Section 9
10.5.1 Pre‐Operational and Operational Activities ....................................................................... 208
10.5.2 Post‐Operational Activities ................................................................................................ 208
10.5.3 Decommissioning Activities ............................................................................................... 208
10.5.4 Post‐Decommissioning Activities ....................................................................................... 214
10.5.5 Quality Assurance .............................................................................................................. 214
10.6 Decontamination and Decommissioning Experience ................................................................ 214
APPENDIX A ‐ REFERENCES ............................................................................................................................ 1
APPENDIX B ‐ GLOSSARY ............................................................................................................................... 1
Table of Tables
Table 2‐1. Typical Isotopic Abundances (g of Isotope per 100g of Material) ......................................... 3
Table 2‐2. Properties of Radionuclides that may be found at Uranium Facilities(a) ................................................. 4
Table 2‐3. Uranium Specific Activities .................................................................................................... 8
Table 2‐4. DACs for Uranium and Selected Contaminants in Recycled Uranium ................................. 11
Table 2‐5. Beta Surface Dose Rates from Equilibrium Thickness of Uranium Metal and
Compounds(a) ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 16
Table 2‐6. Health Effects from Acute Intake of Soluble Uranium(a) ................................................................................... 20
Table 2‐7. Toxicological Limits on Airborne Concentrations of Transportable (soluble) Uranium ....... 21
Table 2‐8. Uranium Levels for Various Effects ...................................................................................... 22
Table 2‐9. 2005 ACGIH Threshold Limit Values (TLVs) for Selected Metals .......................................... 25
Table 2‐10. Inhalation Classification for Some Uranium Compounds .................................................... 26
Table 2‐11. Dose Coefficients for Determining Enrichments above which Radiological Hazards ............
Become Limiting .................................................................................................................. 27
Table 2‐12. Impact of Monitoring at 100 Millirem Enrichments above which Radiological .....................
Section 10
Limits Predominate (Calculations Not Shown) ................................................................... 31
Table 2‐13. Uranium Balance for Reference Man(a) .......................................................................................................................... 32
Table 4‐1. 10 CFR § 835 Appendix D Surface Contamination Values(1) (dpm/100cm2) ......................... 87
Table 5‐1. Urine Bioassay Goals(a) for 238U .......................................................................................... 102
Table 5‐2. Fecal bioassay Goals(a) for 238U ........................................................................................... 104
Table 5‐3. In Vivo Measurement Bioassay Goals for 238U(a) ................................................................................................... 106
Table 5‐4. Minimum Uranium Bioassay Monitoring(a,b) ............................................................................................................ 113
Table 5‐5. Categories and Performance Criteria for Uranium Bioassay ............................................. 117
Table 5‐6. Minimum Suggested Frequencies for Routine Bioassay for Uranium(a)............................................. 118
Table 5‐7. Uranium Levels for Internal Dosimetry Notification .......................................................... 133
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
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Table 5‐8. Uranium Contamination Levels for Notification of Occupational Medicine Physician ...... 133
Table 5‐9. Early Bioassay Measurement Results Corresponding to the Therapeutic Intervention
Action Levels Used at the Hanford Site (Carbaugh et al., 1995) ........................................ 136
Table 6‐1. Effective Depth of Tissue for Various Organs .................................................................... 140
Table 6‐2. Radiation Weighting Factors, wR ...................................................................................................................................... 141
Table 6‐3. Tissue Weighting Factors ................................................................................................... 142
Table 6‐4. Radiation Dose Limits for DOE and DOE Contractors ........................................................ 143
Table 6‐5. Spontaneous Fission Neutron Yields .................................................................................. 150
Table 6‐6. Neutron Yields from Alpha‐Neutron Reactions for Oxides and Fluorides .......................... 151
Table 6‐7. Neutron Yields for Trace Impurities of Uranium ................................................................ 152
Table 6‐8. Instrument Response to Uranium Beta Fields ................................................................... 154
Table 6‐9. Gamma Flux and Ratios at Various Locations and Sources at Fernald Plant .................... 158
Table 6‐10. Performance Test Categories, Radiation Sources, and Test Ranges for the DOELAP and
NVLAP Programs ................................................................................................................ 162
Table 6‐11. Uranium Beta Shielding ..................................................................................................... 165
Table 6‐12. Uranium Beta Dose Reduction Factors .............................................................................. 165
Table 9‐1. Summary Table of PAGs, Guidelines, and Planning Guidance for Radiological Incidents .....
Section 11
(EPA, 2016) ........................................................................................................................ 198
Table 10‐1. Surface Contamination Guidelines .................................................................................... 204
Table of Figures
Figure 2‐1. Uranium Series Decay Chain.................................................................................................. 6
Figure 2‐2. Actinium Series Decay Chain ................................................................................................. 7
Figure 4‐1. Protocol for Release of Materials from Radiological Control .............................................. 90
Figure 6‐1. Beta Radiation Readings at Surface of Uranium Metal vs. % Enrichment by Weight ........ 146
Figure 6‐2. Absorbed Dose Rate as a Function of Depth in Mylar ....................................................... 147
Figure 6‐3. Changes in Beta Energy Spectra and Shallow Dose Rate from a Natural Uranium Metal
Slab Source Caused by Protective Apparel (Note the bremsstrahlung peak in the low
energy ranges). .................................................................................................................. 148
Figure 6‐4. Meter Readings for a Depleted Uranium Ingot ................................................................. 153
Figure 6‐5. Meter Readings for an Open Drum of UF4 (green salt) ...................................................... 153
Figure 6‐6. Measured Angular Response to the INEL TE Survey Meter to Parallel Beams of Beta
Particles from Three Standard Beta Sources. .................................................................... 155
Figure 6‐7. Average Ion Chamber Survey Meter Response by Group to X or Gamma Photon ...............
Radiation ........................................................................................................................... 156
Figure 6‐8. Average GM Survey Meter Photon Energy Response by Group ........................................ 157
Figure 6‐9. High Resolution Gamma Spectrum of Slightly Enriched Uranium Oxide (1% 235U) ...............
record with Ge(Li) Detector ............................................................................................... 157
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
1
1 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Purpose and Applicability
This Technical Standard provides operational guidance, practical lessons learned and
experience gained, guides to good practice, and reference information on the safe handling of
uranium. The Technical Standard provides information to assist uranium facilities in complying
with Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 835, Occupational Radiation
Protection (10 CFR Part 835). This Technical Standard supplements the DOE G 441.1‐1C Chg 1
(Admin Chg), Radiation Protection Programs Guide for Use with Title 10, Code of Federal
Regulations, Part 835 (2011a); DOE Orders; and DOE‐STD‐1098‐2017, Radiological Control
(2017b), and its sole purpose is the protection of workers, the public, and the environment
from the hazards that are inherent in uranium storage, processing, and handling.
Section 12
This Technical Standard replaces DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017, Guide of Good Practices for
Occupational Radiological Protection in Uranium Facilities (DOE, 2017a), providing more
complete and current information and emphasizing situations that are typical of DOE’s current
operations, including weapons assembly and disassembly, safe storage, decontamination, and
decommissioning (environmental restoration). This Technical Standard may be useful to
health physicists and other safety professionals. The information presented herein represents
the best technical information available from within the DOE complex. Except to the extent
that the guidance presented here is an exact quote from applicable regulations or contract
requirements, it is not binding or mandatory. However, judicious use of this Technical
Standard, in concert with applicable regulatory documents, will help in building a
comprehensive and technically‐defensible radiological control program.
1.2 Definitions
A glossary is provided in Appendix A. In all cases, the definitions provided in this Technical
Standard are consistent with those provided in 10 CFR Part 835, its Guides, and DOE‐STD‐
1098‐2017 (2017b).
1.3 Discussion
Chapters 2 through 10 provide technical information to assist in safely managing radiological
hazards associated with uranium operations. The topics covered are those considered by
representatives of many of DOE’s uranium facilities to be most beneficial: Properties and
Relative Hazards (Chapter 2), Radiation Protection (Chapter 3), Contamination Control
(Chapter 4), Internal Dosimetry (Chapter 5), External Dosimetry (Chapter 6), Nuclear Criticality
Safety (Chapter 7), Waste Management (Chapter 8), Emergency Management (Chapter 9), and
Decommissioning (Chapter 10).
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
2
2 PROPERTIES AND RELATIVE HAZARDS
This chapter presents basic radiological and chemical properties of uranium and discusses the
basis for current control limits. A variety of materials are inherent to uranium handling
processes and hazards characteristic of these materials and processes. The data and
discussions are intended to provide a basis for understanding the changes in hazards as a
function of such parameters as enrichment, physical form, and chemical form.
2.1 Nuclear Properties of Uranium
Naturally occurring uranium consists of a mixture of 234U, 235U, and 238U isotopes, along with
their decay products. Uranium is relatively abundant in nature. The primary isotopes of
uranium are long‐lived alpha‐emitters with energies between 4.15 and 4.8 MeV. Their
progeny include numerous other radionuclides, some of which are radiologically significant at
uranium facilities, the degree of significance depending upon the history of the uranium
materials and the processing.
Through proper processing, uranium can be used as a fuel in nuclear reactors to generate
electricity on a commercially viable scale, to produce radioisotopes, to provide steam for
propulsion, and radiation for research. The 235U isotope readily undergoes fission by slow,
"thermal" neutrons with the release of a large amount of energy. The percentage of 235U
present (referred to as "enrichment") determines the fuel reactivity and the criticality hazard
of the material. By concentrating the amount of the 235U isotope in the uranium, the quantity
of fuel and the size of the reactor needed for power production decreases. This concentration
of natural uranium to enriched uranium is carried out by special processes such as gaseous
diffusion, centrifuging, or laser separation. The uranium by‐product of the enrichment process
is reduced in 235U content and is called "depleted" uranium. Uranium is commonly classified by
its 235U enrichment as natural uranium, enriched uranium, or depleted uranium.
Section 13
Uranium‐235 fissions after capturing a thermal (very low energy) neutron. Its fission thermal
cross‐section (probability of interaction) is 577 barns (Stehn et al., 1965). Its neutron capture
cross section is 101 barns. After capturing a fast neutron, 238U undergoes two successive beta
decays to 239Pu which will also undergo thermal fission (thermal cross‐section = 741 barns).
Heavy‐water moderated reactors function with natural uranium isotopic composition. Other
types of reactors require some 235U enrichment.
2.1.1 Isotopic Characterization
Natural uranium consists of three isotopes: 238U, 235U, and 234U. All three radionuclides undergo
radioactive decay by alpha particle emission. The 235U isotope (and 234U to a much lesser
degree and at lower energy) emits gamma radiation as well. The natural abundances of these
uranium isotopes, as well as the weight percentages of the isotopes in enriched (typical
commercial nuclear power reactor enrichment) and depleted uranium, are listed in Table 2‐1.
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
3
Table 2‐1. Typical Isotopic Abundances (g of Isotope per 100g of Material)
Isotope
Natural Typical Commercial
Feed Enrichment
Depleted Specific
Activity (Ci/g)
Neutron
Capture Cross
Section (barns)
238U 99.28 97.01 99.8 3.3 E‐7 2.7
235U 0.72 2.96 0.2 2.1 E‐6 101
234U 0.0055 0.03 0.0007 6.2 E‐3 95
The amount of uranium present determines the grade of the ore. Most of the ores found in
the U.S. contain from 0.1 to 1% uranium and are considered medium grade. Lower‐grade ores
are mined commercially if they are a byproduct of mining for another material, such as gold or
phosphate.
Uranium that has been processed to raise the concentration of 235U is referred to as enriched
uranium. The extent of enrichment depends on the intended end use of the uranium.
Commercial light water reactors are designed for use with the 235U enriched to around 3%.
Higher enrichment is required for; high‐temperature gas‐cooled reactors, naval nuclear
propulsion reactors, most research reactors and weapons. The 235U enrichment process also
increases the concentration of 234U. The higher activity of enriched uranium is due more from
the increased 234U than from the increased 235U.
Depleted uranium is a by‐product of the enrichment process and is depleted in both the 235U
and 234U isotopes. Depleted uranium, with its reduced activity and very high density, has many
uses; among them are radiation shielding, counterweights, projectiles, and target elements in
DOE plutonium production reactors.
In addition to the uranium isotopes discussed above, the daughter products of uranium decay
and byproducts of uranium processing can have significant radiological impacts in uranium‐
handling facilities. Table 2‐2 presents the properties of these radionuclides.
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
4
Table 2‐2. Properties of Radionuclides that may be found at Uranium Facilities(a)
Energies (MeV) and Abundances of Major
Radiations
(Low yield radiation is not included)
Nuclide Half‐Life Alpha Beta Gamma
Pr
im
ar
y
U
ra
ni
um
Is
ot
op
es
238U 4.51 x 109 y
4.15 (21%)
4.20 (79%)
4.21 (6%) 0.144 (11%)
235U
7.1 x 108 y
4.37
4.40
(17%)
(55%)
0.163 (5%)
0.186 (57%)
4.60 (5%) 0.205 (5%)
234U 2.47 x 105 y
4.72
4.77
(28%)
(72%)
0.053 (0.12%)
De
ca
y
Pr
od
uc
ts
0.103 (21%) 0.013 (9.8%)
234Th 24.1 d
0.193 (79%) 0.063 (3.5%)
0.092 (3%)
0.093 (4%)
234mPa
1.17 m
2.29 (98%)
0.765 (0.30%)
1.001 (0.60%)
0.206 (13%) 0.026 (2%)
Section 14
231Th 25.5 h 0.287 (12%) 0.084 (10%)
0.288 (37%)
0.305 (35%)
Im
pu
rit
ie
s (
e.
g.
ir
ra
di
at
io
n
an
d
re
pr
oc
es
si
ng
a
rt
ifa
ct
s)
99Tc 2.12x105 y 0.292 (100%)
237Np 2.14x106 y
4.78 (75%)
4.65 (12%)
238Pu 86.4 y
5.50
5.46
(72%)
(28%)
239Pu 2.44x104 y
5.16 (88%)
5.11 (11%)
240Pu 6.6x103 y
5.17 (76%)
5.12 (24%)
241Pu 13.2 y 0.021 (100%)
232U 72 y
5.26
5.32
(31%)
(69%)
236U 2.34x107 y 4.47 (24%)
(a) From EGG‐2530 (1988).
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
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2.1.2 Decay Chains
The natural uranium isotopes decay by alpha emission. The decay products are also
radioactive and form "decay chains" that ultimately lead to a stable isotope of lead. Figures 2‐
1 and 2‐2 present the decay chains of 238U and 235U (234U is a member of the 238U decay chain),
along with the half‐lives and characteristic radiations of each nuclide.
Uranium‐processing steps (milling or refining) separate the decay products and other
impurities in the ore from the uranium. It takes months after processing before the first few
decay products build up and come to equilibrium with the parents. In depleted uranium, the
beta radiation from the decay of 234Th and 234mPa amounts to nearly twice the alpha radiation
from 238U and 234U. In commercially enriched uranium, the beta radiation from 231Th, 234Th, and
234mPa nearly equals the alpha radiation from 238U, 234U, and 235U. In natural ore, the later decay
products (especially 230Th and 226Ra) are present and add significant gamma radiation to the
emitted radiation. In processed uranium (natural, enriched, or depleted) all decay products
below 234U and 235U are removed. Because of the long half‐lives of 234U and 231Pa, the
radionuclides that follow these two nuclides are generally ignored.
The mining and milling stages are usually conducted by commercial enterprises. DOE facilities
do not routinely process uranium ore concentrates and, as a result, the decay products
formed during DOE processing operations of virgin feed are limited. However, radium and its
progeny may be present in wastewater streams of certain facilities, so it is prudent to
consider those nuclides in effluent and environmental monitoring programs.
For workplace radiological controls, 234Th, 234mPa, 231Th and the uranium isotopes are those
requiring primary consideration; however, if there are large quantities of aged highly enriched
uranium, there may be a need to also consider 231Pa in establishing radiological controls. In
addition, elevated radon concentrations can occur in poorly ventilated uranium storage areas
from the small amounts of 226Ra that grow in and carry over as contaminants in the chemical
separation processes.
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
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Figure 2‐1. Uranium Series Decay Chain
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
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Figure 2‐2. Actinium Series Decay Chain
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
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2.1.3 Enrichment
Uranium‐235 enrichment processes selectively increase the 235Uconcentration by separating it
from the 238U. The method used for many years in the U.S. is the gaseous diffusion process.
Laser separation has also been demonstrated in this country, but a facility built to
accommodate the process has not yet been brought on‐line. Centrifugation is a third
separation method used by foreign sources. Uranium feed for the enrichment process is
derived from virgin ore or from "very clean" recycled material. Although some uranium is still
mill‐derived, much of the feed is recycled material from other countries, including Canada
(where natural uranium is the reactor feed material). Specifications on acceptable
contamination levels limit the feed that may be processed in the U.S. gaseous diffusion plants.
Recycling of reprocessed (irradiated uranium) material from DOE’s reactors years ago
contaminated the diffusion process equipment with transuranics, a portion of which remains
in the equipment.
Section 15
The specific activity of essentially pure uranium depends on its degree of enrichment and
normally describes only alpha activity. The beta activity from associated decay products is not
included in the uranium specific activity values, but is expressed separately. Consequently,
two specific activities (one for alpha and one for beta) are frequently calculated for uranium‐
bearing materials. Some typical alpha specific activity values are given in Table 2‐3.
Table 2‐3. Uranium Specific Activities
Type Wt. % 235U Specific Activity of
Mixture (Ci/g)
Natural 0.71 7 x 10‐7
Depleted 0.2 4 x 10‐7
Enriched 2 1 x 10‐6
Highly Enriched 20 9 x 10‐6
For gaseous diffusion enriched uranium, the approximate alpha specific activity of a given
uranium enrichment can be calculated from the following formula:
Specific Activity of Enriched Uranium = (0.4 + 0.38E + 0.0034E2) x 10-6 Ci/g;
where E = %235U by weight, enrichment ≥ 0.72
Gaseous diffusion, the predominant existing enrichment technology, causes a greater increase
in 234U concentration than in 235Uconcentration. For example, when 235Ucontent is increased
from 0.72% (natural) to 2.96%, (an increase of approximately a factor of four), 234Ucontent
increases from 0.006% to 0.03%, (a five‐fold increase). As a result, the specific activity
increases with enrichment, not just because of the replacement of some 238U with 235U, but
more significantly because of the increase in the amount of 234Upresent.
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
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Laser isotopic separation (under research) selectively enriches only the 235U, leaving the 234U
with the "tails," or depleted uranium. Therefore, the radiological characteristics of both
enriched and depleted uranium will change when compared to conventional separation
techniques.
The specific activity of recycled irradiated uranium varies from the value calculated from the
equation given above because that equation is not applicable to recycled material with its
added contaminants. For these reasons, specific activities that are calculated from the formula
should be considered approximations only. If exact values of specific activity are required,
they should be determined analytically. See Example 1 for the calculation of blending
enrichments.
As a historical note, some of the earlier documentation refers to the "special curie" of natural
uranium, which was defined as 3.7 x 1010 d/s of 234U, 3.7 x 1010 d/s of 238U, and 1.7 x 109 d/s of
235U. Thus, 1 "curie" of natural uranium was actually slightly more than 2 curies of uranium
alpha activity. This essentially obsolete term has caused considerable confusion. Readers are
cautioned to be aware of the use of this special curie in the older literature. Use of this unit in
any current application is strongly discouraged.
2.1.4 Contaminants from Recycled Uranium and Associated Hazards
Some of the uranium feed material that was handled at DOE facilities had been reclaimed or
recycled from reprocessed, spent reactor fuel. The chemical processes by which recycled
uranium was purified left trace amounts of transuranic elements (neptunium, americium, and
plutonium) and fission products (mainly 99Tc). The recycled uranium also contained trace
amounts of uranium isotopes not found in nature, such as 236U. At the minute concentration
levels in uranium from fuel reprocessing facilities, the radiological impact of these impurities
Example 1
One kilogram of 20% enriched uranium is blended with 1 kilogram of 2% enriched
uranium.
Section 16
The specific activity of the resulting mixture is
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
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was negligible in most cases. However, there were many routine chemical processes that
tended to concentrate these impurities, either in the uranium product or in reaction by‐
products, such that radiological controls and environmental monitoring programs must
consider these impurities.
The Derived Air Concentration (DAC) values for several radionuclides are shown in Table 2‐4.
These include the three uranium isotopes and selected contaminants in recycled uranium.
The following text discusses the environmental, safety, and health challenges presented by
the introduction of recycled uranium into the DOE system for enrichment.
2.1.4.1 Transuranics
Transuranics (neptunium and plutonium isotopes) exist in small quantities in reclaimed or
recycled feed materials. In most cases, a regimen of radiological controls based on uranium
hazards is adequate to control the additional activity. However, because of their higher
specific activities (compared to uranium isotopes), transuranics can represent a significant
internal dose concern even at very low mass concentrations. As a result, the annual limit on
intakes (ALI) for transuranics are lower than those for uranium isotopes. For example, for a
moderately soluble transportability mixture, if 239Pu contamination contributes 0.1% of the
total alpha activity in uranium, then it will contribute roughly 14% of the total inhalation dose
equivalent (see Example 2). Example 2 illustrates that it takes only 11 parts of 239Pu per billion
parts of natural uranium to attain an activity fraction of 0.1%.
Radiological controls based solely on uranium content may provide insufficient protection
with increases in the TRU concentration. Processes to recover uranium from by‐product
streams recover a portion of the impurities as well and may require additional controls to
adequately protect individuals when the TRU concentration exceeds 0.1%.
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
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Table 2‐4. DACs for Uranium and Selected Contaminants in Recycled Uranium
Inhalation DAC, From 10 CFR Part 835, Appendix A
Nuclide Type F µCi/mL (Bq/m3)(a) Type M µCi/mL (Bq/m3) (a)
238U 5 x 10‐10 (2 x 101) 3 x 10‐10 (1 x 101)
235U 5 x 10‐10 (1 x 101) 3 x 10‐10 (1 x 101)
234U 5 x 10‐10 (1 x 101) 2 x 10‐10 (9 x 100)
234Th Not Listed 1 x 10‐7 (3 x 103)
231Th Not Listed 1 x 10‐6 (5 x 104)
99Tc 1 x 10‐6 (5 x 104) 1 x 10‐7 (6 x 103)
237Np Not Listed 8 x 10‐12 (3 x 10‐1)
238Pu Not Listed 6 x 10‐12 (2 x 10‐1)
239Pu Not Listed 5 x 10‐12 (2 x 10‐1)
240Pu Not Listed 5 x 10‐12 (2 x 10‐1)
241Pu Not Listed 2 x 10‐10 (1 x 101)
236U 5 x 10‐10 (1 x 101) 2 x 10‐10 (1 x 101)
(a) See last paragraph of Section 2.5 for discussion of Type F, M, and S.
Example 2
One gram of natural uranium contains 239Pu contamination to the extent that the 239Pu
activity is 0.1% of the uranium alpha activity. The relative inhalation hazards of the two
materials are determined by dividing each material’s relative activity by its derived air
concentration.
U‐Nat relative activity = 1
239
Pu relative activity = 0.001
U‐Nat derived air concentration (M) = 3 x 10‐10 µCi/mL (use DAC for 238U)
239
Pu derived air concentration (M) = 5 x 10‐12µCi/mL
These values represent the relative hazards of the two materials in the mixture.
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
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Section 17
Several DOE facilities have adopted specifications on recycled uranium that limit the amount
of transuranic alpha activity to 0.1% of the total uranium alpha activity, thus limiting the
potential inhalation dose from transuranics to a small fraction of the total. Facilities that
handle recycled uranium with higher levels of transuranics should establish a regular program
of analyzing feeds, products, and by‐products for transuranics, and then modifying control
limits and action levels as appropriate to reflect the transuranic content of those materials.
This monitoring of the TRU content is essential when the analytical technique used to identify
the level of radiological control needed is based on gross alpha counting (such as for air
sampling), which does not distinguish the plutonium from the uranium fraction, or chemical
analysis for uranium (such as photofluorometric urinalysis) which does not detect plutonium.
Raffinate from refinery operations, MgF2 from metal production operations, and chemical
traps from UF6 operations have all been observed to have higher TRU‐to‐U ratios than either
reactants/feeds or uranium products. Frequently, reaction by‐products are not discarded as
wastes but are processed further to recover the remaining uranium. When this occurs, a
portion of the impurities is recovered along with the uranium and can become a perpetual
radiological control problem. All facilities that process recycled uranium should periodically
analyze feeds, products, and by‐products for transuranics to ensure that radiological controls
are adequate for the mixtures of uranium and transuranic elements that are present.
The uranium isotopes (viewed as contaminants) that will increase due to the recycled uranium
feed are 232U, 234U, and 236U. The health and safety risks of 236U are similar to those of natural
uranium because its specific activity and radiation emissions are similar (See Table 2‐2). Its
presence in uranium fuel requires slightly higher enrichments for the same reactor
applications, however, because it absorbs neutrons. The increased concentration of the 234U
increases the specific activity of any enrichment of 235U. It is expected that the specific activity
for a given enrichment would be about double that obtained from enrichment of non‐recycled
uranium.
Therefore, 239Pu at 0.1% of the U‐Nat activity represents 6% of the potential inhalation
dose.
The activity of 1 gram of U‐Nat = 2.5 x 104 dps
Therefore, the 239Pu activity in the 1 gram of U‐Nat.= 0.001 x 2.5 x 104 = 25 dps
239
The specific activity of Pu is 2.27 dps/nanogram:
/ /
Therefore, 0.1% 239Pu activity fraction corresponds to 11 parts per billion on a mass
basis.
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
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Section 18
The isotope in recycled uranium presenting the greatest potential radiological hazard from
external sources is 232U. 232U is a daughter product of neutron activation of 231Pa. The health
hazards of 232U are primarily due to the rapid buildup of gamma activity of its decay products,
particularly from 228Th. The gamma activity buildup is both time‐ and process‐dependent. The
232U decay products form nonvolatile fluorides and will concentrate in cylinders when UF6 is
vapor‐fed. The gamma activity in equipment that processes gaseous UF6 is a function of the
mass fraction of 232U present in the gas phase. Estimates indicate that the level of gamma
activity within the enrichment cascade equipment would increase by about a factor of 3 due
to the presence of 232U. The exposure rates on internal surfaces would increase from 10‐20
mrad/h to 30‐60 mrad/h; those on external surfaces would increase to about 3‐4 mrad/h. The
major exposure increase from the 232U occurs in the handling of UF6 cylinders. Currently, the
exposure rate at the external surface of empty UF6 cylinders is about 50‐100 mrad/h.
Assuming a 232U concentration of 0.5 ppm based on 235U and a feed enrichment of 1%, a full
10‐ton feed cylinder would have a surface exposure rate of about 80 mrad/h. The exposure
rate at 30 cm from the surface of an emptied cylinder would be about 500 mrad/h without the
shielding provided by material in the cylinder. These values are based on the 232U being in
secular equilibrium with its decay products; in reality, it is unlikely that the decay products
would reach much more than 50% of equilibrium values.
Product cylinders produced from processing of recycled uranium typically have higher gamma
radiation fields than the feed cylinders. At 4% 235U enrichment, the contribution from 232U over
time could increase the radiation field at the surface from 80 mrad/h to 300 mrad/h from a
full 10‐ton cylinder and from 500 mrad/h at 30 cm to 2 rad/h from an empty cylinder. About
half of this increase would be apparent within 2 years of initial usage and the highest levels
could occur in 20 years without mitigating actions. Frequent cylinder cleaning can prevent this
significant exposure rate buildup. The presence of 232Umay also require other changes in
processes used to handle cleaning solutions due to the higher gamma radiation present.
2.1.4.2 Technetium
In facilities with significant quantities of 99Tc, radiation monitoring techniques must be able to
detect the low‐energy beta radiation from this isotope. Individual and area monitoring
equipment and techniques selected to measure the 2.29 MeV (Emax) beta from 234mPa may not
measure the 99Tc 0.292 MeV (Emax) beta effectively. If a mixture of uranium and 99Tc is
suspected to be present, the monitoring technique selected must be based on 99Tc or on the
actual mixture, rather than on 234mPa. The 99Tc levels have not been the controlling factor in
many situations to date. However, it is important to ensure that monitoring instruments and
techniques are adequate to detect 99Tc.
Technetium‐99 tends to deposit within enrichment equipment and will "pocket" in the higher
enrichment sections of the gaseous diffusion cascade. Special precautions must be taken
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
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Section 19
when evacuating and purging or performing other maintenance work on this equipment. In
equipment with accumulations of 99Tc, low energy beta radiation fields of a few rad per hour
may be encountered. This radiation is effectively attenuated by the protective clothing
required for contamination control (one pair of industrial cloth coveralls, one pair of
impermeable (Tyvek) coveralls, heavy neoprene gloves, and safety glasses). While the 99Tc
should be effectively removed from the Gaseous Diffusion Plant (GDP) product, it will be
present in uranium used by other DOE facilities. Because the ALI for 99Tc is higher than that of
uranium, inhalation is the controlling concern only in situations where the technetium activity
greatly exceeds that of the uranium that is present. Technetium as pertechnetate is also
difficult to remove from skin and can therefore cause significant doses to the skin from
contamination.
The tendency of technetium to become airborne more readily than uranium can lead to beta
contamination in areas where it is not otherwise expected. This may result in environmental
emissions even when the uranium is effectively confined in the work place. Residues in
ventilation systems from high‐temperature operations, such as uranium remelting/casting, or
uranium chip burning, tend to have higher Tc‐to‐U ratios than either feed or product material
in uranium metal processing facilities. Because of its low atomic weight and relative volatility,
technetium also tends to concentrate at the top of the gaseous diffusion cascade, where it
becomes an inhalation and effluent concern when the cascade is opened for maintenance.
Facilities that handle recycled uranium should 1) analyze feeds, products, and by‐products to
determine the fate of 99Tc within their processes, then 2) modify monitoring equipment,
control limits, and action levels as needed to properly evaluate and control 99Tc hazards.
Environment, safety, and health personnel should also evaluate the presence of and
radiological consequences from other fission products impurities in recycled uranium.
2.2 Physical and Chemical Properties
Uranium fuels vary with reactor type. Some reactors use the natural isotopic composition in
the fuel. Others use enrichment varying from 2% to > 90%. Because of the radiation‐induced
growth of uranium metal used in the early reactors, alloys were developed to stabilize
dimensional changes. Many of the alloys with favorable dimensional stability characteristics
had sizeable neutron absorption cross‐sections, resulting in poisoning of the nuclear reaction.
Zirconium alloy‐clad ceramic uranium dioxide and uranium carbide fuels were found to have
acceptable characteristics and are in common use.
2.2.1 Uranium Fuel Processing
The process of reducing uranium ore to metal begins with the discovery and mining of
uranium in ore bodies. Most medium grade ore consists of oxides of uranium, of which
carnotite (K2(UO2)2(VO2.3H2O)) is predominant. Although some ore is mined using in situ leach
techniques, most is hard‐rock mined with a small amount removed by open pit mining.
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
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Section 20
Uranium ore is milled by crushing, leaching, extracting, and precipitating, usually to
ammonium diuranate ((NH4)2U2O7) commonly called yellow cake. The radioactivity of this
product is low because the decay products have been stripped away and it is in an unenriched
form. The yellow cake is purified and converted to UF4 and then further fluorinated to
uranium hexafluoride (UF6). Gaseous diffusion enrichment changes the uranium isotopic, but
not the chemical, composition of the gas. The UF6 is hydrolyzed to uranyl oxyfluoride, which is
precipitated with an ammonia solution to ammonium diuranate. This precipitate is filtered or
centrifuged, dried, and calcined. The uranium compound is reduced to UO2 powder, which is
pelletized, sintered, and encapsulated in tubes for reactor usage.
Laser enrichment can use feed forms including metal and UF6.
Steel was an early cladding material that was discontinued because of its thermal‐neutron
poison characteristics. Fuel bundles used in commercial LWRs are now made of fuel pins that
consist of pellets of UO2. The pellets are stacked into free‐standing cladding tubes of a
zirconium alloy. Differences in fuel design between the two common types of nuclear reactors
in use in the United States, pressurized water reactors (PWRs) and boiling water reactors
(BWRs), are rod diameter and cladding thickness.
Reactor fuel for the Canadian pressurized heavy water reactors (CANDU‐PHWR) is similar but
the cladding need not be free‐standing. Additionally, the fuel pins are smaller in diameter.
Breeder reactors like the Fast Flux Test Facility (FFTF) use a mixture of PuO2 and depleted UO2.
In the case of the FFTF, the pellets are loaded into stainless steel cladding tubes (which have a
smaller effect on fast neutrons).
Uranium carbide (UC2) microspheres were developed as an alternative to UO2, primarily for
the high‐temperature gas‐cooled reactor. These fuel particles, developed for high thermal and
radiation stability, prevent the release of fuel and fission products over a wide range of
conditions.
2.2.2 Uranium Metal
Conversion of UF6 to uranium metal involves, first, the production of UF4, commonly called
green salt. Enriched uranium green salt is reacted with granular calcium to produce metal slag.
This product is then reacted with magnesium or calcium to reduce the material to metal.
Depleted uranium green salt is more commonly reacted with magnesium to produce DU metal
as a derby. In both cases, most of the uranium decay products are concentrated in the calcium
or magnesium slag, leaving the metal relatively pure and with a reduced level of radioactivity.
Buildup of decay products to near‐equilibrium levels takes about six months.
The metallic uranium is processed into desired forms using machining, melting, casting, and
other treatments. This very dense metal is usually alloyed with another metal for greater
stability. Uranium is a reactive metal that oxidizes easily. In the newly minted metal, a very
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
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thin surface layer tends to undergo rapid oxidation. This surface layer may protect the rest of
the metal from further corrosion and prevent the generation of removable contamination.
Certain environmental conditions, particularly moist air and saline solutions, can accelerate
the corrosion of the material over time and produce greater possibility for generating airborne
radioactive material. Stored in a dry environment or coated with an anti‐corrosion surface
treatment, the metal may show no visible signs of corrosion for many years. Uranium metal
chips and turnings are pyrophoric and tend to catch fire.
Section 21
Uranium metal may be dissolved using nitric acid, which is also used to passivate ("pickle") the
metal to inhibit oxidation.
2.3 Radiological Characteristics and Effects
Uranium isotopes decay by alpha particle emission and some also emit low‐energy gamma
rays. For Types M and S material (See last paragraph of Section 2.5 for discussion of Type F, M
and S), the inhalation hazard from alpha particle release in the respiratory tract is the
predominant radiological hazard associated with the alpha‐emitting uranium isotopes. The
primary uranium decay products, listed in Table 2‐2, decay by beta particle emission, most
with a small yield of gamma emissions as well. These decay products increase the shallow
dose and lens of the eye dose resulting from external radiation exposures, due mainly to the
2.29 MeV (Emax) beta from 234mPa.The surface dose rates shown in Table 2‐5 result primarily
from beta radiation from decay products. The dose rates decrease quickly with distance
because of the attenuation of the beta radiation and the small yield of the gamma radiation.
Table 2‐5. Beta Surface Dose Rates from Equilibrium Thickness of Uranium Metal and
Compounds(a)
Source Beta Surface Dose Rate
(mrad/hr)
U‐Nat metal slab(b) 233
UO2 207
UF4 179
UO2(NO3)26H20 111
UO3 204
U3O8 203
UO2F2 176
Na2U2O7 167
(a) Beta surface dose rate in air through a
polystyrene filter 7 mg/cm2 thick.
(b) freshly polished, no oxide
Because some uranium decay products have short half‐lives (on the order of days), those
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
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decay products will usually be present with uranium during processing. An assumption of
secular equilibrium should not be made until processing is complete because many routine
chemical processing steps separate uranium from its decay products. Both the inhalation and
external exposure hazards associated with the decay products are increased in areas where
the decay products are concentrated. The overall inhalation hazard will typically decrease in
those areas as the uranium is removed. In the case of cast uranium metal, the exposure rates
from high beta levels from decay products may be many orders of magnitude greater than the
exposure rates from the uranium.
2.3.1 Alpha‐Neutron External Hazard
The interaction of alpha particles from uranium with the nuclei of fluorine and other low‐Z
atoms generates neutrons of approximately 2‐MeV energy. The magnitude of the neutron flux
varies, based on the total activity of uranium (which is a function of enrichment) and the
chemical compound in question (mixing of U and F). In the case of UF6, the typically measured
neutron dose rates for cooled storage cylinders are as follows:
Natural‐5% enrichment: 0.01‐0.2 mrem/h
Very high enrichment (>97%): 2‐4 mrem/h (contact)
1‐2 mrem/h (3 ft)
The preceding values were measured with a 9‐in. spherical BF3 rem meter. In general, the
exposure potential of personnel to neutrons generated by the (alpha, n) reaction is not high.
However, if personnel are required to spend more than a few hours per week in close
proximity to containers of uranium fluoride compounds or if their assignments require them
to spend time near storage or processing areas for large quantities of uranium fluoride
compounds, the exposure to neutrons should be evaluated. This is particularly necessary since
the personnel monitoring badges may not be neutron‐sensitive or may need to be calibrated
to the specific spectra. Penetrating radiation exposures from photon radiation will not be
indicative of neutron exposures. This is because the higher photon penetrating radiation
exposures tend to be associated with used but empty containers, where decay products have
plated out on the sides, while the maximum neutron exposures are associated with full
containers. There is a small additional neutron flux from spontaneous fission associated with
full containers. Neutron sensitive personnel monitoring badges are recommended for
operations dealing with uranium fluoride compounds.
Section 22
2.3.2 Mode of Uranium Entry into the Body
Work practices are designed to control radiation exposure to levels that are as low as is
reasonably achievable (ALARA). Reductions in exposure time and increases in shielding help
reduce external doses. Effective contamination control techniques and ventilation/filtering
systems help reduce airborne radioactive material concentrations and resulting internal doses.
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
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Where complete contamination control is not reasonable, internal exposure of uranium
compounds as aerosols or deposited particulates may occur. The effects of uranium exposure
on the body depend on the mode of exposure. External exposure concerns are limited to beta
and gamma emissions, of which the gamma field is quite low and the beta field may be
mitigated using protective clothing including safety glasses with side shields. Internal exposure
and its potential effects through radiological or chemical toxicity depend on the route of
entry, and its distribution depends on the solubility of the material. Solubility is complicated
by the wide variety of stoichiometric and crystalline uranium compounds. Inhalation and
ingestion are most commonly assessed as routes of entry. Although not covered here, entry of
uranium into wounds is also a concern, and its distribution depends on its solubility (See
sections 5.9 and 5.10 for further discussion). Absorption through intact skin is unlikely. The
type of radiation to which the body is exposed and the length of the exposure determine the
biological effect of the radiation exposure.
2.3.2.1 Inhalation
Inhalation hazards from uranium result primarily from the alpha emissions. Inhalation of
uranium particles and deposition into the respiratory system are dependent on particle size.
The nasal‐pharynx system filters out most large particles that are still small enough to be
inhaled. Larger particles can be inhaled‐‐a common convention is to assume inhalation
possible for all particles 10‐µm or less aerodynamic equivalent diameter (AED)‐‐but most
particles that penetrate to the lower respiratory tract are less than 3‐ or 4‐µm AED. Uranium
in the lungs has been shown to exhibit a wide range of retention values. Clearance may occur
through physical processes removing particles that are not embedded into the lung by cilia
motion to the esophagus. Uranium particles that are soluble in lung fluid are chemically
dissolved, and the ions are transported into the bloodstream where they are further
distributed. Uranium particles remaining in the lung constitute a potential radiological hazard
as they impart their alpha emission energy into the surrounding absorbing tissue, potentially
causing significant damage within a small sphere around each particle. Particles removed from
the lung to the bloodstream primarily represent a potential chemical hazard.
The significance of these hazards is evaluated using models of uptake and removal
recommended by national and international scientific radiation protection organizations. The
lung model described in International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP)
Publication 66 (1994a) uses solubility Types of F (fast), M (moderate), and S (slow). In
comparison to previous models, this model better describes deposition, retention, and
clearance data and decouples physical and chemical clearance processes.
2.3.2.2 Ingestion
Section 23
Appropriate uranium contamination controls should prevent ingestion of uranium.
Nevertheless, the potential exists for accidental ingestion of uranium. Particles removed from
the respiratory tract by ciliary action are transferred to the gastrointestinal tract. Particles
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
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inhaled through the mouth and temporarily deposited there are removed from the respiratory
system to the esophagus. Deposition and removal of ingested uranium are approximated
using the Gastrointestinal (GI) Tract Model adapted from Eve (1966). This model calculates
material transferred from the GI tract to the blood based on solubility classes (ICRP, 1979;
IAEA, 1994) or based on a single value for all compounds, as described in ICRP Publication 69
(1995a).
Distribution of uranium transferred into the bloodstream is calculated using a once‐through
metabolic model. ICRP Publication 30 (1979) also provides values for this distribution and
excretion to calculate committed doses and long‐term tissue retention. Recent models
(Wrenn et al., 1994; ICRP, 1995a) have been developed to include recycling of uranium back
into the blood.
2.4 Chemical Toxicity
The chemical toxicity of uranium is a primary concern in establishing control limits. A heavy
metal, uranium is chemically toxic to kidneys and exposure to soluble (transportable)
compounds can result in renal injury. The factors to be considered in determining whether the
chemical or radiological hazard is controlling are the enrichment, mode of entry, and the
solubility/transportability of the material. Epidemiological and toxicological animal studies of
oral exposure to relatively soluble naturally occurring isotopic mixtures appear demonstrate
that the health effects are chemical toxicity to tissues; while those from inhalation exposure
may include a slight radiological component, especially if the exposure is chronic (ATSDR,
2013). For inhalation of relatively insoluble uranium compounds, the radiological hazard can
be the most limiting due to an increased residence time in the lungs and low fractional
absorption to blood (Leggett, et. al., 2012).
A concentration of 3 µg of uranium per gram (µg U/g) of kidney tissue has traditionally been
used as the guideline for controlling the chemical toxicity of uranium. Reference man has a
kidney mass of 310 g, so this concentration translates to a total kidney burden of 1 mg. A
review of the literature by Leggett (1989) suggests that worker exposure to 2 to 6 µg U/g
kidney might be tolerated with no serious effects. However, he emphasizes that this range is
not necessarily the same as the level causing no detectable damage. He concludes that a
lower limit would be prudent until more of the physiological mechanisms of response to
uranium in the kidney are better understood. Other studies (McGuire, 1991) report that
detectable effects from an intake of soluble uranium of 10 mg or less is unlikely and that an
intake of 40 mg and perhaps as high as 100 mg is unlikely to cause permanent damage. Other
evaluations of toxicity to the kidney concluded that a limit of 1.0 µg U/g kidney is consistent
with results in the recent literature.
Data on human exposures and the effect of various intakes of uranium are summarized in
Table 5‐7. These data indicate that a single intake of 8 mg of natural uranium would be well
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
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Section 24
below the level that could cause permanent kidney damage in most individuals, and that 4 mg
intake would likely cause no observable effects. The urine levels for situations in which
chemical toxicity might be of concern are based on interpretation of the data (McGuire, 1991).
Table 2‐6. Health Effects from Acute Intake of Soluble Uranium(a)
HEALTH EFFECTS
URANIUM per kg
BODY WT
(mg U kg 1)(b)
URANIUM IN 70 kg
PERSON
(mg)
URANIUM INTAKE BY 70
kg PERSON
(mg)(c)
50% Lethality
1.63
114
230
Threshold for permanent
renal damage 0.3(d)
21
40
Threshold for transient
renal damage
0.058
4.06
8
No effect
0.03
2.1
4
(a) (ANSI N13.22‐2013); based on review (McGuire, 1991).
(b) Based on review (Just and Emler, 1984), except where noted.
(c) For this table, intake is defined as the total amount of material inhaled into the body. It includes material
immediately exhaled in addition to material absorbed within the body. For small uranium particles in
soluble form, about half of the intake will be absorbed by the body according to ICRP Publication 68
(1994b).
(d) See discussion in (Just and Elmer, 1984)
An airborne concentration limit of 0.2 mg/m3 was adopted by the Nuclear Regulatory
Commission (NRC) and the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists
(ACGIH) for occupational exposures, based on the 3 µg/gm of tissue value. The Occupational
Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has adopted a limit of 0.05 mg/m3 for soluble
uranium and 0.25 mg/m3 for insoluble uranium. In DOE regulated facilities, the more
conservative of the two standards (OSHA or ACGIH) must be used unless enrichment and
solubility dictate more stringent controls based on radiological concerns. Table 2‐6 lists
airborne concentration limits for transportable uranium that have been published by various
organizations.
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
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Table 2‐7. Toxicological Limits on Airborne Concentrations of Transportable (soluble)
Uranium
Agency
Chronic Exposure
Occupational Limit, mg/m3
Reference
NRC 0.2 Footnote to Appendix B, 10
CFR 20 (NRC, 1992b)
ACGIH(a) 0.2 Threshold Limit Values and
Biological Exposure Indices for
2005, American Conference of
Governmental Industrial
Hygienists (ACGIH, 2005)
OSHA(b) 0.05 (soluble) 29 CFR § 1910.1000
0.25 (insoluble)
NIOSH 0.05 National Institute for
Occupational Safety and Health
(NIOSH)
(a) ACGIH also has a short-term exposure limit of 0.6 mg/m3. This is based on a 15
minute time weighted average exposure.
(b) Preferred/recommended limit.
Past limits for single acute inhalation intakes have been set by the ICRP in its Publication 6,
(1964) to 2.5 mg of soluble uranium inhaled in any one day. This value is based on one day’s
intake at the maximum permissible concentration (at the time) of 210 µg/m3. Lawrence (1984)
derived acute inhalation intake limits of 15 and 80 mg for Type F and Type M materials,
respectively. This derivation is based on not exceeding a kidney burden of 3 µg U/g kidney
after a single acute inhalation. NRC regulations at 10 CFR Part 20 limit the intake of soluble
uranium to 10 mg in a week.
Chronic exposure to a concentration of 0.2 mg/m3 results in a weekly intake of 9.6 mg (40
h/week x 1.2 m3/h x 0.2 mg/m3) and a steady‐state kidney burden of roughly 900 µg, when the
ICRP Publication 68 (1994b) metabolic model for Type F uranium is used. This same model
indicates that an acute intake of 18 mg will result in a prompt kidney burden of approximately
900 µg. However, 10 CFR Part 20 limits acute exposures to 40 DAC‐hours, or 9.6 mg.
Section 25
Recurrent concerns have arisen about the adequacy of existing limits intended to prevent
chemical damage to kidneys. These concerns have focused particularly on the
a. Lack of data on the effects of combined exposures to UO2F2 and HF.
b. Lack of detailed information on effects of short‐term exposures to soluble/transportable
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
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uranium in the range from 100‐1000 mg/m3.
c. Lack of data on thresholds for repairable injury.
DOE sponsored research to determine the exposure levels that would be expected to 1) have
no effect, 2) cause non‐lethal injury, and 3) be lethal to 50% of the exposed population (LD
50). Researcher consensus resulted in the kidney burdens (in µg U/g Kidney) listed in Table 2‐
7.
Table 2‐8. Uranium Levels for Various Effects
Effect Kidney Burden,
µg U/g Kidney
Total Kidney Burden,
mg U
Intake,
mg
No effect 1.1 0.337 6.5
Maximal Nonlethal 2.2 0.71 13
LD50 54.8 16.79 322
The kidney burden values can be used to derive an intake based on the ICRP Publication 78
(1997), model for uranium metabolism (62% of inhaled Type F uranium is taken up into the
bloodstream (82% deposited – 62% systemic and 20% to GI tract) and 8.5% of that goes to the
kidneys). For example, the "no effect" value in Table 2.7 corresponds to an intake of (1.1μg
U/g)(310 g/kidney)(1000 μg/mg)/((0.62 fraction systemic)(.085 fraction systemic going to
kidney) = 6.5 mg.
An airborne contamination limit from this "no effect" kidney burden can be derived by
calculating the airborne uranium concentration at which chronic exposure would result in a
kidney burden that just equals the "no effect" burden.
For chronic exposure to a constant concentration, the maximum kidney burden will occur at
the equilibrium condition‐‐when the amount of uranium entering the kidney each day equals
the amount being removed from the kidney. The daily kidney uptake rate and removal rate
are calculated from the following formulas:
K = Br x Ca x fb x fk
where
K = kidney uptake rate (mg/day)
Br = breathing rate (m3/day)
Ca = air concentration (mg/m3)
fb = inhaled fraction entering bloodstream (0.62)
fk = bloodstream fraction entering kidneys (0.085) and
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
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where
R = λKb
R = kidney removal rate (mg/day)
λ= 0.099 (day‐1) (ICRP, 1997)
Kb = amount in the kidney (mg)
To calculate the concentration at which chronic exposure would result in a kidney burden of
0.337 mg, the uptake rate in kidney is set equal to the removal rate for a 0.337‐mg kidney
burden:
R = (0.337) x 0.099 = 0.033 mg/day
K = Br (m3/day) x Ca(mg/m3) x (0.62) x (0.085)
K= R = 0.033 mg/day
Br x Ca x (0.62) x (0.085) = 0.033 mg/day
Br x Ca = 0.63 mg/day
Standard man breathes 9.6 m3 of air in an 8‐hour day, so the resulting concentration limit is
0.63/9.6 = 0.066 mg/m3. This is 30% higher than the OSHA standard for soluble uranium of
0.050 mg/m3. Consequently, the OSHA limit is somewhat conservative for exposures to
soluble/transportable (i.e., Type F) uranium.
2.4.1 Human Response Indicators
Most data on human response to uranium exposure comes from accidental exposures
(generally UF6 releases). Accidental exposures to UF6 have resulted in fatalities on at least
three occasions. The primary cause of injuries and fatalities has been HF that was formed by
hydrolysis of UF6, rather than exposure to UF6 itself. Several individuals who received high,
non‐fatal exposures experienced pulmonary edema, nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, and
chemical burns on the skin due to HF exposure. In addition, urinary abnormalities, such as
transient albuminuria (albumin in urine) and the presence of red cells and casts, were
observed, as was retention of nitrogenous products such as urea and non‐protein nitrogen in
the blood.
Section 26
The urinary and blood abnormalities are indicators of kidney damage and are the result of
inhibited resorption in the tubules. Animal studies indicate that urinary abnormalities can be
observed after exposures that are well below lethal levels. In addition, urinary abnormalities
such as proteinuria (protein in urine), glucosuria (glucose in urine), and polyuria (increased
urine volume) have all been observed following uranium exposure, as has the presence of
certain enzymes in urine. Of all these abnormalities, glucosuria appears to be the most
sensitive and most nearly proportional to uranium exposure.
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
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Once absorbed into the blood, uranium is distributed to bone and kidneys, with a portion of
the uptake being generally distributed throughout the body. For inhaled uranium, residence
time in the lungs depends upon the solubility of the material. Material that is deposited in the
lungs is cleared via the bloodstream, the pulmonary lymph, and the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.
Approximately 1 % of the uranium is absorbed into the bloodstream from the GI tract.
In the event of an acute exposure to highly transportable (Class F) uranium compounds, urine
samples should be collected 3‐4 hours post‐exposure and analyzed for uranium as soon as
possible. If the uranium concentration is less than 2.0 mg/L, it is unlikely that any significant
kidney damage has occurred or will occur. However, it is important to check the urine for
biological indicators of damage at any exposure above 2.0 mg/L. While the most sensitive
indicators are increased volume and glucose levels, these are useful only if data on what is
"normal" for the individual involved are available. Lacking that information, it is best to check
for albuminuria as an indicator of kidney damage. If kidney damage is suspected, a specialist in
urinary disorders should be consulted. In general, a urine uranium level greater than 6.0 mg/L
will produce some level of albuminuria. A level of 20 mg/L indicates a very serious exposure
with potentially life‐threatening consequences and would indicate the need for immediate
hospitalization.
2.4.2 Transfer to the Fetus
Little information exists on the placental transfer or developmental toxicity of uranium
isotopes (Sikov et al 1992). The data available with pregnant rats suggest that the effects
produced from exposure to uranium may be due to chemical toxicity to the pregnant animals
and their embryos/fetuses. Fetoplacental concentrations of uranium peak one day following
intravenous injection of a pregnant rat. Although concentrations in the placenta decrease
thereafter, the concentration in the fetal membranes remains relatively constant. Selective
deposition in some fetal organs will occur when exposure is during the fetal developmental
stages (NRC, 1992a).
Data from animal experiments suggest that the distribution pattern of uranium is fairly
uniform, especially at the early stage of gestation. Concentrations of uranium in the
embryo/fetus are taken to be the same as those in the maternal soft tissues (excluding the
kidney) during the first two months, and they progressively increase thereafter. Following
transfer into the embryo‐fetus, uranium activity is assumed to be distributed uniformly and to
remain without excretion. ICRP Publication 88 (2001) gives dose coefficients for the embryo,
fetus and newborn of females following intake of selected radionuclides. It also provides a
review of biokinetic and dosimetric models for calculating doses to the offspring of mothers
following intakes by the mother before or during pregnancy.
Section 27
2.5 Chemical versus Radiological Hazards
Both the chemical and radiological hazards of uranium are moderate compared to those of
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
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other industrial materials and radionuclides. Table 2‐4 provides 10 CFR Part 835 derived air
concentration values for selected radionuclides. Table 2‐8 compares Threshold Limit Values
(TLV) published by ACGIH for uranium and selected other metals. The comparison of TLVs is
presented to provide perspective on the need for uranium workplace controls, as compared
to other hazardous materials. Since these materials affect the body in different ways, this
should not be considered a comparison of relative hazards.
The predominant hazard associated with uranium exposure depends upon its degree of
enrichment, its chemical form, and its physical form. The degree of enrichment determines
the gamma radiation intensity and the overall specific activity.
Table 2‐9. 2005 ACGIH Threshold Limit Values (TLVs) for Selected Metals
TLV
Metal TLV‐TWA, mg/m3 TLV‐STEL, mg/m3
Uranium 0.2 0.6
Beryllium 0.002 0.01
Lead 0.05 ‐‐
Mercury, elemental and
inorganic forms
0.025 ‐‐
Arsenic 0.01 ‐‐
TLV‐TWA = Threshold Limit Value, Time‐Weighted Average
TLV‐STEL = Threshold Limit Value, Short‐term Exposure Limit
The relative activities of the primary uranium isotopes are also significantly affected by the
degree of enrichment. The total activity is due chiefly to 238U for depleted and 234U for
enriched uranium, while 235U accounts for little of the total activity, even at very high
enrichments.
Chemical form determines solubility and consequent transportability in body fluids. ICRP
Publication 60 (1991a) classifies all materials into three material types ‐ F, M, and S. Type F is
most transportable (pulmonary removal half‐time of days), Type S the least transportable
(removal half‐time of years), and Type M an intermediate category (removal half‐time of
weeks). The transportability of an inhaled or ingested material determines its fate within the
body and, therefore, the resulting radiation dose or chemical effect. Table 2‐9 lists several
common uranium compounds and their assigned material types.
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
26
Table 2‐10. Inhalation Classification for Some Uranium Compounds
Uranium Compound Chemical Name Material Type
Uranium hexafluoride UF6 Type “F”
Uranyl fluoride UO2F2 Type “F”
Uranyl nitrate UO2(NO3)2 Type “F”
Uranyl acetate UO2(C2H3O2)2 Type “F”
Uranyl chloride UO2Cl2 Type “F”
Uranyl sulfate UO2SO4 Type “F”
Uranium trioxide UO3 Type “M”
Uranium tetrafluoride UF4 Type “M”
Uranium oxide U3O8 Type “S”(b)
Uranium dioxide UO2 Type “S”(b)
Ammonium diuranate (NH4)2 + U2O7 Type “M” (a)
Uranium aluminide UAlx Type “S”
Uranium carbide UC2 Type “S”
Uranium‐zirconium alloy UZr Type “S”
High‐fired uranium dioxide UO2 Type “S”(b)
(a) Ammonium diuranate is known to contain uranium as UO3 and should not
be assigned to a single inhalation class.
(b) The solubility of uranium oxides is very dependent on heat treatment. The
rate of oxidation may also affect the solubility. It is recommended that
solubility studies be performed to characterize the actual materials present.
This listing is intended to provide general guidance only, as a given material’s transportability
will depend upon a number of parameters including its processing history. It is recommended
that each facility determine the transportability of materials it handles using one of the
accepted techniques. Physical form influences potential hazards since non‐dispersible forms
generally do not constitute an ingestion or inhalation hazard.
Section 28
Because inhalation of uranium potentially poses both radiological and chemical hazards, one
must determine which hazard is most limiting and whether or not either hazard can be
ignored under certain circumstances. When radiological hazards are limiting, chemical hazards
can generally be neglected, except in overexposure situations. When chemical hazards are
limiting, radiological hazards can be neglected only if radiation doses are below regulatory
concern. Radiological monitoring is required by DOE for individuals who are likely to receive
100 millirem committed effective dose (CED) from all internal and external occupational doses
received in a year. Therefore, it is prudent to calculate organ doses and CED for all confirmed
intakes, since additional exposures in the same year may result in a total dose exceeding the
mandatory individual monitoring threshold. Even in low‐potential exposure level situations, a
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
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comprehensive dosimetry/control program can prove invaluable in possible future legal
litigation.
The limiting hazard (chemical or radiological) depends on the transportability (solubility in
body fluids), enrichment, and duration of exposure (acute or chronic). For comparison, the
more conservative of the two chemical toxicity standards (OSHA or ACGIH) is used to compare
the chemical hazard with the radiological hazard. The ICRP Publication 68 (1994b) dose
coefficients and ICRP 78 (1997) models are used in the following examples to determine the
relative hazards for acute and chronic exposure situations. Table 2‐10 summarizes the dose
coefficients used in the following examples.
Table 2‐11. Dose Coefficients for Determining Enrichments above which Radiological
Hazards Become Limiting
Effective Effective Effective Organ Organ Organ
Dose Dose Dose Dose Dose Dose
Coeff,
Sv/Bq
Coeff,
Sv/Bq
Coeff,
Sv/Bq
Coeff,
Sv/Bq
Organ Coeff,
Sv/Bq
Organ Coeff,
Sv/Bq
Organ
F M S F M S
U‐234 6.40E‐07 2.10E‐06 6.80E‐06 1.10E‐05 BS 1.60E‐05 LG 7.50E‐05 ET
U‐235 6.00E‐07 1.80E‐06 6.10E‐06 1.10E‐05 BS 1.40E‐05 LG 6.90E‐05 ET
U‐238 5.80E‐07 1.60E‐06 5.70E‐06 1.00E‐05 BS 1.30E‐05 LG 6.50E‐05 ET
ET – Extrathoracic airways LG – Lung BS – Bone Surface
To determine which hazard is limiting for a chronic exposure, the chemical toxicity air
concentration limit (0.2 mg/m3 for material type “S” and 0.05 mg/m3 for material types “F”
and “M”) and a calculated derived air concentration (DAC), based on percent enrichment, are
used. For material type “F” the DAC is based on 50 rems to the bone surface, for material
type “M” the DAC is based on 5 rems effective dose, and for material type “S” the DAC is
based on 50 rems to extrathoracic portion of the respiratory tract. The dose coefficients from
Table 2‐10 are used to calculate a DAC for varying enrichments. The enrichment at which the
DAC is equal to the chemical toxicity limit forms the "dividing line" between chemical and
radiological limits as the limiting hazard. Generally, exposures to higher enrichments are
limited by radiological limits; exposures to lower enrichments by chemical limits. Example 3a
provides the methodology for determining the "dividing line" enrichment for the chronic
exposure scenario. The same calculation is done using the 100 millirem monitoring threshold.
For an acute exposure scenario, the amount of an intake which would result in exceeding the
fifteen minute time weighted chemical toxicity short term exposure limit for material types
“F”, “M”, and “S” uranium (i.e., 0.6 mg/m3 x 0.3 m3 air intake per fifteen minutes) is
Section 29
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
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235
determined. This amount is compared to the amount of an intake which would result in
exceeding the radiological limit. Again, for material type “F” the radiological limit is based on
50 rems to the bone surface, for material type “M” the radiological limit is based on 5 rems to
the whole body, and for material type “S” the radiological limit is based on 50 rems to
extrathoracic portion of the respiratory tract. Example 3b provides the methodology used for
an acute exposure scenario. Table 2‐11 summarizes the “dividing line” enrichments, above
which radiological limits are controlling. The same calculation is done using the 100 millirem
monitoring threshold.
Example 3a ‐ General Solution, Chronic Exposure
Step 1. For increasing 235U enrichments, and consequential 234U enrichment, determine the
activity fraction (AF) from 234U, 235U, and 238U in the enriched uranium.
AF234
AF235
AF238
=
Enrichment234 * SA234
Enrichment234 * SA234 + Enrichment235 * SA235 + Enrichment238 * SA238
=
Enrichment235 * SA235
Enrichment234 * SA234 + Enrichment235 * SA235 + Enrichment238 * SA238
=
Enrichment238 * SA238
Enrichment234 * SA234 + Enrichment235 * SA235 + Enrichment238 * SA238
Where:
Enrichment is the percent by weight.
SA234 = specific activity of 234U = 2.30E+08 Bq/g
SA235 = specific activity of 235U = 79312 Bq/g
SA238 = specific activity of 238U = 12329 Bq/g
Enrichment234 ≅ (0.0055 natural fraction 234U) * 235U enrichment * 1.2(a)
(0.72 natural fraction U
(a) Gaseous diffusion enrichment of 235U results a proportionally greater enrichment of
234U. The 1.2 factor takes into account the gaseous diffusion process causing a greater
increase in 234U than in 235U (See Section 2.1.3).
Enrichment238 = 100 - Enrichment234 - Enrichment235
Step 2. Using the dose coefficients from Table 2‐10 and the activity fractions, for increasing
enrichments, determine activity enriched uranium organ and effective dose coefficients for
material types “F”, “M” and “S”.
% Enrichment Dose Coeff
= AF234 ∗ dose coeff234 + AF235 ∗ dose coeff235 + AF238
* dose coeff238
For example, for 5% enriched uranium (i.e., 5%, by weight, of the uranium is235U), material
type “S” dose to the extrathoracic portion of the respiratory tract:
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
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Using the equations from Step 1, it is determined that, for 5% enriched uranium,
87% of the activity is from 234U, 3% from 235U, and 10% from 238U.
From this we can determine a dose coefficient for 5% enriched uranium using the
above equation:
5% Enrichment Dose Coeff = 0.87 * 7.5E - 5 Sv/Bq + 0.03 * 6.9E - 05 Sv/Bq +
0.1 * 6.5E - 5 Sv/Bq = 7.38E - 5 Sv/Bq
Step 3. The ALI is determined, for different enrichments using the % enrichment dose
coefficient determined in Step 2. For material type “F” the % enrichment ALI is based on 50
rems to the bone surface, for material type “M” it is based on 5 rems effective dose, and for
material type “S” on 50 rems to extrathoracic portion of the respiratory tract.
% Enrichment ALI =
Dose Limit
% Enrichment dose coeff
The % enrichment ALI, which is units of Bq, is converted to a mass using the SA %
enrichment formula and is divided by the volume of air a worker breathes in a work year
(2000 hours), 2400 m3, to give a mass airborne concentration value.
SA % Enrichment = [(0.4 + 0.38(enrichment) + 0.0034(enrichment)2] * 1.0E - 6;
Where enrichment is the fraction by weight of 235U, expressed as a percentage.
Section 30
Note that the value of SA % Enriched as calculated by the formula is in units of µCi/g
(Equation from 10 CFR Part 20 Appendix B, footnote 3)
Air Concentration (g/m3) =
(% Enrichment ALI)
SA %Enrichment * Air Volume Intake
The mass airborne concentration value is used for comparison with the chemical toxicity
limit.
Continuing the above example: the ALI for 5% enriched uranium, material type “S” dose to
the extrathoracic portion of the respiratory tract:
% Enrichment ALI =
0.5 Sv
7.38E - 5 Sv/Bq
1 μCi
∗
37000 Bq
= 0.18 μCi
SA 5% Enrichment = (0.4 + 0.38 * 5 + 0.0034 * 52) * 1.0E - 6 = 2.38E - 6 μCi/g
Air Concentration =
0.18 μCi
2.38E - 6 μCi/g * 2400 m3
*
1000 mg
= 0.032 mg/m3
1 g
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
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Example 3b ‐ General Solution, Acute Exposure
Steps 1 and 2: Same as in example 3a.
Step 3. This is similar to Step 3 in example 3a, with the exception that % enrichment ALI is
not divided by the volume of air a worker breathes in a work year, 2400 m3.
The annual limit on intake (ALI) is determined, for different enrichments using the %
enrichment dose coefficient determined in Step 2. For material type “F” the % enrichment
ALI is based on 50 rems to the bone surface, for material type “M”, it is based on 5 rems to
the whole body, and for material type “S”, on 50 rems to extrathoracic portion of the
respiratory tract. The resultant value, in Bq, is converted to a mass using the SA % enriched
formula. The result is a mass intake limit.
% Enrichment ALI =
Dose Limit
% Enrichment dose coeff
Mass Intake Limit =
% Enrichment ALI
SA % Enrichment
From example 3a: the ALI for 5% enriched uranium, material type “S” dose to the
extrathoracic portion of the respiratory tract:
% Enrichment ALI =
0.5 Sv
7.38E - 5 Sv/Bq
1 μCi
*
37000 Bq
= 0.18 μCi
Mass Intake Limit =
0.18 μCi
*
1000 mg
= 75.8 mg
2.38E - 6 μCi/g 1 g
Step 4. This value is compared to the product of the volume breathed in fifteen minutes
times the short-term exposure limit for chemical toxicity (0.6 mg/m3 (OSHA STEL) * 0.3 m3
Step 4. This value is compared to the chronic chemical toxicity air concentration limit (0.2
mg/m3 (ACGIH TLV) for material type “S” and 0.05 mg/m3 (OSHA soluble PEL) for material
types “F” and “M”. As the enrichment increases the air concentration values determined
for radiological control decrease. The enrichment where they fall below the chemical
toxicity limits becomes the “dividing line” where radiological limits become more restrictive.
In the above example the air concentration value, 0.032 mg/m3, is lower than the chemical
toxicity value and is therefore limiting (for type “S” material, chronic exposure, radiological
considerations are limiting for all enrichments).
Step 5. The above process is repeated using the 100 millirem monitoring threshold in lieu of
the annual dose limit. For these calculations the effective dose coefficients are used for all
isotopes.
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
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Table 2‐12. Impact of Monitoring at 100 Millirem Enrichments above which Radiological
Limits Predominate (Calculations Not Shown)
Acute Chronic
Material
Type
Using 100% of
Radiological
Limit
Using 2% of
Radiological
Limit
Using 100% of
Radiological
Limit
Using 2% of
Radiological Limit
F (a) (a) 21.8% (b)
M (a) 99.6% 12.0% (b)
S (a) 41.8% (b) (b)
(a) Chemical toxicity limits are limiting at all enrichments.
(b) Radiological limits are limiting at all enrichments.
Section 31
As shown in Table 2‐11, for chronic exposures, the 100 millirem monitoring threshold (i.e., 2%
of radiological limit) results in radiological conditions, requiring evaluation of the need to
monitor radiological intakes, as a controlling factor. For chronic exposures the radiological
dose limits are controlling for type “S” material for all enrichments, and for lower enrichments
for types “M” and “F” material. For acute exposure situations, the radiological monitoring
threshold is a controlling factor for higher enrichments for types “M” and “S” material. For all
other acute exposure situations, the chemical toxicity limits, which are based on a fifteen
minute or less exposure, are more controlling than the radiological limits, which are based on
an annual exposure.
2.6 Natural Uranium Balance in Man
Uranium is present in trace quantities throughout the environment. As a result, man ingests
about 2 µg of natural uranium each day in food and fluids. A similar quantity is excreted each
day in the feces and urine. The uranium balance for reference man is presented in Table 5‐8.
breathed per fifteen minutes = 0.16 mg for material types “F”, “M”, and “S”. As the
enrichment increases the mass acute intake limit determined for radiological control
decreases. The enrichment where they fall below the chemical toxicity limits becomes the
“dividing line” where, for an acute exposure, radiological limits become more restrictive.
In the above example the mass acute intake limit, 75.8 mg, is higher than the chemical
toxicity value and therefore the chemical toxicity limit is controlling for this enrichment (for
acute exposures, compared to the radiological limit, chemical toxicity considerations are
always limiting).
Step 5. The above process is repeated using the 100 millirem monitoring threshold in lieu of
the annual dose limit. For these calculations the effective dose coefficients are used for all
isotopes.
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
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Table 2‐13. Uranium Balance for Reference Man(a)
Intake:
Food and fluids: 1.9 µg/day
Inhalation: 7.0 E‐3 µg/day
Losses:
Feces: 1.4 ‐ 1.8 µg/day
Urine: 0.05 ‐ 0.5 µg/day
Other (hair) 0.02 µg/day
(a) ICRP Publication 23 (1975)
The range of intake and losses has been observed to vary over several orders of magnitude,
depending upon the uranium concentration in foods and in the water supply.
2.7 Industrial Hazards
The principal industrial hazards associated with uranium are fires, hydrogen generation,
generation of oxides of nitrogen, and associated mechanical hazards characteristic of heavy
objects, e.g., back injuries from lifting, dropping heavy parts on feet. Hydrogen fluoride (HF)
and oxides of nitrogen (NOx) are by‐products or reactants of common chemical processes.
Hydrogen (H2) can be generated by reaction of water with uranium metal, and finely divided
uranium or uranium chips with a large surface area to volume ratio can ignite spontaneously.
2.7.1 Hydrogen Fluoride
Section 32
Hydrogen fluoride is an extremely corrosive acid that is relatively volatile in its anhydrous
form. Anhydrous HF is a reactant for the production of UF4 from UO3, a by‐product of the
production of UF4 from UF6, and is generated whenever UF6 is released to the atmosphere
(H20 in air + UF6 → UO2F2 and HF). External contact with HF results in chemical burns of the
skin, while exposure to airborne HF causes chemical burns/irritation of the eyes, nose, and
throat. Significant inhalation can result in pulmonary edema. Chronic exposure to excessive
fluoride concentrations results in increased radiographic bone density and may eventually
cause fluorosis (osteosclerosis). In general, individuals can smell HF at levels of 0.02‐0.2
mg/m3, much lower than the TLV of 2.5 mg/m3. The TLV was set based primarily on the
irritation of eyes and mucous passages rather than on permanent damage. Because an
airborne concentration of 10 mg/m3 is intolerable, personnel exposed to such levels will
evacuate the area if they are able to do so. Exposure for as little as 15 minutes to an airborne
concentration of 20‐30 mg/m3 may prove fatal (pulmonary edema). The AIHA Emergency
Response Planning Guides (ERPGs) for HF are as follows: ERPG‐3, 42 mg/m3; ERPG‐2, 17
mg/m3; and ERPG‐1, 4 mg/m3. The NIOSH IDLH value is 25 mg/m3.
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
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2.7.2 Nitric Compounds
Nitric acid is widely used for digesting uranium metal and uranium‐bearing compounds and
for "pickling" metal products to inhibit oxidation. Concentrated nitric acid gives off fumes that
cause irritation to eyes, mucous membranes, and skin. Significant inhalation can result in
pulmonary edema. The ACGIH TLV‐TWA and TLV‐STEL values for nitric acid are 2 ppm and 4
ppm, respectively.
When uranium materials, especially metal, are dissolved in nitric acid, oxides of nitrogen (NO
x) are generated. The term NOx is applied to mixtures of nitric oxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide
(NO2). The ACGIH TLV‐TWA and STEL are 25 ppm and 3 ppm, respectively. Exposure to NO2
can cause eye irritation, coughing, mucoid frothy sputum, shortness of breath, chest pain,
pulmonary edema, cyanosis, tachypnea (abnormal rapid breathing), and tachycardia
(abnormal rapid heartbeat).
2.7.3 Hydrogen Gas
Hydrogen gas (H2) is used as a reactant in the production of UF4 from UF6 and in the reduction
of UO3 to UO2, an intermediate step in the production of UF4 from UO3. The H2 is usually
generated by dissociating ammonia, so associated ammonia rather than hydrogen is
frequently identified as the reactant in those processes. Any facility where H2 is used as a
reactant should include design features (e.g., H2 monitors, roof vents) to ensure that hydrogen
accumulations do not occur. Generally, H2 hazards and control features are identified in
facility Documented Safety Analyses. Hydrogen can also be generated when moisture contacts
uranium metal, especially finely divided uranium metal such as machining chips. Care must be
taken to ensure that H2 generated in this manner does not accumulate (in closed drums or
storage containers for example).
2.7.4 Fire
Section 33
Finely divided uranium metal is highly reactive or pyrophoric, capable of igniting
spontaneously. This type of material should be handled and stored in a manner that minimizes
fire potential. Typically, machining chips are stored under water or machining oil in open
storage containers so that any H2 generated does not accumulate. Neither water spray, CO2,
nor halon extinguishers are effective in fighting uranium fires. In fact, halon may be explosive
if directed at burning uranium and can produce very toxic fumes and gases. Small uranium
fires can be smothered in MET‐L‐X powder (a mixture of sodium chloride and potassium
carbonate). Larger fires, involving drums of machining turnings, for example, can be controlled
by immersing the burning container in water. Even this will not immediately extinguish the fire
because the hot uranium metal dissociates the water into H2 and O2, providing fuel and
oxygen for the fire. If the quantity of water is sufficient, eventually the water will provide
enough cooling to extinguish the fire, but a significant amount of water can boil away in the
process. If the water level is allowed to fall low enough to uncover the uranium while the fire
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
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is still burning, it will resume burning visibly. DOE‐HDBK‐1081‐2014, Primer on Spontaneous
Heating and Pyrophoricity (2014b), contains additional guidance.
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
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3 RADIATION PROTECTION
An effective radiation protection program at a uranium facility requires scrupulous attention
to controlling both internal and external doses. The radiation protection program should
ensure the detection and quantification of all types of radiation (i.e., alpha, beta, neutron,
gamma, and x‐ray) over wide energy ranges. The radiation detection instruments should be
properly calibrated and routinely checked. Emphasis should be on establishing controls for
internal and external radiation exposure using ALARA guidelines. Prompt and accurate
assessment is important in determining each individual’s dose and in establishing an accurate
historical record. This section defines the basis for establishing a comprehensive radiation
protection program.
3.1 Regulations and Standards
DOE has established occupational radiation protection regulations in 10 CFR Part 835. DOE has
provided supporting and clarifying guidance in the DOE G 441.1‐1C Chg 1 (Admin Chg)
(2011a), DOE‐STD‐1098‐2017 (2017b), and DOE Radiological Control Technical Positions.
Other related source documents include publications of the EPA, NRC, ANSI, ICRP, NCRP, and
UNSCEAR. Individual states may also have their own radiological control regulations, with
equivalent or more restrictive requirements than the Federal regulations.
3.2 Radiation Protection Programs
An effective radiation protection program consists of a group of related and integrated
functional elements. The documentation that describes the DOE activity’s program to control
occupational radiation protection is referred to as the documented radiation protection
program (RPP). Although the actual titles and contents of the functional elements are left to
the discretion of DOE’s operating entities, DOE G 441.1‐1C Chg 1 (Admin Chg) (2011a)
suggests the following, based on the content of 10 CFR Part 835:
a. Organization and Administration
b. ALARA Program
c. External Dosimetry Program
d. Internal Dosimetry Program
e. Area Monitoring and Control
f. Radiological Controls
g. Emergency Exposure Situations
h. Nuclear Accident Dosimetry
i. Records
j. Reports to Individuals
k. Radiation Safety Training
l. Limits for the Embryo/Fetus
Section 34
Each of these functional elements is discussed in more detail below.
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
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3.2.1 Organization and Administration
This functional element addresses the overall administration of the program, including the
documented RPP itself, various organizational and institutional issues, and program
assessment. DOE G441.1‐1C Chg 1 (Admin Chg) (2011a) and DOE‐STD‐1098‐2017 (2017b)
provide detailed guidance on implementing these requirements.
Although 10 CFR § 835.101 requires that DOE activities be conducted in compliance with a
documented RPP, the rule does not establish specific requirements for RPP format and
content. Due to the wide range of activities undertaken by and for DOE, there is significant
flexibility in these provisions. Cognizant DOE line management determines the acceptable
format and content of the documented RPP. However, the documented RPP shall address
each requirement of 10 CFR Part 835 and shall be approved by DOE (10 CFR § 835.101). Any
changes that decrease the effectiveness of the RPP shall be approved by DOE before
implementation (10 CFR § 835.101).
Internal audits of the RPP, including examination of program content and implementation,
shall be conducted through a process that ensures all functional elements are reviewed no
less frequently than every 36 months (10 CFR § 835.102). An effective quality assurance
program for radiation protection should include establishment of appropriate standards of
performance for essential activities and equipment, with an effective system of
documentation and traceability of those activities and of the use of the equipment. Proper
maintenance of those records will be necessary for reference purposes. Additional
requirements and guidance are provided in 10 CFR Part 830, Nuclear Safety Management
(2020c), DOE O 414.1D Chg 2, Quality Assurance (2020d), and their associated guides.
Specific guidance applicable to RPPs is provided in DOE G 441.1‐1C Chg 1 (2011a).
3.2.1.1 Administrative Controls
In any facility that handles radioactive materials, the major controls protecting workers, the
public, and the environment are physical design features, such as structures and installed
equipment, which shield, contain, and confine the radioactive materials. However, to allow
useful work to be performed in the facility and to ensure that its protective features remain
effective, a number of administrative controls are ordinarily required. These controls are
usually described in and implemented through a series of policy statements and procedures
related to the operations and maintenance activities to be carried out in the facility. All
personnel who work in controlled areas should be familiar with the administrative controls
that apply to their work. Changes or additions to administrative controls should be effectively
communicated to all persons who may be affected.
Radiation Protection Procedures
A uranium facility should have a written policy on radiation protection, including formal plans
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
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and measures for applying the as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA) process to
occupational exposure (10 CFR § 835.101(c)).
Section 35
To ensure facility activities are executed safely and in a manner that consistently meets
management expectations, documented procedures should provide detailed instructions for
implementing various functional elements of the RPP. Written procedures shall be developed
and implemented as necessary to ensure compliance with 10 CFR Part 835, commensurate
with the radiological hazards created by the activity and consistent with the education,
training, and skills of the individuals exposed to those hazards (10 CFR § 835.104).
Responsibilities and actions required of management and workers should be clearly and
unambiguously stated. It is not necessary for written procedures to be developed and
implemented for all of the requirements of 10 CFR Part 835. Written procedures should be
developed and employed under the following circumstances:
a. When worker health and safety are directly affected
b. When the expected outcome for the process or operation requires that a specific
method be followed
c. When the process or operation is infrequently used and competence training cannot
assure adequate implementation
d. To document the approved method to implement specific processes or operations
In evaluating the need for written procedures, consideration should be given to the level and
extent of the radiological hazards, the complexity of the measures required to achieve
compliance, and the education, training and skills of the individuals who must implement
those measures. Under such a regimen, a low hazard activity employing a stable staff of highly
educated and skilled workers having demonstrated an advanced knowledge of radiation
protection principles and practices could have fewer and less detailed procedures than a
higher hazard activity employing a transient workforce with less knowledge of radiation
protection practices and principles. DOE G 441.1‐1C provides additional guidance regarding
specific procedural aspects of the RPP.
All radiation protection procedures and controls should have formal, recognizable technical
bases for limits, methods, and personnel protection standards. Procedures should be
adequately documented, updated periodically, and maintained in a centralized historical file.
A control system should be established to account for all copies and ensure all new
procedures are included in the historical files. A designated period of time for maintaining
historical files should be established. ANSI/HPS N13.6‐2010, Practice for Occupational
Radiation Exposure Records Systems (2010) provides guidance on maintaining historical files.
In addition, radiation protection procedures should have a documented approval system and
established intervals for review and/or revision. A tracking system should be developed to
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
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ensure that the required reviews and revisions occur.
Management Commitment
Management commitment to safety is the most important characteristic of an effective
radiological control program. If the management commitment to safety is strong, the
radiological control program will be valued and respected. The radiological control program
should be provided adequate authority to permit performance of necessary assignments and
program implementation. Management commitment to the ALARA concept is particularly
important (see Article 111 of the DOE‐STD‐1098‐2017 (2017b)). Adequate personnel,
equipment, and funding should be available as a part of this commitment.
Radiological Control Organization
Section 36
The radiological control organization should be structured so that all of the activities required
to provide support to line management and workers can be accomplished.
Radiological Control Organization Independence and Reporting Level
The radiological control organization should be independent of the line organization
responsible for production, operation, or research activities and should have an equivalent
reporting level. Because radiological control personnel should have the authority to balance
operations with safety, they should not report directly to the administrators of operations.
When shift work is involved, the operations shift supervisor may make minor radiological
control decisions in support of the shift’s Radiological Control Technicians (RCTs); however,
decisions involving basic policies and procedures should be directed to a separate radiological
control organization.
If a safety organization includes the radiological control program, it must be high enough in
the company to allow direct access to the company president or equivalent. If the radiological
control program is administered by a separate radiological control organization, that
organization must also be in a position to have direct access to the company president. This is
to safeguard the program from the pressures of production that exist in the operational
environment and to keep it independent of operating organizations.
A system of guides, policies, and procedures should be established to clearly identify the inter‐
relationships, responsibilities, and authorities of those involved with the development,
operation, and maintenance of the facility and the health and safety of the employees. These
guides, policies, and procedures should be documented and reviewed at least once every
year.
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
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Adequacy of Personnel and Equipment
A sufficient number of qualified and, where required, certified radiological control personnel
must be available to perform necessary tasks for support of uranium facility startup and
operation. Sufficient equipment, including protective clothing, respiratory protective
equipment, and radiation detection instrumentation should be available to support RCTs and
operating personnel in the performance of work in controlled areas.
Staffing and Staff Qualifications
A cadre of operating and maintenance personnel who have experience in the operation of a
uranium facility should be established during the construction of a new facility. The remainder
of the operating and maintenance staff should be hired as soon as possible and should receive
formal and informal training from the experienced personnel. This step is extremely important
to enable all personnel to grow with the facility and learn the details of the operations. Once
operations start, potential problems already should have been identified, and engineering or
administrative changes should have been made to resolve them.
Staffing in the radiological control organization requires technicians and professionals in many
support areas. A successful radiological control program is highly dependent upon the
availability of adequate staff support in disciplines such as environmental monitoring,
instrument maintenance and calibration, internal and external dosimetry, meteorology, safety
analysis, and risk management.
Radiological Control Technician Training
Section 37
A thorough RCT training program should be established at uranium facilities. Before uranium
operations begin, a trained and qualified staff of RCTs should be present. All RCT training
should be accomplished in accordance with the DOE‐STD‐1098‐2017 (2017b) and DOE‐HDBK‐
1122‐2009, Radiological Control Technician Training Program (2011b).
Professional Staffing and Qualifications
The senior staff of the radiological control organization should include health physicists and
other professionals with four‐year degrees in science or engineering. A continuing training
program should be established for facility personnel. Pursuit of certification by the American
Board of Health Physics for senior and professional staff members should be encouraged. At
least one professional staff member at the uranium facility should have a minimum of three
years of radiological control experience in the operation of uranium facilities.
Technician Staffing and Qualifications
Recommendations for minimum entry‐level requirements for RCTs are given in DOE‐STD‐
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
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1098‐2017 (2017b) and the Radiological Control Technician Training Program. They include a
high school education or equivalency and knowledge of certain scientific fundamentals. If a
two‐year degree in nuclear technology or an equivalent discipline is locally available,
completion of such a program should be encouraged.
Where possible, the RCTs and other members of the radiological control staff should have a
minimum of one year’s experience working at a uranium facility. Such experience is an
important prerequisite to allow them to work unsupervised. Personnel hired without such
experience should work an internship of six months under the leadership of a qualified RCT or
supervisor with experience in that facility. RCTs should be encouraged to pursue registration
by the National Registry of Radiation Protection Technologists.
Training Staff Qualifications
All training instructors and materials should meet the requirements of DOE Order 426.2,
Personnel Selection, Training, Qualification, and Certification Requirements for DOE Nuclear
Facilities (2013). DOE‐STD‐1098‐2017 (2017b) provides additional guidance. Each uranium
facility should develop performance‐based training that reflects radiological conditions
present at the facility. This training should be monitored to ensure that site‐specific, worker‐
performance‐based measures, and practical factors are included in the uranium training.
Health Physicist Training Involvement
Facility health physicists should have comprehensive knowledge of all of the material on
uranium radiation safety included in the training programs for radiation workers and RCTs. In
addition to the previously discussed RCT training material, DOE has developed several other
radiation safety training courses and qualification standards which may provide useful
information. This includes DOE‐HDBK‐1130‐2022, Radiological Worker Training (2022d).
Staffing Levels
At least one professional health physicist is recommended to be on the staff of each major
uranium facility as a full‐time employee.
There is no rule of thumb for determining the number of RCTs needed for a given uranium
facility.
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
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Section 38
The number of RCTs should be based on an analysis that provides for sufficient coverage on
each shift, given the number of samples, surveys, and other work to be performed, the time of
training, donning and doffing of protective clothing, shift turnover procedures, and other
similar considerations. The dose rate and individual dose limits in the facility may also lead to
the need for additional personnel. Consideration should be given to having sufficient numbers
of personnel to respond to off‐normal conditions and emergencies as well as routine work.
Major maintenance, modifications, or decommissioning activities may require additional
personnel.
3.2.2 ALARA Program
The policy for maintaining radiation exposures ALARA has existed in principle since the early
1940s. The evolution of ALARA into a formal program began in the early 1960s.
Although there is, and has been since the 1940s, a series of official established dose limits,
they do not represent ALARA. ALARA is a continuous process of controlling and managing
radiation exposure to workers, the general public, and the environment. Although ALARA is
based upon protection of people and the environment, the philosophy is also grounded on
sound economic and operating principles. The responsibility for maintaining radiation
exposures ALARA is not a unique responsibility of management or radiological control
personnel. It is a responsibility of everyone involved in managing, supervising, or performing
radiation work. It is imperative to teach administrative personnel to support the principles and
practice of ALARA, and to train all workers to consider ALARA as they prepare for and perform
their work.
3.2.2.1 Assignment of ALARA Responsibility and Authority
Limiting radiation exposures to the lowest levels commensurate with economics and the work
to be accomplished has long been a part of radiological control and radiological protection
programs of DOE and its contractors. 10 CFR Part 835 and DOE O 458.1 establish the policy of
maintaining doses ALARA for workers and the public, respectively, resulting from radiation
from DOE operations. 10 CFR § 835.101(c) requires that plans and programs implementing the
ALARA process be prepared, and 10 CFR § 835.704(b) requires that records must be
maintained to demonstrate the implementation of ALARA. DOE G 441.1‐1C Chg 1 (Admin Chg)
(2011a) and DOE‐ STD‐1098‐2017 (2017b) provide additional guidance.
An ALARA committee should be established at the uranium facility. The membership should
include managers and workers from the line, the technical support organization, and the
radiological control organization. A line manager, such as a Director of Operations, Research,
or Maintenance, should serve as the committee chair. The ALARA committee should make
recommendations to management to improve progress toward minimizing radiation exposure
and radiological releases.
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
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3.2.2.2 Current Status of ALARA Programs
Currently, it is common practice in DOE facilities to have a well‐structured ALARA plan for the
entire facility, with more detailed plans in the various buildings or functional subunits of the
facility. There is ordinarily a facility coordinator who administers the overall ALARA plan and
reports to top‐level management of the facility. Coordinators for the various buildings or
subunits of the facility receive guidance from the overall facility coordinator and report the
results of their ALARA programs to that individual.
Section 39
3.2.2.3 Achievement of Goals
To ensure improving radiological performance, at the beginning of each year, each facility
should prepare radiological performance goals. At intervals commensurate with the
radiological risk, the contractor should provide DOE with an interim status report of the goals.
At the end of the calendar year, the contractor should provide DOE an Annual Goal Status
Report.
Identifying specific ALARA goals in uranium facilities requires close coordination between the
facility ALARA team members (operations, maintenance, and radiological control personnel)
made up from a cross‐section of personnel representing the various work elements of the
facility. ALARA goals may be formulated as qualitative or quantitative types of goals, but must
be measurable and achievable, with clearly defined endpoints.
3.2.2.4 Quality Assurance
Important aspects of any ALARA program are the measurement of beneficial effects and the
determination that important factors, such as economic impacts, the time involved in
accomplishing tasks, and the utilization of personnel, are being optimized. To accomplish
these objectives, it is necessary to have a written plan for the ALARA program and high-quality
records of activities involving exposures to workers, the public, and the environment. These
permit comparisons with past experiences and analysis of the recorded activities. In many
cases, such studies of the recorded activities not only confirm satisfactory execution of the
work, but reveal opportunities for future improvements.
One approach that works well is the inclusion of an ALARA worksheet with the RWP. Such a
worksheet should be prepared by an individual with responsibilities for the work to be
performed, a relatively detailed knowledge of the radiological conditions, and knowledge of
what is required to accomplish the task. The worksheet should contain estimates of the time
to complete the task and the expected radiation doses to be received. If any specially‐
engineered devices are used to control personnel exposure, they should be noted on the
ALARA worksheet, with any special instructions they require. These worksheets provide
valuable information for analysis of the effectiveness of the ALARA program for each job.
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
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3.2.2.5 Technical Aspects
The technical aspects of ALARA programs include not only the standard equipment regularly
used in controlling dose to workers, the public, and the environment, such as facility shielding,
ventilation filters, installed and portable radiation measuring instruments, but also many
special devices that may be used temporarily. Special devices can be used to provide exposure
control and/or containment when it may not be practical without them. These include
temporary shields, tents or greenhouses, portable HEPA exhaust fans, ductwork and filters,
and special fixtures to hold highly radioactive materials requiring detailed inspection, repair,
modification, or fabrication. Such devices can reduce radiation exposures by controlling
contamination, which might not be possible otherwise.
Some of these special devices may have general application and be kept on hand for use as
needed. In some cases, devices would have to be specially fabricated for a specific task.
Because this would ordinarily have a significant effect on the cost of doing that job, the
economic aspects of doing or not doing the job should be carefully evaluated.
3.2.2.6 Attributes of Effective Review and Audit
Section 40
Evaluation of the effectiveness of an ALARA program requires both reviews and auditing. The
reviews will include detailed examination of the written ALARA program plan and the records
of ALARA activities. The objectives in such reviews are to find if the written plan is being
followed, and what is working or not working well. Such reviews can be performed adequately
by either a knowledgeable member of the facility staff or an equally knowledgeable outsider.
The written report of a review should be directed to a member of management who is
responsible for implementation of the ALARA program.
Audits are best performed by an outside expert who is knowledgeable about work with
uranium and its radiological characteristics so that the auditor can look for problems and
make appropriate evaluations and recommendations. The auditor should not only examine
the ALARA program plan and records, but should also visit the working areas and laboratories
in the facility with a knowledgeable escort who can answer questions about activities and
conditions in the facility.
Reviews and/or audits provide the means to evaluate the effectiveness of the ALARA program
through a detailed analysis of the data. Through these analyses, specific opportunities for
improvement may be identified. For example, the exposure experience of a specific group can
be tracked to evaluate trends and their probable causes. An increasing exposure trend can
signal degradation in the radiological control program, a need for specialized training, changes
in the work force, or a change in equipment or operational procedure in the areas in which
higher exposures are being experienced. Similarly, a decreasing exposure trend could mean
either that the ALARA program is accomplishing its objective or that a major change in
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
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radiological work has occurred. Such trends should be examined at least quarterly to permit
initiation of timely corrective actions.
When exposure trends and probable causes are clearly understood, the information should be
provided to both management and staff. If an increasing exposure trend is identified, it can
call attention to the problem allowing corrective action to be taken or to signal special
procedures or precautions that may be needed. When the ALARA program is successful in
reducing exposures, immediate feedback can verify program effectiveness and encourage
further support of the program.
Reviews and/or audits and communication of the results provide the base for program
upgrade. Audits and/or reviews are also an effective means to evaluate the effectiveness of a
policy or procedure change and assist in determining what changes are most effective for a
given set of conditions, provide a basis for future decisions as to effective means for reducing
exposure, provide a basis for comparing costs with results, and provide a measure of the
program’s effectiveness for controlling individual and person‐rem exposures as well as dose
ranges and percentage of total person‐rem represented by the ranges.
3.2.2.7 ALARA at Uranium Processing Facilities
Section 41
The ALARA concept has wide application and serves as a basis for sound radiological control
programs. The fundamental ALARA objective is to reduce radiation doses to the lowest
practical levels commensurate with sound economics and operating practices. Realistic
numerical goals can be set and achieved; however, compliance with numerical standards does
not provide evidence that the ALARA concept is fully incorporated in the radiological control
program. Rather, the success of a mature ALARA program is measured by many factors
including intangibles, such as dedication to the concept of dose control. A set of ALARA
recommendations will therefore include both numerical goals and some relatively general
philosophical guidance that, by itself, may not appear to assist in achieving ALARA goals.
Development and implementation of an ALARA program in many uranium facilities may be a
challenging task, due primarily to the fact that penetrating radiation doses are typically low
and few individuals are exposed near the regulatory limits for occupational exposures. As a
result, convincing management to spend valuable funds to further reduce radiation exposures
can be a problem. The ALARA program must have the support and active participation of all
levels of management. It must be understood by the worker in the field and receive his or her
continued support and attention.
Detailed guidance on developing and implementing an effective ALARA Program is provided in
DOE G 441.1‐1C Chg 1 (Admin Chg) (2011a).
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
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3.2.3 External Dosimetry Program
The details of the external dosimetry program are discussed in Chapter 6 of this Technical
Standard and in DOE G 441.1‐1C Chg 1 (Admin Chg) (2011a).
3.2.4 Internal Dosimetry Program
The details of the internal dosimetry program are discussed in Chapter 5 of this Technical
Standard and in DOE G 441.1‐1C Chg 1 (Admin Chg) (2011a).
3.2.5 Area Monitoring and Control
The details of the area monitoring program are discussed in Chapters 4 and 5 of this Technical
Standard and in DOE G 441.1‐1C Chg 1 (Admin Chg) (2011a).
3.2.5.1 Radiological Surveys and Data Trending
Sections 835.401 ‐ 835.403 of 10 CFR Part 835 establish requirements for radiological
monitoring of areas and individuals. A program of routine, scheduled surveys should be
established and followed, including surveys in areas that are not ordinarily expected to be
affected by radiological hazards. The program should define minimum requirements, survey
type, and frequency.
Surveys should be performed at frequencies adequate to identify changes in posting required
or an activity buildup and to ensure current radiological controls are appropriate. The surveys
specified by this section should be considered minimum requirements; additional surveys
should be conducted, recorded, and reviewed as necessary to ensure adequate personnel
protection.
Surveys should be performed to identify radiological area boundaries and the conditions
within those boundaries, the appropriate posting of sources or areas, and the location and
extent of localized radiological hazards. They should be performed and documented prior to
the start of radiological work, during general work activities at times when changes in
radiological conditions may occur, and following work to determine that final radiological
conditions are acceptable and documented. A sufficient number of points should be surveyed
to adequately assess the radiological status of the area being surveyed.
Section 42
Routine radiological surveys should be regularly conducted, recorded, and reviewed for all
areas where personnel could be exposed to radiation or radioactive material throughout the
site. Surveys should be performed at frequencies adequate to ensure protection of personnel.
The following surveys should be considered the minimum. Additional surveys should be
conducted, recorded, and reviewed as necessary to ensure personnel exposures are
maintained ALARA. General radiation surveys should be performed to:
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
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a. Identify and verify the boundaries of areas which must be radiologically controlled;
b. Verify that radiation levels in uncontrolled areas remain less than specified limits;
c. Determine the appropriate posting of localized higher radiation levels, beams, or hot
spots;
d. Ensure radiological conditions are acceptable and documented prior to, during, and at
the completion of work that may cause changes in radiation levels to occur;
e. Satisfy required predetermined procedure hold‐points in work areas and adjacent areas,
whenever operations are performed that may cause significant increases in radiation
levels.
The survey may be required as part of a radiological inspection step required by the work
procedure.
This includes areas above and below the work area as appropriate during special processing
operations or cell decontamination, movement of permanent or temporary shielding,
radioactive waste processing, and relocation of highly radioactive materials.
Routine external radiation level surveys should be performed in the workplace at a frequency
commensurate with the radiation hazard, to detect trends related to equipment, systems,
environment, and work habits. Non‐routine surveys of external radiation levels in the
workplace should be performed as follows:
a. Before initial use of a new installation, system, or equipment, or as soon as possible
after a radiation source is brought into the area;
b. Whenever changes in procedures, equipment, or sources have occurred that may cause
changes in the external radiation levels;
c. After modification to a shield or changes in shield materials;
d. As the basis for trend evaluation of external radiation level conditions;
e. When a radiological accident has occurred or is suspected;
f. When requested by the personnel performing the activity.
A sufficient number of points should be surveyed to adequately assess the radiological status
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
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of the area. Regular predetermined points may be used, but additional spot monitoring should
be done to ensure all changes in dose rates are identified, recorded, and reviewed. All records
of surveys should clearly identify, as a minimum, the:
a. Name, signature, and employee number of the surveyor;
b. Survey instrument(s) model number, serial number, and calibration date;
c. Type(s) of radiation being monitored (e.g., neutron, gamma);
d. Dose rates;
e. Estimated doses to surveyors (from direct‐reading dosimeters, if applicable);
f. Date and time the survey was performed.
g. Locations where radioactive material is located temporarily (or is being temporarily
stored) or where equipment that generates ionizing radiation is being operated
Records of the results of radiation surveys should be retained in accordance with 10 CFR §
835.701(b) which requires retention of records until final disposition is authorized by DOE.
Section 43
Survey data should be reviewed by the facility radiological control supervisor. Significant
findings should be presented to the facility manager in a timely manner. Radiological control
personnel should summarize survey data in each building or area at least once a month.
Significant changes or trends in area dose rates and/or radiological contamination should be
noted and corrective actions assigned. The survey summary should be presented to the facility
management monthly.
Survey results and data summaries should be made available to the ALARA committee
periodically and should be used to:
a. Provide a basis for evaluating potential worker exposure on a job and in ALARA
preplanning;
b. Provide a baseline for trend analysis, investigation, and correction of unusual conditions;
c. Track the status of jobs (including identification of good practices) and detect
departures from good operating procedures and/or the failure of radiation
controls;
d. Identify the origin of radiation exposures in the plant by location, system, or component.
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
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Radiological control personnel should post survey maps at the entrance to all radiological
areas so personnel can be aware of radiological conditions within the area.
A survey data trending program should be conducted to indicate the continuing effectiveness
of existing control, to warn of deterioration of control equipment or effectiveness of operating
procedures, to show long‐term variations in radiation levels, and to identify and correct
improper radiation work practices.
Radiological control personnel should perform trend analyses on all permanent radiological
areas. At a minimum, one complete survey record should be evaluated and included in the
trend analysis program for each survey required to be performed by the facility routine
control program.
Radiological control personnel should use the facility reporting system to identify
discrepancies and abnormal trends and should summarize the data review results in their
monthly reports to the radiological control manager. Survey data trends should be
investigated when either an upward trend occurs, causing a significant increase (10% or
more), or an abrupt change in conditions occurs that cannot be directly correlated to normal
activities.
3.2.5.2 Instrumentation Considerations
Instrumentation performance criteria are necessary for portable, fixed, and emergency
monitoring instrumentation. There are also requirements for instrument calibration and
testing.
General Performance Criteria for Instruments
Programs for in‐plant monitoring of uranium consist mainly of airborne and surface
contamination surveys and dose rate surveys. The general and specific performance criteria
for the instrumentation needed to conduct these programs are described in ANSI N317‐1980,
Performance Criteria for Instrumentation Used for In‐Plant Plutonium Monitoring (1980).
Performance specifications are also given in IEEE/ANSI N323AB‐2013 (2014), Radiation
Protection Instrumentation Test and Calibration, Portable Survey Instruments; IEEE/ANSI
N42.17A‐2003, Performance Specifications for Health Physics Instrumentation ‐ Portable
Instrumentation for Use in Normal Environmental Conditions (2004a); IEEE/ANSI N42.17C‐
1989, Performance Specifications for Health Physics Instrumentation ‐ Portable
Instrumentation for Use in Extreme Environmental Conditions for portable radiological control
instrumentation (1990b); and IEC Publication 60325:2002, Radiation Protection
Instrumentation – Alpha, beta and alpha/beta (beta energy >60 keV) contamination meters
and monitors (2002b), for alpha and beta contamination meters and monitors. Criteria for air
monitoring instrumentation are provided in ANSI/HPS N13.1‐2021, Sampling and Monitoring
Releases of Airborne Radioactive Substances from the Stacks and Ducts of Nuclear Facilities
Section 44
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
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(2011a); IEC Publication 60761, Equipment for Continuously Monitoring Radioactivity in
Gaseous Effluents (2002a); and ANSI N42.17B‐1989, Performance Specifications for Health
Physics Instrumentation ‐ Occupational Airborne Radioactivity Monitoring Instrumentation
(1990a). Criticality alarm systems are discussed in ANSI/ANS 8.3‐1997, Criticality Accident
Alarm System (1997). The criteria discussed in the following sections are specified in these
standards as referenced.
Portable Monitoring Instruments
ANSI N317 (1980) discusses several criteria related to the performance of portable monitoring
instruments:
a. The overall accuracy should be within ±20%, and the precision should be within ±10% at
the 95% confidence level.
b. The response time (i.e., the time for the instrument reading to go from zero to 90% of
full scale) should be <10 seconds on the most sensitive scale and <2 seconds at readings
of 100 mrem/h, 100 mR/h, and 500 dpm or greater. (This criterion is unrealistic with
current neutron instrument capabilities. Response time is typically 30 to 60 seconds.)
c. The instrument should be able to maintain accuracy and precision for a minimum of 24
hours of continuous operation.
d. The instrument should have a minimum battery lifetime of 200 hours of continuous
operation. ANSI N42.17A (2004a) specifications differ slightly.
e. The response of the instrument should not change by more than ±15% from a reference
value taken at 20°C over the anticipated temperature range for operation.
f. The instrument system should function within specifications over all anticipated
combinations of temperature and humidity (e.g., 15° to 65°C, 40% to 95% relative
humidity).
ANSI N317 (1980) states the minimum detection capability for alpha monitoring instruments
ideally should be 220 dpm/100 cm2 of surface area and should not be more than 500 dpm/100
cm2. This criterion should be met in the presence of a radiation field of 0.10 rem/h of neutrons
in the energy range of thermal to 10 MeV, and/or in the presence of 0.10 rem/h of photons in
the energy range of 0.010 to 1.25 MeV. The operating range should be from 0 dpm to at least
100,000 dpm/100 cm2 of surface area. The response of the instrument to beta‐interfering
radiation is an important specification that should be stated by the manufacturer.
Photon monitoring instruments should meet the accuracy criteria stated in ANSI N317 (1980)
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
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over the energy range of 0.01 to 1.25 MeV. The angular response of this type of instrument
should be within ±15% over a 2 pi steradian frontal direction using at least two photon sources
with energies ranging from 0.06 to 1.25 MeV. Experience has shown this response
specification is not met by most instruments at lower energies due to attenuation of the
photon. The energy dependence should be within ±15% over the range of 0.01 to 1.25 MeV
and the operating range should be from 0.5 mR/h to at least 5000 mR/h. Experience has
shown that ±20% over 0.01 to 1.25 MeV is more realistic. This specification applies to a
specific window selection (e.g., below 0.05 MeV, the electron equilibrium cap or beta shield
must be removed).
Section 45
ANSI N42.17A (2004a) has a broader scope than ANSI N317 (1980), but the criteria in it apply
to portable survey instruments. Additional criteria include geotropism (maximum change of
6% from reference reading for all orientations), temperature shock, mechanical shock,
vibration, and ambient pressure (maximum change of 15% from reference reading for the
latter four criteria). Some differences exist between ANSI N42.17A and ANSI N317. In most
cases, the criteria for ANSI N42.17A are more applicable because these criteria are based on
substantial testing, which was sponsored by DOE. In ANSI N42.17A, precision is tied into a
measurement level; for example, it quotes a precision of 15% at <500 cpm and 10% at >500
cpm. Also, with the advent of liquid crystal displays and other digital readouts, "response
time" is defined as the time it takes for the reading to move from 10% to 90% of the
equilibrium or steady‐state reading. Another significant difference in the standard is the
battery lifetime specification is 100 hours instead of the 200 hours mentioned in ANSI N317.
For direct alpha contamination surveys, the use of audible signals (headphones or speaker)
greatly facilitates the detection of "hot spots." IEC Publication 60325 (2002b) provides
additional guidance on the uniformity of probe response for alpha and beta contamination
meters. Surface sensitivity measurements are also discussed in this standard.
Performance Criteria for Fixed Monitoring Instruments
Airborne contamination monitors, surface contamination monitors, and photon area
monitors, and emergency instrumentation are fixed monitoring instruments subject to the
following standard performance criteria.
Airborne Contamination Monitors. Airborne contamination monitors, normally CAMS should
meet the following criteria according to ANSI N317 (1980). The primary purpose of any CAM is
to detect the presence of airborne radioactivity and activate an alarm to warn personnel in
the area so actions can be taken to minimize personnel exposures. The goal for any CAM
should be to perform this function as quickly as possible and at the lowest detectable level of
radioactive airborne concentration. The quantity of airborne radioactivity that will result in an
alarm within a given time interval is defined in units of DAC‐h for a particular radionuclide and
is a function of the nuclide’s airborne concentration in DACs, the sampling rate, the lower limit
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
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of detection of the instrument, and the time needed for the alarm to occur. Mishima et al.
(1988) provides guidance on each of these functions.
ANSI N42.17B (1990a) provides additional performance criteria for air monitors used to detect
uranium. This standard provides specifications for general criteria (e.g., sampler design, units
of readout, alarm threshold), electronic criteria (alarms, stability, response time, coefficient of
variation, and line noise susceptibility), radiation response, interfering responses
(radiofrequency, microwave, electrostatic, and magnetic fields), environmental criteria
(temperature, humidity, and pressure), and air‐circuit criteria. More detailed specifications are
provided in ANSI N42.17B than in ANSI N317 (1980); however, the environmental criteria and
the limits of variation are not as restrictive as those in ANSI N317. With respect to accuracy,
ANSI N317 requires less than ±20%, and ANSI N42.17B requires 40% at the 95% confidence
level. For the environmental criteria, ANSI N317 requires that the readings change less than
5% under ambient conditions, while ANSI N42.17B gives a 15% limit of variation. As discussed
previously, criteria from ANSI N42.17B are more applicable because they are supported by
instrument testing.
Section 46
ANSI N13.1 (2021) provides detailed guidance on sampling methods from stacks and ducts.
One criterion that relates to CAMs is that air sample lines between air inlet and filter media
should be eliminated where possible; where not possible, they should be designed to meet
the sampling criteria contained in the standard (e.g., short lines, proper sampling rate, smooth
bends). The use of Tygon tubing as sample lines should be minimized or eliminated. Air in‐
leakage from surrounding areas can be a problem when using sampling lines. Testing for air in‐
leakage should be performed at least annually or when seals or "O" rings are replaced.
Surface Contamination Monitors. Surface contamination monitors include hand and/or shoe
counters and instruments (or probes) with sufficient flexibility to survey pieces of equipment,
including exterior clothing. ANSI N317 (1980) states these instruments should have an audible
alarm, a frequency that is proportional to the count rate, or a pre‐selectable trip setting, and
upon reaching that level, should activate an audible or visible alarm or both. These
instruments should be calibrated according to the requirements in ANSI N323AB (2014) and
be equipped with a check source. Fixed instruments should be powered by alternating current
(AC) and provided with an emergency power source.
Performance Criteria for Emergency Instrumentation
Meeting the criteria for criticality accident alarm systems, fixed nuclear accident dosimeters,
and other emergency instrumentation is essential.
Criticality Accident Alarm Systems (CAAS). See section 7.0 for discussion of nuclear criticality
safety, including CAAS.
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
52
Fixed Nuclear Accident Dosimeters. All DOE facilities that have sufficient quantities and kinds
of fissile material to potentially constitute a critical mass should provide nuclear accident
dosimetry. Requirements for fixed nuclear accident dosimeters are found in 10 CFR Part
835.1304 and DOE Order 420.1C Chg 3, Facility Safety (2019b).
Effluent Monitors. Facilities should evaluate potential emissions in accordance with ANSI/HPS
N13.1 (2021) to determine the need for stack sampling and/or monitoring.
Other Emergency Instrumentation. Other emergency instrumentation should provide ranges
for all radiation dose rates and contamination levels potentially encountered at the time of an
accident. Normally, dose rate capabilities from a few millirem per hour to a few hundred rem
per hour should be required while capability requirements for the contamination level may
range upward from 200 dpm/100 cm2 for alpha contaminants and 1000 dpm/100 cm2 for
beta‐gamma emitters. Performance specifications for emergency radiological monitoring
instrumentation can be found in ANSI N320‐1979, Performance Specifications for Reactor
Emergency Radiological Monitoring Instrumentation (1979) and BNWL‐1742, Technological
Consideration in Emergency Instrumentation Preparedness. Phase II‐B ‐ Emergency
Radiological and Meteorological Instrumentation for Mixed Oxide Fuel Fabrication Facilities
(Andersen et al. 1974).
Instrument Calibrations and Testing
Radiation doses and energies in the work areas should be well characterized. Calibration of
instruments shall be conducted where possible under conditions and with radiation energies
similar to those encountered at the workstations. Knowledge of the work area radiation
spectra and instrument energy response should permit the application of correction factors
when it is not possible to calibrate with a source that has the same energy spectrum. All
calibration sources should be traceable to recognized national standards. When the work
areas have been well characterized, the calibration facility used by the uranium facility should
be set up to represent as closely as possible the work area’s radiation fields.
Section 47
DOE G 441.1‐1C Chg 1 (Admin Chg) (2011a) and ANSI N323AB (2014) provide guidance on
radiation monitoring instrument calibration. The reproducibility of the instrument readings
should be known prior to making calibration adjustments. This is particularly important if the
instrument has failed to pass a periodic performance test (i.e., the instrument response varies
by more than ±20% from a set of reference readings using a check source) or if the instrument
has been repaired. The effect of energy dependence, temperature, humidity, ambient
pressure, and source‐to detector geometry should be known when performing the primary
calibration. Primary calibration should be performed at least annually.
Standards referenced in Section 3.5.2 discuss specific performance testing of radiation
detection instruments. Testing procedures in these standards should be used for periodic
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
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requalification of instruments or detailed testing of instruments.
The calibration of photon monitoring instruments over the energy range from a few keV to
300 keV is best accomplished with an x‐ray machine and appropriate filters that provide
known x‐ray spectra from a few kiloelectron volts to approximately 300 keV. Radionuclide
sources should be used for higher energies. Most ion chambers used to measure photon
radiations have a relatively flat energy response above 80 to 100 keV; 137Cs or 60Co are typically
used to calibrate these instruments. These sources also should be used to calibrate Geiger‐
Mueller (GM) type detectors. It should be noted that some GM detectors (e.g., those with no
energy compensation) can show a large energy dependence, especially below approximately
200 keV.
Whenever possible, beta detectors should be calibrated to the beta energies of interest in the
workplace. A natural or depleted uranium slab source can be used for calibration of beta
detectors when beta radiations in the workplace have energies similar to the uranium.
International Organization for Standardization beta sources should be used for all other
purposes: the energy dependence of beta detectors can be tested using the calibration
sources listed in the ISO Publication 6980‐1, Nuclear Energy – Reference Beta Particle
Radiation (2006), which include 90Sr, 90Y, 204Tl, and 147Pm.
The calibration and testing of crucial monitoring systems are extremely important to the
overall radiation protection program, but have often been neglected. Effluent monitoring and
sampling systems (when present) and remote area monitoring systems should be given
several tests. The radiological, environmental, and mechanical characteristics of the
instrumentation portion of the system should be fully evaluated prior to its first use to ensure
its compatibility with performance requirements and facility operating conditions. The
effluent sampling losses from the sample probe to the collector/detector should be
determined. This test should be repeated at least annually and when a significant change in
the sampling equipment is made. The sample probe should be examined at least once a year
to verify its design or performance has not been changed by corrosion. The recorder of the
sample flow rate should be calibrated when it is installed and annually thereafter. The
operability of the overall system should be completely tested once, with repeat tests only
after modification, repair, or maintenance. Operability checks should be scheduled at least
monthly and calibration performed at least annually.
Section 48
The operation of criticality or other radiation alarm signal systems should be checked
periodically to ensure the alarms are audible at all potentially occupied locations (ANSI/ANS,
1997). To prevent any desensitizing of staff, the staff should be aware the tests will be
performed, and where possible, tests should be scheduled during off‐shift hours. Building
systems should be tested semiannually and the area‐wide system should be tested at least
annually. Any portion of the detector/alarm system affected by the test should be
reconfirmed for operability after the test is completed (e.g., if a detector is disconnected and a
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
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signal is injected at that point, the detector should be tested immediately after it has been
reconnected).
3.2.6 Radiological Controls
3.2.6.1 Work Authorizations
Written authorizations shall be required to control entry into and work within radiological
areas and shall specify radiation protection measures commensurate with the existing and
potential hazards (10 CFR Part 835.501(d)). ALARA considerations need to be included in the
work authorization. One approach that works well is the inclusion of an ALARA worksheet with
the radiological work permit (RWP). Although the written work authorizations may take any
appropriate form (e.g., written procedures, policy statements, technical work documents),
RWPs are most often used. RWPs should be used for entry into high and very high radiation
areas, high contamination areas, and airborne radioactivity areas. RWPs should also be used
to control entry into radiation and contamination areas and for handling materials with
removable contamination. The RWPs should be initiated by the work group responsible for
the activity. All RWPs should be reviewed and approved by the radiological control staff and
cognizant line management. DOE‐STD‐1098‐2017 (2017b) provides detailed guidance for
RWPs.
Radiological workers should read and understand the applicable RWP before entering the
affected area. Copies of the RWP should be located at the access point to the applicable area.
Workers should acknowledge by signature or through electronic means that they have read,
understood, and will comply with the RWP before they initially enter the area and after
changes. Out‐of‐date RWPs should be removed.
3.2.6.2 Facility Posting and Labeling
Radiological areas, controlled areas, and radioactive material areas shall be posted, unless the
conditions constituting the authorized exceptions specified in 10 CFR Part 835 exist (10 CFR
§835.601‐ § 835.606). DOE Guide G‐441.1‐1C Chg 1 (Admin Chg) (2011a) and DOE‐STD‐1098‐
2017 (2017b) provide appropriate guidance. The technical criteria for defining the required
areas should be established, documented, and consistently applied. The radiological control
staff should establish and document the conditions that require areas to be barricaded and
marked to prevent personnel from inadvertently entering them and to be physically locked to
preclude unauthorized personnel from entering them.
Entrance to areas where radioactive materials are used or stored should be controlled in
accordance with 10 CFR § 835.501. The degree of control shall be commensurate with
existing and potential radiological hazards within the area.
The radiological control staff should post current surveys at the access control point for use in
pre‐job planning. Additional precautions, such as protective clothing, dosimetry, and
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
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Section 49
respiratory protection requirements should also be posted.
3.2.6.3 Unposted Areas
Certain areas of facilities that handle radioactive materials should be maintained free of
detectable radioactive contamination. These areas should also be maintained at ambient
radiation levels equivalent to the environmental background of the facility. Parts of the facility
that should meet these requirements include lunchrooms, offices, restrooms, janitor rooms,
corridors outside operational areas, foyers, and outside areas surrounding the facility,
including building roofs.
To determine that these areas meet the requirements of non‐radioactive cleanliness, they
should be surveyed with count‐rate instruments sensitive to the radioactive isotopes of
interest. These clean areas should be maintained below the detection levels cited in 10 CFR
Part 835.
3.2.6.4 Visits by Regulatory Personnel
Periodically, personnel from DOE and other Federal and state agencies visit radiological
facilities for audit purposes or to discuss regulatory changes. In most cases, they will look at
records of the radiation protection program and, in some cases, will also enter posted areas of
the facility. These regulatory personnel should have ready access to the facility; provided that
applicable training, dosimetry, and other requirements are met. They should have complete
access to facility personnel knowledgeable in the subjects they wish to discuss. New
commitments requested should be referred to the appropriate facility and DOE management.
3.2.7 Emergency Exposure Situations
Requirements and guidance for emergency exposure situations are discussed in detail in
Chapter 9 of this Technical Standard.
3.2.8 Nuclear Accident Dosimetry
Nuclear accident dosimetry is discussed in detail in Chapter 6 of this Technical Standard.
3.2.9 Records
The systematic generation and retention of records relating to the occupational radiological
control program are essential to describe the occupational radiation dose received by
individuals and the conditions under which the exposures occurred. Such records have
potential value for medical, epidemiological, and legal purposes.
10 CFR Part 835 establishes radiation protection program records requirements. Section
835.701(b) states that, unless otherwise specified, records shall be retained until final
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
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disposition is authorized by DOE. An acceptable program for generating and administering
occupational radiation protection program records and reports to maintain compliance with
the provisions of 10 CFR §835.702, § 835.703, and § 835.704 are described in chapter 13 of
DOE G 441.1‐1C Chg 1 (Admin Chg) (2011a).
Most of the required radiological records have established retention periods. The retention
periods are discussed in DOE O 243.1C, Records Management Program (2022e). Individual
records may be covered by the Privacy Act; DOE has codified its Privacy Act regulations in 10
CFR Part 1008, Records Maintained on Individuals (Privacy Act).
3.2.10 Radiation Safety Training
A thorough radiation safety training program shall be established at uranium facilities.
Training programs should ensure that personnel have the training to work safely in and
around radiological areas and to maintain their individual radiation exposure and the radiation
exposures of others ALARA. Separate training programs should be established for general
employees and radiological workers. DOE’s core training materials should form the basis for
the training programs, and should be augmented with site‐specific information. The training of
all staff members shall be documented and records maintained to demonstrate compliance
with 10 CFR § 901. DOE G 441.1‐1C Chg 1 (Admin Chg) (2011a) and DOE‐STD‐1098‐2017
(2017b) provide guidance on information to be presented during the training programs.
Section 50
DOE requires biennial radiation safety training for general employees and radiological workers
and when there is a significant change to radiation protection procedures. In the alternate
year when retraining is not performed, refresher training should be provided. Individuals who
work with uranium should have special uranium facilities training in addition to or as part of
the appropriate level of Radiological Worker Training.
3.2.10.1 Radiological Worker Training
Before working in uranium operations, all radiological workers should be trained and
qualified. A thorough radiation protection training program should be established at uranium
facilities. Before beginning uranium training, each uranium worker should receive General
Employee Radiological Training or either Rad Worker I or Rad Worker II Training.
The level of radiation worker training should be determined in accordance with the Table 3‐1
of DOE‐STD‐1098‐2017. All training shall be consistent with 10 CFR § 835.901 and should be
consistent with the guidance provided in DOE G 441.1‐1C Chg 1 (Admin Chg) (2011a). All
training dispositions and records shall be documented in accordance with 10 CFR § 835.704.
3.2.10.2 Training for Other Facility Personnel
Non‐radiological workers in a uranium facility should be given a general orientation on the
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
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radiation safety concerns for working with uranium, the general protective measures used for
work with uranium, and the engineered safety features of the facility. DOE has developed
General Employee Radiological Training for this purpose.
3.2.10.3 Members of the Public
Members of the public with a demonstrated need to enter the following areas may be allowed
access if such access is controlled with a combination of training and the use of escorts trained
for the specific area:
a. Radiological Buffer Areas
b. Radiation and High Radiation Areas
c. Contamination Areas
d. Radioactive Material Areas
Guidance for training of members of the public is provided in DOE G 441.1‐1C Chg 1 (Admin
Chg) (2011a) and DOE‐STD‐1098‐2017 (2017b). Individuals under 18 years of age should not
be permitted to enter radiation areas or contamination areas without the approval of the
radiological control manager. Area entry requirements and access restrictions for members of
the public should be established in facility procedures. Members of the public should be
prevented from entering very high radiation, high contamination, and airborne radioactivity
areas. In accordance with 10 CFR § 835.208, the total effective dose limit for members of the
public exposed to radiation and/or radioactive material during access to a controlled area is
0.1 rem in a year.
All facility personnel serving as a qualified escort should ensure that each visitor under his/her
cognizance completes a facility radiological visitor form. The qualified escort should also sign
the visitor form and complete it as appropriate.
Facility‐sponsored visitors should provide the following before entering radiological areas,
unless these records have already been entered into the facility entry control system:
a. Evidence of completing required training, as applicable
b. Visitor radiation exposure disclosure
c. A medical disclosure form or the results of a medical evaluation
The host facility manager should forward the visitor radiation exposure and medical disclosure
forms to Dosimetry.
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
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Section 51
If there are members of the public who live or work near a uranium facility, a plan for
orientation of members of the public should be developed to inform them of facility activities.
Such a plan should include information on the concerns that require protection of people
from potential injuries by uranium, the general protective measures used at the facility to
confine it and keep it out of the public domain, and solicitation of information on the concerns
of members of the local public about uranium. To the extent possible, efforts should be made
to allay those concerns. The information in the public education plan should also be provided
to local news media.
3.3 Related Programs
3.3.1 Onsite Packaging and Transportation
The hazardous materials organization conducts onsite radioactive shipments with the
assistance of radiological control. This program requires the hazardous materials organization
representatives to review onsite radioactive shipping records, document the errors or
omissions observed, and evaluate trends and revise training as needed. Serious deficiencies
are to be documented and the reports should be submitted in accordance with DOE O 460.1D
Chg 1, Hazardous Materials Packaging and Transportation Safety (2022c).
The packaging organization is responsible for coordinating onsite package design and prepara‐
tion of safety analysis documentation. The following sections describe typical process, review,
and approval requirements for onsite safety analysis documentation.
3.3.1.1 Initiation
New safety analysis documentation or reviews/changes to existing documentation can be
requested by a user organization based on programmatic or operational requirements. The
request is submitted in writing to the packaging organization and includes proper justification
and support documentation. The packaging organization makes routine revisions as necessary
to reflect policy and regulation changes.
3.3.1.2 Preparation
The packaging organization coordinates the analysis, prepares safety analysis documentation,
and guides the documentation through the review and approval process, including the
resolution of review comments and the obtaining of required approval.
3.3.1.3 Control
Safety analysis documentation is prepared and maintained according to facility policy. The
document control system provides an accessible, auditable, and retrievable method for
maintaining and changing safety analytic documentation.
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
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3.3.1.4 Review and Approval Cycle
Safety analysis documentation is reviewed, approved, and changed according to facility policy.
Additional reviews and approvals include the following people and organizations:
a. User
b. Cognizant engineer
c. Packaging organization
d. Quality assurance
e. Responsible environmental assurance organization, onsite only
f. Packaging, shipping, and waste safety assurance organization
g. Criticality engineering analysis, if criticality analysis is required
h. Packaging and shipping approval authority
i. DOE field office, if the package is to be used for Highway Route Controlled Quantity
inter‐area shipments
3.3.2 Approval for Editorial Changes
Inconsequential editorial changes to a safety analysis document may be approved at the
operating level.
3.3.2.1 Utilization
Section 52
Once a safety analysis document is approved, copies are sent to the affected organizations,
including operations and applicable facility engineering, to incorporate the administrative
controls from the safety analysis document into the affected operating documents. User
organizations must obtain the packaging organization review of all operating procedures that
incorporate instructions or administrative controls found in COCS, SARPS, SEPS, DAPS, DOT
exemptions, and Federal and state packaging requirements to ensure that they are properly
incorporated.
Onsite packages currently approved for onsite use should be cataloged and described in a
hazardous materials packaging directory maintained by the packaging organization. New
packages are added to the directory as they are developed and approved.
3.3.3 Conduct of Operations
The organization and administration of operations should ensure a high level of performance
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
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in DOE facility operations is achieved through effective implementation and control activities.
Administration of operations activities should recognize that protection of the environment,
maintaining a high‐quality safety program and productivity are compatible goals. DOE policies
and standards describe the standards of excellence under which the facility is expected to
operate. Clear lines of responsibility for normal and emergency conditions must be
established. Effective implementation and control of operating activities are achieved
primarily by having readily accessible written standards for operations, periodical monitoring
and assessment of performance, and personnel accountability for performance. For a more
detailed discussion, see DOE Order 422.1 Chg 4, Conduct of Operations (2022a).
A high level of performance in DOE operations is accomplished by management establishing
high operating standards and then by communicating the operating standards to workers by
providing sufficient resources to the operations department, ensuring personnel are well
trained by closely monitoring performance in operations, and holding workers and their
supervisors accountable for their performance in conducting activities.
Senior management establishes operating standards, considering input from workers when
appropriate. Working‐level personnel will more strongly support the standards when they
have had appropriate input into their development. Standards should define operating
objectives, establish expected performance levels, and clearly define responsibilities in plant
operations. Standards for operating activities should be integrated into operations
department procedures and programs. Operating standards should also be communicated to
workers by training them in operating practices and by having supervisors monitor and guide
work involving facility operations. Sufficient staff, facilities, equipment, and funding should be
allocated to permit the operations department to effectively perform its functions.
Performance in operations should be closely monitored by facility management, preferably
using operating reports and goals, so the performance of the operations department can be
effectively measured. Operations personnel should be held accountable for their performance
through supervisor counseling, performance appraisals, and, when necessary, disciplinary
measures. Remedial training should be provided when appropriate.
Section 53
The radiological control organization, as a support element, must ensure that all aspects of
radiation safety are considered in the establishment of operations standards and policy. A
well‐instituted cooperative relationship between operations and radiological control is
paramount to the health and safety of workers and the public and to protection of the
environment.
A uranium facility must have a written policy on radiation protection, including an ALARA
policy. All radiation protection procedures and controls must have recognizable or formal
technical bases for limits, methods, and personnel protection standards. Procedures must be
adequately documented, updated periodically, and maintained in a centralized historical file.
A control system should be established to assure all copies are accounted for and all new
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procedures are included in the historical files. A designated period of time for holding the
historical files should be established, which is authorized by DOE in accordance with 10 CFR §
835.701(b). ANSI N13.6‐2010 provides guidance on historical files. In addition, radiological
control procedures should have a documented approval system and established intervals for
review and/or revision. A tracking system should be developed to ensure the required reviews
and revisions occur.
3.3.3.1 Radiological Work Procedures
Radiological work procedures, including RWPs, survey procedures, ALARA reviews, sample
counting, and other task procedures, fall within the requirements for conduct of operations.
All sections of DOE Order 422.1 Chg 4 (2022a) apply. Procedures are a key factor affecting
radiation protection performance. 10 CFR Part 835.104 requires written procedures.
Appropriate attention should be given to writing, reviewing, approving, and monitoring
implementation of radiation protection procedures. There should be documented
qualification and training requirements for those who prepare and approve procedures. A
formal approval process should be established. Procedure changes and revisions should be
subject to the same review and approval process as the initial procedure.
Personnel should be trained in the use of the procedures they will be expected to perform.
For RWPs, workers are required to read the RWP and verify by signature they have read it,
understand its contents, and will comply with its requirements in the conduct of the work.
Procedures should be available for personnel use. The RWPs should be posted at the entrance
to the work location. There should be a system in place to assure posted copies of all work
procedures, including RWPs, are current.
3.3.3.2 Posting and Labeling
The requirements for area posting and radioactive material labeling are established in 10 CFR
Part 835, Subpart G. Guidance on implementing the regulatory requirements can be found in
DOE G 441.1‐1C Chg 1 (Admin Chg) (2011a) and DOE‐STD‐1098‐2017 (2017b). Conformance to
conduct of operations requirements should assure a reasonable degree of uniformity in the
posting and the signs used, as well as verifying that operator aids and other posted
information do not interfere with necessary radiological posting. Radiological postings should
be reviewed in the same manner as the posting of operating aids, in conformance with DOE
Order 422.1 Chg 4 (2022a).
3.3.3.3 Instrument Calibration
The status of installed and portable radiological instruments should be well known and
appropriate to the use. All instruments and equipment used for monitoring shall meet the
requirements of 10 CFR § 835.401.
Section 54
"Ownership" of installed monitoring instruments should be well known and the responsibility
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and authority for calibration, repair, and notification clearly established. Because such
information is often used by more than one group, formal notification procedures should be
established to cover those times when the instrument is out of service or beyond the required
calibration schedule. Configuration control and quality assurance requirements for installed
systems should be established commensurate with their safety significance.
For portable instruments, conduct of operations requirements are normally built into the
routine calibration and survey program. Functional checks including source checks are
routinely made to verify operability, instruments are checked to assure they are within the
calibration period, and survey procedures require identification of the instruments used so if a
problem is later found, measurements can be repeated.
3.3.3.4 Audits
Conduct of operations does not, in itself, address requirements for auditing. 10 CFR Part
835.102 requires an internal audit of the radiation protection program no less frequently than
36 months. Guidance states that inspections, audits, reviews, investigations, and self‐
assessments are part of the checks and balances needed in an operating program. Auditing is
one of the many tools line management has at its disposal to identify problems. Each one of
the 18 topics addressed in DOE Order 422.1 Chg 4 (2022a) should be subject to both internal
self‐ assessment and external auditing to assure effective implementation of requirements.
Any deficiencies identified should be documented and corrective actions aggressively pursued
and tracked to completion. The self‐assessment and audit process should include conducting
trend analyses and root cause evaluations of deficiencies and communication of results
throughout the organization.
3.3.3.5 Decommissioning of Weapons and Weapon Facilities
Decommissioning of nuclear weapons and nuclear facilities is subject to the same conduct of
operations requirements as operating facilities. In general, some components, once they are
separated, can be downgraded in safety significance. Also, facilities undergoing
decommissioning will have fewer safety systems.
During decommissioning, status control and shift turnover are extremely important
considerations. Posting of radiological areas and labeling of radioactive materials are also an
increasing challenge because of the rapidly changing radiological status. In extreme cases, it
may be desirable to have workers review or sign the RWP each day to ensure they are aware
of the status.
3.3.4 Integrated Safety Management
The radiological control program must be developed and implemented in a manner that is
consistent with the DOE approved Radiation Protection Program required by 10 CFR § 835.101
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and should be consistent with the provisions of DOE Policy P 450.4A, Integrated Safety
Management Policy (2018c), and its associated guidance documents. The RPP should describe
a system of radiological controls that can be implemented on a site‐wide basis and tailored to
meet facility‐and hazard‐specific needs. The program should provide for increasing worker
involvement in identification and implementation of appropriate controls. Like the ALARA
process, an effective integrated safety management system emphasizes the development and
implementation of controls that are commensurate with the hazards associated with any
specified activity. Under ISM, both DOE and DOE‐contractor line managers are charged with
responsibility for integrating safety measures into all facets of work planning and execution.
Line managers at uranium facilities should use DOE‐STD‐1098‐2017 (2017b) and this Technical
Standard as a guide to integrating radiological control measures into work planning and
execution.
Section 55
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4 CONTAMINATION CONTROL
Contamination control is an important part of the overall radiological control program. There
are four main aspects to this: 1) control of the release of contamination into the work‐place
environment; 2) control of personnel exposure to the contamination that does get into the
work place; 3) protection of personnel from intake of contaminants and 4) prevention of
release of contamination to the public and the environment. Effective control of personnel
exposure to uranium and its decay products is accomplished mainly by controlling the
potential for inhalation and ingestion of radioactive materials. Monitoring provides an
indication of the effectiveness of physical design features and administrative controls in
controlling exposure to radioactive material.
This chapter addresses the basic features of an effective contamination control program and
the technical considerations of implementing the program. A release of radioactive material
from containment typically results in surface contamination and airborne dispersion. Airborne
contaminants are continuously cleared from the workplace by ventilation. Strategic air
sampling detects the release of an airborne contaminant and provides the means for control,
minimization of personnel exposure, and evaluation of inhalation exposure. Considerations for
design of an air monitoring program are followed in this chapter by a section on surface
contamination control. Finally, protection of personnel from contaminant intake is
accomplished with protective clothing and respiratory protection.
4.1 Air Monitoring
The most common route of uranium intake for workers is by inhalation. Airborne particles
deposit throughout the respiratory tract. Some of the deposited particles are swallowed,
contributing to ingestion, requiring that both inhalation and ingestion be considered with an
exposure to airborne material. The particle size distribution that determines deposition in the
respiratory tract is affected by the mechanism of dispersion and the nature of the source
material. Characterization of inhalation exposure should make use of all available information
about the chemical and physical form of airborne material. This information, along with spatial
and temporal distribution, provides the basis to minimize personnel exposure for air
contamination control.
4.1.1 Internal Versus External Dose Philosophy
The widespread application of methods to contain uranium in DOE facilities has resulted in a
history of relatively minor internal exposures. The methods used to control internal dose have
been developed for a variety of reasons:
a. The assessment of internal dose requiring bioassay is difficult, imprecise, time‐
consuming, and offensive to personnel as compared to external dosimetry. For example,
an accidental internal uptake may require the subject to submit dozens of biological
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samples over the span of many months, as well as requiring extensive analytical support
for measurement of sample content, considerable time of trained professionals to
analyze data and calculate the internal dose, and long lapses before dose estimates are
available, thus handicapping the assessment of the occupational exposure status and
treatment of the worker.
b. Prevention of internal exposure is often more feasible and successful than prevention of
Section 56
external exposure. Contained radioactive material may continue to produce external
penetrating fields of radiation, but no internal exposure potential. Portable protective
devices (respiratory protection equipment) can minimize internal exposure when
containment is not practical.
c. Recommendations of the ICRP in formulating a dose limit system have resulted in
combining internal and external dose. Again, the difficulty and time delay of internal
dosimetry make elimination of significant internal exposure an economic incentive.
In facilities that process large quantities of uranium, however, there may be situations in
which exposure to work‐place airborne activity at low levels occurs daily. The fact that tons of
material are handled, rather than gram quantities, and that the material is less toxic (on a
mass basis because of low specific activity), make total containment impractical.
4.1.2 Purpose of Air Monitoring
The goal of the air monitoring program is to identify, evaluate, and control internal dose
received by workers from routine occupational exposure to airborne radioactive materials, to
confirm that source controls are functioning properly, and to assess the exposure resulting
from an unusual event. There are two general aspects of air sampling that must receive equal
consideration in a properly executed monitoring program. The first involves the methods and
equipment by which a sample is collected and analyzed to yield an accurate measurement of
the specific radionuclides. The second is the protocol of sampling location, duration, and
frequency that focuses on determination of the radionuclide exposure in the work area.
Air monitoring should include both active and passive air samplers. A continuous air monitor
(CAM) provides for immediate alarm, warning workers of an unusual release of high levels of
airborne radioactive material. This active monitoring is needed for high hazard and high
potential areas to provide immediate and timely protective response, while passive sampling
provides high‐sensitivity activity records, trends, continuous documentation, etc. Three types
of air samplers are used to accomplish the air monitoring: general area sampling (GAS),
breathing zone sampling (BZS), and personal air sampling (PAS).
The CAM continuously draws air through a sampler that has an active radiation detector. The
sampled air is automatically monitored for an increase above normal or background levels of
contamination. When airborne activity exceeds the alarm level, workers are warned of the
potential problem and prompted to follow alarm procedures. This type of monitor is usually
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practical only for stationary samplers (GAS or BZS). It is important that a CAM be placed to
sample air that accurately represents the most likely area of material release. This will protect
most workers from a worst‐case exposure and minimize total work‐force exposure.
4.1.2.1 General Air Samplers (GAS)
Air sampling is performed at a single point in the general area of a site where work with
radioactive material is being performed. The sampler is placed in a position to give the best
overall representation of the area, often in the main airflow exiting the area. Airflow patterns
can be determined by tests with tracer smoke or balloons. This method is typically used to
measure airborne radioactivity for the following purposes:
a. to determine if the work‐place environments are free of significant contamination and
Section 57
are inherently safe for routine occupational activities;
b. to detect measurable air activity which would signal the need for use of respiratory
protection equipment;
c. to detect unexpected loss of containment or malfunction of systems (which may not be
detected by a CAM), and provide the basis to initiate corrective actions;
d. to detect low‐level trends in activity which can signal a gradual loss of containment in
early stages;
e. to estimate personnel exposure retrospectively and evaluate compliance with applicable
requirements.
4.1.2.2 Breathing Zone Samplers (BZS)
Breathing zone sampling is performed by placing air samplers in the immediate area in which
workers will spend the majority of their time. The intent is to measure the air activity
concentrations to which the workers are actually exposed. The purposes of breathing zone
sampling are the same as those listed for general air sampling, but involve a greater number
of samples, which gives more realistic information. Breathing zone samplers give earlier, more
sensitive detection of release from containment.
Samples should be collected on a schedule corresponding to individual worker activities to
best represent inhalation exposure. GAS is generally not a good measurement with which to
estimate internal dose. A well‐placed network of BZS gives a better representation of
inhalation exposure.
4.1.2.3 Personal Air Samplers (PAS)
Personal air sampling should give the most realistic measurement of individual worker
exposure. This involves greater expense, however, to equip personnel with samplers and to
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process all of the individual samples. Personal air sampling is performed with a small, battery‐
powered, low‐volume (approximately 2‐L/min) sampler worn by the worker, with the filter
located near the worker’s face. This type of sampler is potentially subject to many inaccuracies
caused by improper handling, which requires trained personnel to handle the equipment
operation. Personal air sampling is often used to validate breathing zone sampling strategy
and to conduct special investigations.
4.1.3 Regulations and Limits
The regulations, standards, and limits pertaining to exposure of radiation workers to airborne
activity in the workplace are based on the probability of injury to internal organs and the total
body by radioactive materials taken into the body. To facilitate control of intake in the
workplace, standard‐setting authorities have calculated derived air concentration (DAC) and
annual limit on intake (ALI) as a control to limit resultant dose to internal organs. Operational
hazards are directly controlled by the observance of DAC and ALI values.
The ICRP and the NCRP are independent, non‐governmental organizations which set standards
and guidance for control of radiation hazards. Governmental agencies implement these
recommendations by establishing Federal policy for the protection of workers.
Formal rules for air monitoring for DOE facilities are provided in 10 CFR Part 835. Efforts have
been made to keep these rules consistent with ICRP Publication 60 (1991a) and NCRP Report
91, Recommendations on Limits for Exposure to Ionizing Radiation (1987b). DOE‐STD‐1098‐
2017 (2017b) detailed guidance on the best practices currently available in the area of
radiological control. More specific guidance is given in DOE G 441.1‐1C Chg 1 (Admin Chg)
(2011a), Chapter 10 ‐ Air Monitoring, and technical standards, such as this one.
Section 58
Limits of chemical exposure also need to be monitored, especially for materials of low specific
activity, such as depleted uranium or non‐radioactive materials. The threshold limit value
time‐weighted average (TWA) for natural uranium is 0.2 mg m‐3 (ACGIH, 2005). TWA is the
chemical analog of DAC. In the case of reactor fuel uranium, enriched to about 3%, this
corresponds to 4 x 10‐10 µCi mL‐1, which is comparable to the DAC for soluble forms of
uranium. However, the OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit for soluble uranium is 0.05 mg m‐3,
which is more restrictive than the DAC. Soluble forms of such materials can be monitored
directly by routine urinalysis, or indirectly by BZS and PAS. Internal deposits of insoluble forms
may only be estimated by BZS and PAS, as with asbestos, for example.
4.1.4 Theoretical Considerations and Uncertainties
A discussion of the theoretical aspects of air contamination monitoring, and inherent
uncertainties, should be useful in placing air monitoring programs in their proper perspective.
In general, air sampling should not be the primary measurement of internal dose, except
when bioassay information is unavailable or unobtainable. Evaluation of worker exposure
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potential in terms of DAC‐hours, however, may be a legitimate control measure and may
demonstrate compliance with federal directives.
4.1.4.1 Airborne Concentration
An appropriate air‐sampling method should provide samples which accurately represent the
average airborne concentration of radioactive materials present in the workplace, but should
not be used as a measurement of individual exposures, except in unusual circumstances. If air
activity data must be used for exposure records, these samples should be collected from the
breathing zones of the workers, or by using an established conversion factor for the existing
sampler configuration. In contaminated areas subject to significant temporal and spatial
variations in the activity concentrations, only personal air samples or virtually continuous
samples collected from within the breathing zone of workers can provide reliable breathing
zone concentration measurements.
A restricted area, having good ventilation and point sources of contamination, will have
substantial variations in the activity concentrations observed at different locations,
particularly if the movements of the workers cause resuspension of the activity. The worker
often spends time closer to the source of contaminant dispersion than is the location of the
nearest BZS. Several researchers have investigated the relationship between fixed air samplers
and spot samples collected at various locations in typical working areas. Discrepancies as great
as two orders of magnitude are not unusual.
This deficiency of GAS monitoring for individual exposure records is caused by the high
dilution factors that tend to reduce the airborne concentrations before and after
contamination reaches the filter head. Much of the air sampled by a GAS originates in another
part of the area and does not pass near enough to pick up contamination from the source,
effectively reducing the measured concentration by dilution of the collected sample. A release
of activity from a malfunctioning containment system can produce large activity
concentrations in the breathing zone of the worker. These concentrations are effectively
diluted in an unpredictable manner by one or two orders of magnitude before the
contamination reaches a monitor located only a meter away. It has been demonstrated that in
some operations (such as welding over a short period of time) differences of as much as a
factor of 5 between the right and left lapel PAS measurements can be expected.
Section 59
Most of the field studies that have compared urinalysis results with air sampling in natural
uranium facilities have, in general, indicated very poor correlation between the estimated
exposures and the bioassay data. This suggests that individual exposure records of uranium
workers based on GAS methods have limited validity.
The potential for release of gaseous UF6, and subsequent generation of its soluble hydrolysis
product UO2F2, requires special air‐sampling considerations in uranium conversion and
gaseous diffusion plants, relative to those plants handling less reactive compounds. In these
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plants, effective processing, as well as worker safety, requires a high degree of containment.
Continuous GAS operation to detect loss of containment, coupled with spot air samples,
constitute the typical sampling strategy. A study conducted at the Oak Ridge Gaseous
Diffusion Plant, concluded that shift‐long air samples collected in the general working areas
were of little use in predicting worker’s urinary uranium excretion. The slight correlation
observed was not statistically significant at the 95% confidence level. Thus, gaseous
contaminants behave much like particulate contaminants in that localized concentrations can
be much greater than the average concentration measured by GAS. These researchers also
found that smear samples of alpha activity on work surfaces in the area may provide a better
indicator of uranium intake than the GAS records.
Although transuranic material is handled by DOE uranium facilities only as feed
contamination, the unusual characteristics of the transuranic elements make them worthy of
separate consideration. The low maximum permissible concentrations specified for these
elements and their frequently low specific activities cause extreme difficulties in detection of
significant airborne activity. Operations involving significant amounts of elements, such as
239Pu, should be conducted in a ventilated glove‐box environment and with monitoring
systems capable of detection of small releases involving 1 DAC averaged over 8 hours (8 DAC‐
hours) under laboratory conditions. Special CAMs (GAS) and fixed BZSs are the standard air‐
sampling methods used in facilities of this category in the United States.
A clear example of the wide variations in observed air‐activity concentrations that can occur
with different sampling techniques is provided by data from the Three Mile Island Nuclear
Generating Station, which is typical of operations in a large open building (EGG 1988).
Between June and September 1983, over 40 multi‐person entries were made into the
containment building, providing 949 work‐hours of PAS data. Five stationary air monitors were
operated continuously at strategic locations throughout the building, and each entry was
preceded by the collection and analysis of a high‐volume grab sample. All samples were
analyzed by a gamma spectrometer, primarily to detect cesium‐137, and by gross beta
counting.
The five continuous air samples exhibited good internal agreement when averaged over either
12‐ or 24‐hour periods. However, the grab samples averaged a factor of 3 higher than the
continuous air‐sampler readings, and PAS samples were a factor of 34 higher. The major
reason for this large difference was attributed to resuspension of the surface contamination
by the work in progress. These data, coming from a thoroughly monitored and carefully
analyzed air‐sampling effort, are further evidence that GAS methods should be viewed with
caution.
Section 60
Even when the airborne‐activity concentration in the breathing zone of a worker has been
accurately measured, there are other physical and physiological parameters that can produce
significant uncertainties in dose assessment. The established DACs are derived for each
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radionuclide assuming a standard volume of air breathed in occupational situations, specified
pathways to critical organs, the "standard man" metabolic and elimination patterns, and the
physical and biological properties of the isotope. Large variations are encountered, however,
in breathing rates and tidal volumes (which depend on working conditions), and there are
individual variations in such physiological parameters as lung clearance and metabolic rates.
The particle‐size distribution of the aerosol and the actual solubility of the inhaled particles
can significantly affect the deposition and retention of airborne activity in the respiratory
tract. The potential uncertainty in the total dose assessment should include consideration of
all of these factors, as discussed in the following paragraphs.
4.1.4.2 Particle‐Size Distribution
In the absence of actual measurement of particle‐size distributions, an activity median
aerodynamic diameter (AMAD) of 5 µm and a geometric standard deviation (GSD) of 2 is often
assumed as a conservative estimate, as laid out in the ICRP Publication 60 (1991a)
methodology. Particles of this size are likely to result in the greatest deposition in the
pulmonary region of the lungs. The actual size distribution can be measured with instruments
such as cascade impactors, but these are not practical for continuous operation in the work‐
place environment. Electronic instruments can give continuous information about the optical
particle size, but not the AMAD. Thus, particle size can only occasionally be measured to typify
the size distribution in a particular situation.
Size‐selective inlets for air samplers have been developed to mimic deposition in the
respiratory tract, giving more accurate estimates of deposition in the pulmonary region. Non‐
respirable or non‐inhalable particles are removed by the inlet, and the respirable or inhalable
fraction is collected on a filter. These devices can be useful in minimizing the dose assessment
errors resulting from uncertainties regarding the actual aerosol‐size distribution; however,
they require additional handling and care, and require separate samplers for total airborne
activity. If the AMAD is often substantially greater than 1 µm in an area, the addition of
samplers with size‐selective inlets may be worthwhile. Regulations allowing the substitution of
size‐selective samplers are not established, however, so special arrangements may be needed
with regulatory agencies.
4.1.4.3 Breathing Rates and Tidal Volumes
The actual air intake of a worker can vary from 5 L min‐1 to 100 L min‐1, although typical
variations from the assumed 20 L min‐1 standard will probably be no larger than a factor of 3.
Total air intake depends on the rate of breathing and on the volume of tidal air. The velocity of
this air influences the regional deposition of aerosol particles. Newer, more sophisticated lung
models include this breathing‐rate effect in calculation of dose distribution. Information about
individual breathing behavior may be useful in the application of the newer lung dosimetry
models. Simpler models, such as ICRP Publication 30 (1979), assume that regional deposition
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71
is independent of breathing rate, with total deposition determined only by the volume
breathed.
4.1.4.4 Particle Solubility and Lung Clearance
When particles are deposited in the respiratory tract, they are cleared from airway surfaces by
several mechanisms. Insoluble particles are cleared by the biomechanical means of
macrophage and mucociliary transport, while some particles are retained in pulmonary
tissues. Particles of soluble material dissolve, making the contaminant available for other
means of transport such as absorption into the blood. Dosimetry of the contaminant depends
on how fast the particles dissolve.
Rate of particle dissolution is divided into three categories by the ICRP Publication 68 model
(1994b). Types F (fast), M (moderate), and S (slow) refer to the rate of absorption of the
material in the pulmonary region of the lungs. The approximate half‐times of clearance that
these absorption rates correspond to are:
• Type F (fast): 10 min (100%)
• Type M (moderate): 10 min (10%); 140 d (90%)
• Type S (slow): 10 min (0.1%); 7000 d (99.9%)
A retention half‐time of less than 10 days is retention Type F, a half‐time of 10 to 100 days is
class M, and half‐time greater than 100 days is Type S. Some materials have been described to
have characteristic rates of dissolution and are associated with a particular retention class.
Many factors can affect the dissolution rate, however, so general assignments to retention
classes should be regarded with caution.
The health physicist may have some prior knowledge of the chemical compounds of the
nuclides present in an area and may be able to assign them to retention classes. The ICRP
Publication 60 (1991a) dosimetry model provides for a lung retention class designation of
aerosols depending on the rate of dissolution; however, actual determination of the lung class
for dose assessment can best be determined after an exposure utilizing appropriate chemical
and bioassay data, but this can only be accomplished in retrospect (ICRP 1991). A prospective
approach uses measured dissolution rate of potential contaminants for analysis and treatment
of an accidental exposure. Determination of retention class should be a valuable precaution in
uranium facilities.
A realistic determination of retention class can be made by collecting a sample of airborne
material by using a size‐selective sampler and drawing the sample from a process that has a
potential for a significant release. The material collected on the filter represents that which
would be deposited in the lungs by inhalation. Methods and instruments are now available
with the sensitivity needed to precisely measure the rate of dissolution of this small mass of
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uranium in simulated lung fluid. The same methods can be used on filter samples in operation
at the time of an accidental exposure, but the time required to measure dissolution rate (at
least 60 days) makes the information essentially retrospective. Prospective measurement of
retention class provides for better risk assessment.
4.1.5 Samplers and Instrumentation
Air sampling equipment and monitors exist in a wide range of designs and capabilities, with
characteristics specific to the application and need. Samplers range from small portable units
that can be worn by an individual to high‐volume units permanently mounted in the facility.
Flow rates are from a few liters per minute to a few cubic meters per minute.
4.1.5.1 Key Factors in Selecting Air Samplers
Section 62
Sensitivity of Detection. In general, the sensitivity required is at least DAC levels; however, in
some applications, sensitivity to a small fraction of DAC is desired for early detection of loss of
containment, low level trends, etc. Continuous air monitors may only need to alarm at
multiple DAC levels in order to be effective in preventing or mitigating personnel exposures to
an accidental airborne release.
Type of Sample. In most uranium facilities, particulates in the air are the primary concern,
although gaseous forms may be most important in some areas. It may be of interest to collect
samples that will allow characterization of the particle size distribution or define a "respirable
fraction." In each application, the sample type will dictate the sampler design, filter media,
flow rate, etc.
Convenience. Available space, noise level tolerance, portability, and weight also dictate
specific designs and capabilities of air samplers and monitors.
Power Requirements. Requirements for battery‐powered versus 110‐120‐VAC line power may
dictate sampler selection.
Accuracy. Some sampling is performed to simply detect or make relative measurements of
activity levels for which the accuracy requirements are not great. In other situations, accurate
measurements of the air breathed by personnel may require an entirely different sampler
design to achieve the needed quality assurance.
Reliability and Maintainability. Cost‐effective operation and reliability need to be considered
for selection of equipment design and for redundancy of components. Sensitivity to
Electromagnetic fields should also be considered.
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4.1.5.2 Filter Media
Filters should have high collection efficiencies (i.e., >99%) for particles over a wide range of
sizes. Many cellulose ester (acetate, nitrate, or mixed ester) or glass‐fiber filters meet these
requirements and are commonly available. Other filters with reasonably high collection
efficiency may be used if required for special applications or assay methods. Selection of a
filter type generally involves compromises between filter efficiency, flow resistance, and
requirements imposed by the desired assay method.
The specifications of a filter medium often include pore size and filter efficiency. Pore size is
determined by filtration of a liquid; the particle size at which the collection efficiency is 95% in
water is given as the effective pore size. Filtration efficiency for particles in air, however, is
dramatically different. Aerodynamic effects make the collection efficiency dependent on the
face velocity through the filter. Airborne particles of aerodynamic size equal to the pore‐size
rating of a filter are usually collected with high efficiency (>99%). Smaller particles may also be
collected efficiently; however, some sizes may substantially penetrate the filter. Particles in
the range 0.1‐ to 1.0 micron diameter are most likely to penetrate a filter. Many
manufacturers use dioctylphthalate (DOP) to produce an aerosol of particles 0.3 micron in
diameter for testing filter efficiency. Thus, if a filter is rated for efficiency by DOP retention,
collection of other particle sizes will be more efficient. Collection efficiency is also increased by
higher flow rate for particles >0.1 micron.
Cellulose ester membrane filters have interconnecting pores of uniform size. They typically
produce a higher resistance to flow than glass‐fiber filters and collect most particles near the
surface of the filter.
Section 63
Glass‐fiber filters are made of a mat of randomly oriented glass fibers. They have lower flow
resistance than most membrane filters, but trap an appreciable fraction of the particles within
the filter mat. This interferes with detection of alpha radiation from the filter.
Cellulose filters are often used for air sampling. They have moderate flow resistance, but
relatively poor collection efficiency. Their use may be justified in some situations, but only
with the recognition that efficiency for certain particle sizes may be low. Generally, if
analytical and sample‐handling requirements allow, glass‐fiber or cellulose‐ester membrane
filters are a better choice than cellulose filters.
Each type of filter has inherent advantages and disadvantages. The higher flow resistance of
membrane filters may overtax the capabilities of older models of some PAS pumps although
membrane filters can be used successfully with many of the new models of pumps. Glass‐fiber
filters should be substituted if a significant pressure drop occurs with the sampler being
utilized.
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The surface‐collection properties of membrane filters can be an advantage when sampling for
alpha and weak beta‐emitting materials. Deposition of particles on the surface minimizes
energy absorption by the filter medium. This is especially important for alpha spectrometry,
where the energy spectrum is substantially degraded. Membrane filters are also advantageous
if the assay procedure involves ashing or dissolution of the filters, but they are relatively
fragile.
4.1.5.3 Filter Holders
Criteria for filter holders are simple, but critical. For the collection of large‐volume air samples,
filter holders should be open‐face such that sample air is drawn directly onto the filter surface
from the atmosphere without passing through a tube, orifice, or other obstruction. This
precludes loss of the radionuclide to surfaces upstream from the filter. The holder should face
downward to avoid collection of large, non‐inhalable particles, unless a different position is
required. Closed‐face cassettes are recommended for small PAS, to protect the filter from
direct contamination. Research studies of commonly‐available types of closed‐face cassettes
with 4‐mm inlets indicate that these designs have good particle‐collection characteristics (at a
flow rate of 2 L min‐1) and reduce sample contamination problems. Other closed‐face filter
inlet diameters, geometries, and flow rates may also be acceptable, but have not been
characterized.
The filter should receive adequate support so that it is not stretched or torn by the pressure
drop caused by the flow of sample air. The filter holder should be free of air leakage around
the filter as well as into or through the holder’s component parts. Metallic filter holders are
generally more reliable and durable than plastics. Finally, filter‐changing and holder
replacement should be convenient and positive.
4.1.5.4 Size‐Selective Devices
Size‐selective devices fall into two categories: respirable‐fraction samplers and instruments for
measuring particle‐size distributions. A respirable‐fraction sampler collects a range of particle
sizes, with collection efficiency decreasing for larger particle sizes. Particles that penetrate the
size‐selector represent those that would deposit in the pulmonary region of the lungs. A
particle‐size distribution instrument collects all particles with classification of particle size.
Size‐distribution data can be used to calculate the expected deposition of particles throughout
the respiratory tract.
Section 64
Particle‐Sizing Devices. Particle‐size distribution measuring devices are typically more
complex and require more sample analysis than a size‐selective sampler. The major advantage
in using these devices is that the size distribution of airborne contaminants is useful for
estimating regional deposition of inhaled particles in the respiratory tract. This information is
more accurate than that provided by a simple size‐selective sampler, especially if a large part
of the airborne material has particle size less than about 2 µm. Particle‐size measurement
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
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should be performed only by properly trained individuals, as an investigative tool for
evaluating the health hazard posed by a process or procedure suspected of generating
airborne contamination.
The cascade impactor is the most commonly available particle‐sizing device. Aerosol passing
through a cascade impactor is forced through a series of increasingly rapid changes of velocity.
The inertia of the particles causes them to deviate from the direction of the airstream at
locations where the particle speed and direction are changing most rapidly. Particles of
different aerodynamic size deflect to different extents so that larger particles contact the
surface of the collection stage. The quantity of material deposited on each stage is measured
and the size distribution calculated for the sampled aerosol.
There are some drawbacks to the use of impactors. Cascade impactors subdivide the sample
so that more sensitive assay methods may be required for successful use. There is a limit to
the mass of material that can be collected on each stage before overloading; inactive dust
particles contribute to this mass, but not to the analyte. Each stage of the impactor is a
separate fraction of the sample which must be analyzed. This multiplies sample number‐
capacity requirements of the activity measurement system. Careful calibration of a precisely
controlled airflow rate is required for accurate particle‐size measurement.
Optical particle‐sizing instruments, such as a laser particle‐size spectrometer, have the
advantage of giving practically real time information. Most of these instruments give only an
optical particle size, however, which must be converted to an aerodynamic size to be useful
for dose estimation. They are generally expensive tools used mostly for research.
Respirable‐Fraction Samplers. A number of respirable‐fraction samplers have been
developed, but the cyclone separator is the most widely used and best characterized type. The
cyclone is specified by NIOSH and Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) for personal
respirable‐mass sampling in coal mines. NIOSH and MSHA currently certify entire sampling
systems (PAS pump, cyclone, filter head, and filters) for personal respirable‐fraction sampling.
This "system" approach may be modified as the result of recent research; however, it does
provide an interim standard for performance. The performance of cyclones, pumps, and filters
may be characterized to allow intermixing of sampling‐train components in future work; at
present, however, theoretical prediction of performance of mixed systems is not reliable.
Cyclones are aerodynamic particle sizers, as are impactors, but have some different operating
features. They are not affected by loading, so dusty environments are not a problem, although
filter loading may limit sampling time. Cyclones are rated for performance at a particular flow
rate. Performance at other flow rates cannot easily be predicted and should be determined by
testing. In contrast, impactors do follow a simple, well‐defined relation between flow rate and
size separation.
Section 65
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
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Alternatives to mechanical methods of particle‐sizing exist and other respirable‐fraction
separators may be available in the future. Combined total and respirable‐fraction samplers
would be desirable; such designs retain both the respirable and non‐respirable fractions so
that total airborne activity can be estimated.
4.1.6 Sample Activity Measurement
Most sample analyses at uranium facilities are performed by quantifying the radioactivity by
counting the samples collected. Some fluorometric analyses are performed with equivalent
sensitivity. Kinetic phosphorescence analysis is available with substantially greater sensitivity.
Alpha Counting. Alpha particles can be counted with ionization, proportional, scintillation, or
other solid state detectors. The major drawback is that relatively little particle penetration, in
the filter or in the dust loading, can result in a low reading caused by self‐absorption of the
alpha particles.
Alpha Spectrometry. Measurement of the energy spectrum of alpha‐emitters on a filter paper
is possible and very beneficial in some applications in identifying or verifying the identity of
the isotopes present. Typically, semiconductor detectors are the choice, and membrane filters
or other surface‐collecting filters are used with very low dust loading.
Beta Counting. Thin‐window GM, ionization, proportional, and solid state detectors are used
for beta counting. Because of the wide range of beta‐particle energies of even a "single
energy" emitter, careful energy calibration is necessary. Beta counting results are less
dependent on self‐absorption effects.
Beta Spectrometry. Beta spectrometry has recently become feasible through developments in
tissue‐equivalent plastic detectors. For routine isotopic identification, this method is not as
useful, but it may provide valuable shielding information, etc.
Gamma Spectrometry. Sodium Iodide (NaI) and High Purity Germanium (HPGe) detectors can
provide essential isotopic identification of gamma‐emitters.
Precautions. The intricacies and procedures of sample analysis are beyond the scope of this
manual. However, a few general precautions are important to mention. The naturally
occurring radionuclides, radon and thoron and their decay products, are present in all
atmospheres in widely varying concentrations. These radionuclides are typically present in
higher concentrations than the isotopes of interest, and tend to interfere with radiometric
analysis, unless the short‐lived progeny are given time to decay after sample collection. Radon
progeny, which are much more abundant than thoron progeny in most areas, decay with an
effective half‐life of about 30 minutes and a counting delay of 3 hours may be adequate.
Thoron progeny decay with an effective half‐life of 10.6 hours, and where they exist in
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
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significant concentrations, a counting delay of several days is advisable. The presence of either
radionuclide on a filter can be detected by recounting two or three times at intervals of a few
hours.
The sensitivity of any counting method depends primarily on the background count rate of the
counting instrument; estimates of low radionuclide concentrations can be seriously in error if
the counting background is not accurately known. Even in stable instruments for which the
background count may be quite constant, a daily check is advisable because of the possibility
of contamination from sample material. Background counts should be made with a blank filter
in place because some filter media contain trace amounts of radioactivity.
Section 66
Counting instruments also require periodic standardization. Standard sources used for this
purpose should match the samples both in size and energy.
The active (upstream) sides of filters collected in clean atmospheres can be difficult to
identify. Some convention should be followed by sampling personnel to ensure that the
proper sides of filters will be counted. This may consist of marking one side of the filter or
placing the filter in the sample holder consistently with the exposed side toward the
identifying number or label on the holder.
4.1.7 Continuous Air Monitors (CAM)
The combination of an air sampler and an activity counter into a single device for automatic
operation and alarm control constitutes a CAM. Modern CAMs include the ability to
automatically change the filter media, perform spectral analysis for isotopic identification, and
to distinguish radon/radon progeny. They can evaluate the airborne contamination levels
against several DACs simultaneously. CAMs have local visual and audible alarms and most
have the ability to provide remote alarm signals to a control room. Some CAMs have the
ability to use a remote head which allows for the sampling head to be close to the workers
breathing zone. Other CAMs use stack monitoring attachments to sample stack
airflows. CAMs need to be calibrated periodically and routinely source checked to verify their
operability.
4.1.8 Monitoring Strategies and Protocols
Designing an air‐sampling program for the workplace is a complex task because each facility
has unique design and operational characteristics. It is important that the radiological control
personnel who coordinate the sampling program have a thorough understanding of basic
facility operations, especially with respect to the potential each operation has for generating
airborne material. In addition, these personnel should be familiar with the working habits of
potentially‐exposed workers. The success of most sampling programs depends on the ability
of radiological control personnel to accurately assess worker exposure risk and properly select
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
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workers for personal air sampling. This can only be accomplished by well‐trained, observant
safety personnel.
The following questions should be considered for an airborne activity hazard evaluation:
a. Where are the potential aerosol generation and release locations in the work‐site, and
what is the magnitude of potential exposures associated with each?
b. How effective or failure‐prone are the physical and procedural barriers that protect the
worker from airborne radioactive material generated at these locations?
4.1.8.1 Potential Sources of Airborne Contamination
Virtually every work site has at least one of the fundamental mechanisms for the generation
and suspension of particulate material. The following descriptions of some of the basic
mechanisms of aerosol generation are intended to help radiation safety personnel recognize
processes which have inherently higher risk:
a. Mechanical fragmentation, i.e., grinding, abrasive saws, sandblasting;
b. Combustion, burning materials producing smoke, fumes, etc.;
c. Heating ‐ many materials produce aerosols when heated, without actually igniting;
d. Formation from bubbles, foams, or highly agitated liquids ‐ fine solid aerosol particles
can form from larger, evaporating liquid droplets;
e. Condensation of liquid or solid particles from the gas phase;
f. Formation of particles from the products of gas‐phase reactions, e.g., UF6 + 2 H2O →
UO2F2 + 4 HF;
Section 67
g. Formation of solid, radioactive nuclides from gaseous parent nuclides ‐ these
radionuclides usually attach to existing, nonradioactive aerosol particles;
h. Adsorption of gaseous, radioactive nuclides on non‐radioactive aerosols.
The program designer should be familiar with the routines and working habits of workers,
especially those in situations where there is a greater potential for generating locally high
concentrations of airborne contamination. This will assist in planning for exposure prevention
and in selecting suitable sampling methods. Some factors to consider are the following:
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
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a. Worker location and mobility ‐ If the worker stays in a fixed location, fixed breathing‐
zone sampling may be useful for individual exposure estimation. This sampling may be
performed using moderate flow‐rate pumps (30 to 90 L min‐1) which can be located
within a few feet of the worker. Mobile workers should be surveyed using PAS to obtain
a breathing‐zone sample.
b. Direct versus remote handling of radioactive material ‐ Remote‐handling facilities such
as hot cells or caves usually restrict the workers to a fixed location. Well‐located fixed
sampling heads may be adequate for breathing‐zone sampling at these work areas,
provided that they have been properly located. As previously noted in this section,
determining the proper sampling points for fixed breathing‐zone sampling at fume
hoods, glove boxes, etc., is not a straightforward exercise, and PAS may be the most
expedient means for sampling a worker’s true breathing zone.
Direct‐handling is commonly performed on material with relatively low intrinsic hazard,
e.g., uranium metal or compounds. This sort of material may be moved around the work
site and directly manipulated at a number of locations. Fixed breathing‐zone samplers
usually will be unsatisfactory in these situations, and PASs would be required for
estimating an individual worker’s exposure in DAC‐hours.
c. Material with high intrinsic hazard is usually well contained, but if it is moved over wide
areas in process flows, there is a potential for release at any point. The effectiveness of
containment, in the process flow at locations where workers have access, is a major
factor when considering use of PASs.
When evaluating risks associated with direct handling of radioactive materials, the variation in
techniques employed by different workers to perform the same task must also be considered.
No two workers perform the same operation in exactly the same manner. Aerosol production
may depend on how each individual performs the operation (e.g., rate, accuracy, operating
temperatures).
4.1.8.2 Characterization of Controls
For evaluating work‐place controls, work sites can be characterized as either "tightly
controlled" or "loosely controlled." Tightly controlled work areas are preferred in all cases,
but there are situations where good control is difficult or not reasonably achievable. PAS
monitoring can help define those operations that pose the greatest radiological control
problems and thus facilitate decisions to improve specific work situations.
Significant exposure incidents in highly controlled (i.e., tightly controlled) areas usually are the
result of isolated and unforeseeable events, which are complete departures from the normal
material‐processing routine. These events usually include loss of containment. In tightly
controlled areas, PASs can serve as a means of detecting a failure of containment because
Section 68
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
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work locations may be located near potential release points, and inadequate physical controls
may be apparent only during an operation performed by a worker.
4.2 Surface Contamination Control
Uranium contamination on plant surfaces, such as floors and walls, does not present a
significant risk to personnel unless the uranium becomes airborne by resuspension and is
inhaled. The probability of significant airborne concentrations resulting from resuspension of
uranium as a result of normal activities (such as walking) is low; however, any activity that
vigorously disturbs the surface (such as floor sweeping) increases the probability of significant
airborne concentrations of uranium. Resuspension is a function of both the chemical and
physical forms of the uranium contamination. External exposure hazards from surface
contamination can become an important concern when uranium decay products and/or
fission products accumulate on surfaces. In some instances, efforts to decontaminate uranium
compounds may leave behind insoluble uranium and decay product compounds which could
present an external exposure hazard. Good industrial housekeeping practices and normal
standards of personal hygiene will usually ensure that uranium surface contamination does
not present a significant exposure hazard. However, even if the probability of resuspension is
low, surface contamination on floors can result in contamination of shoes and thereby result
in the potential for tracking of contamination into uncontrolled areas. Thus, contamination on
surfaces must also be adequately controlled to prevent transfer of contamination above
acceptable levels.
Several other contamination control objectives can be accomplished by a program of
monitoring and control of surface contamination:
a. The program can be designed to provide information to detect containment failures
or departures from good operating practices;
b. It can provide information that will assist in the design and evaluation of personnel
monitoring, bioassay, and air monitoring programs;
c. The contamination monitoring and control program will provide information to
establish operating zones, guidelines and constraints for radiation protection, and
operational procedures;
d. The program will provide practical assurance that uranium contamination is confined
to the operating areas of the plant and that the potential is minimized for
contamination of personnel, the environment, and sensitive analytical areas.
Contamination control of work surfaces such as tools, equipment to be worked on (e.g.,
disassembly, machining), desks or tables in process areas is of greater concern than
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
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contamination on floors. The likelihood of personnel contamination, ingestion of material
through hand contamination, or inhalation of resuspended uranium compounds through work
activities represents a significant potential for exposure of personnel. Work activities that
involve the destruction of surfaces such as grinding, machining, drilling, or cutting can
generate significant levels of airborne uranium compounds. Operations such as welding,
burning, heating, etc. can alter the physical and/or chemical state of uranium compounds that
are on the surfaces of equipment. Job‐specific monitoring is required to establish protection
requirements as a function of surface contamination levels.
4.2.1 Reporting and Documenting Contamination Levels
Section 69
Radiological control programs require the performance of contamination surveys to
determine existing conditions in a given location. Maps with sufficient detail to permit
identification of original survey locations should be maintained. Records shall contain
sufficient detail to be meaningful even after the originator is no longer available.
Contamination surveys should be recorded on appropriate standard forms and include the
following common elements:
a. Date, time, and purpose of the survey;
b. General and specific location of the survey;
c. Name and signature of the surveyor and analyst;
d. Pertinent information needed to interpret the survey results;
e. Reference to a specific radiological work permit if the survey is performed to support
the permit.
In addition, records of contamination surveys should include, at a minimum, the following
information:
a. Model and serial number or other unique identifier of counting equipment;
b. Contamination levels (using appropriate units) and appropriate supporting
parameters, including counting efficiency, counting time, correction factors, type of
radiation, and whether the contamination was fixed or removable;
c. Location of areas found to contain hot particles or high concentrations of localized
contamination;
d. Follow‐up survey results for decontamination processes cross‐referenced to the
original survey.
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
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Records for the release of material and equipment from radiological areas to controlled areas
should describe the property, the date on which the release survey was performed, the
identity of the individual who performed the survey, the type and identification number of the
survey instrument used, and the results of the survey. Additional details on radiation records
can be obtained from DOE G 441.1‐1C Chg 1 (Admin Chg) (2011a) and DOE‐STD‐1098‐2017
(2017b).
All skin and personal property contaminations should be documented and evaluated to help
improve the contamination control program. Documentation should include the following:
a. The person’s name and work group;
b. The location, amount, and type of skin or personal property contamination;
c. The results of decontamination;
d. A description of circumstances involved in the occurrence, such as radiation work
permit number, protective clothing required, and protective clothing actually
used.
4.2.2 Monitoring
Radiological workers are often assigned tasks that could expose them to radioactive material.
It is not sufficient to rely exclusively on equipment design to minimize contamination and
exposure in the work place. A radiation protection program shall include both monitoring of
the workers (discussed in Section 4.3) and monitoring of the conditions in the workplace (10
CFR § 835.401 ‐ § 835.403, § 835.1101‐ § 835.1102). Both functions are essential to a good
radiation monitoring program.
Continuous monitoring should be provided during the periods of high or unusual risk
associated with the work in the area. Periods of high or unusual risk include the potential or
actual breaching of the integrity of the glovebox or associated systems, including such
maintenance as replacement of panels, glove changes, bag‐out operations, replacement of
filters, or repair of vacuum systems. Work that involves the use of temporary enclosures
(greenhouses) should be provided with continuous coverage by an RCT. For decommissioning,
most activities will be new, unique, and have no historical precedent. Consequently, high and
unusual risks may become the norm and the use of temporary controls and continuous
coverage the routine.
Section 70
Monitoring of the workplace is an essential element of every routine surveillance program. It
can be effectively accomplished using any or all of the techniques that are discussed in this
section. The rigor with which all of the various elements of a radiation monitoring program are
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
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applied should be tailored to meet the needs of the individual work areas and depend on the
kind and quantity of radioactive material present and its potential for dispersion. Each
program should be designed to meet existing needs, but also should be flexible to allow for
incorporation of the possible advantages to be provided by the various available monitoring
practices. Monitoring practices include, but are not limited, to the following:
a. Contamination surveys of the workplace;
b. Release surveys;
c. External exposure surveys;
d. Airborne contamination surveys;
e. Routine surveillance by an RCT.
4.2.2.1 Contamination Surveys of the Workplace
The radiation monitoring program should include documented survey procedures, a system
for maintaining survey results, and contamination control limits for "fixed" and "removable"
contamination. The results of contamination surveys should be reported in activity per area
(e.g., dpm/100 cm2) except for large‐area swipes and swipes of very small items. This permits
interpretation of the recorded data without requiring knowledge of instrument efficiency or
geometry.
All workplaces should be monitored for contamination levels on a regularly scheduled basis.
The frequency of such surveys will depend on the potential for dispersion of the radioactive
material. As a minimum, all gloves, work surfaces, floors, equipment, etc., within the
workplace should be surveyed according to the frequencies listed in DOE‐STD‐1098‐2017
(2017b).
The change room and other support facilities within the controlled area should be surveyed
for contamination daily. Continuous air monitors, survey instruments at step‐off pads, and
hand and shoe counters should be functionally tested daily or once per shift in support of the
weekly and monthly surveys.
These frequent surveys are also part of the routine surveillance program and permit
immediate follow‐up if low‐level contamination is detected to minimize the potential for
major incidents. Some fixtures and support areas outside the controlled area, such as
doorknobs and telephones of adjacent offices and the lunchroom, should also be surveyed
daily. Other support areas should be surveyed monthly. If routine survey results detect any
contamination in a given area, more detailed surveys should be performed to determine the
extent and source of the contamination.
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Two principles should be adopted to preclude the possibility that contaminated waste would
be disposed of as ordinary waste: 1) all process and controlled area waste should be
considered contaminated, and 2) mechanisms should be established that prevent the mixing
of contaminated and non‐contaminated waste. In addition, mixing radioactive waste with
RCRA‐regulated hazardous waste should be avoided.
4.2.2.2 Release Surveys
As stated in Section 2.1.4.1., transuranics exist in small quantities of recycled or reclaimed
feed materials. In many instances, these isotopes may be limiting for release of materials. For
transuranic and uranium radionuclides, the contamination level (fixed and removable) at
which surfaces are considered contaminated are listed in Appendix D of 10 CFR Part 835. That
document also specifies the criteria for the release of materials and equipment from
radiological areas to controlled areas.
Section 71
Detailed requirements for unrestricted release of materials and equipment from controlled
areas are found in DOE Order 458.1 Chg 4, Radiation Protection of the Public and Environment
(2020a).
4.2.2.3 External Exposure Surveys
To delineate the levels involved, measurements of external exposure should be made at the
time a program is established at all locations where personnel exposure occurs. Additional
photon and neutron measurements should be made at the same frequency as the
contamination surveys. The buildup of contamination in glove boxes and on gloves and
equipment may contribute substantially to the external dose rates.
4.2.2.4 Measurement and Survey Techniques
This section discusses four types of contamination surveys that are typically used in DOE
facilities. Surveys for removable contamination include a large‐area wipe survey and a swipe
or smear survey. Surveys for total/fixed contamination include a scan survey and a
statistically‐based survey. These surveys, or a combination of them, are used to survey
material for release from radiological control. The appropriate use of each type of survey is
discussed.
Surveys for Removable Contamination
Two types of surveys are used for removable contamination: a large‐area wipe survey and a
swipe or smear survey.
A large‐area wipe survey is used to qualitatively detect gross removable contamination. A
large‐area wipe survey is typically performed using a large floor cloth and a dust mop type
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
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handle to wipe large areas. This technique tends to concentrate any low levels of removable
contamination that may be present. The surface to be wiped and the wiping material should
be industrially clean (e.g., free of debris, grease) to reduce self‐absorption of alpha
contamination. The survey is performed by wiping the surface of the area being surveyed and
conducting frequent checks of the cloth using a portable instrument. For detection of alpha‐
emitting isotopes, a nonabsorbent material should be used. Removable contamination will be
accumulated and concentrated on the wipe, increasing the probability of its detection.
Checking for contamination is conducted by placing an alpha‐measurement instrument
approximately 0.25 in. (0.6 cm) from the surface of the wipe for 5 seconds, and the count rate
observed. If no radioactivity above background is measured, then the material is not
contaminated with removable contamination. If radioactivity above background is measured,
the material is contaminated. Technical smears (i.e. 100 cm2) need to be taken to quantify
removable contamination levels. Depending upon the specific circumstances, a series of
smears may be required to locate and quantify the contamination within the area covered by
the large‐area wipe. In most instances, if contamination is detected on the large‐area wipe,
decontamination should be considered.
For transuranic radionuclides, the guideline values for removable contamination are lower
than the minimum detectable activity (MDA) of portable instruments. During a wipe survey,
the surface area of the material must be large enough that the quantity of radioactivity
collected on the wipe will be greater than the MDA of the instrument. Wipe surveys of areas
smaller than this minimum surface area require more sophisticated measuring instruments,
such as a scaler measurement, and the entire surface of the material should be wiped. The
minimum area for using a large‐area wipe survey is given by where GV is the guideline value of
the potential contaminant, given in Table 4‐1.
Section 72
Amin
MDA
= Gvremovable
x 100 cm2;
Where:
Amin is the minimum area for using a large‐area wiper survey,
GVremovable is the guideline value of the potential contaminant
MDA is the minimum detectable activity.
The purpose of a smear survey is to locate and quantify removable contamination that is
known or suspected to exist. For small items, a smear may be used at any time to verify the
item’s contamination status. A smear or swipe survey is performed by wiping a cloth, paper,
plastic foam, or fiberglass disk over a 100‐cm2 area of the surface. The swipe should be taken
with a dry medium using moderate pressure except for tritium. A common field practice is to
use two fingers to press the swipe medium against the surface to be swiped. The swipe is then
moved along an "S" shaped path that has a nominal length of 8 in. (20 cm) to 10 in. (25 cm).
When the potential contaminant emits alpha radiation, paper or fiberglass filter papers should
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be used so that alpha activity is not attenuated by becoming imbedded in the wipe. If the
contaminant is an alpha‐emitter and the surface is wet, the smear should be dried before
counting. To improve the detection limit, smears may be taken over areas larger than 100
cm2. However, the size of the area smeared should be limited to prevent buildup of material
(radioactive or otherwise) that would attenuate alpha radiation. The current practice at DOE
facilities is to use the 100 cm2 area as the minimum size of objects being smeared.
Appropriate corrections should be made for objects smaller than 100 cm2
If contamination is detected during a scan survey for fixed contamination, a swipe survey for
removable contamination should be performed to determine if the contamination is fixed and
to quantify any removable contamination. If no contamination above the guideline values for
removable contamination in Table 4‐1 is detected during the smear survey, the contamination
is fixed, and the area should be posted appropriately.
A smear survey may be used routinely to detect removable contamination, especially for
contamination surveys of radiological areas.
.
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Table 4‐1. 10 CFR § 835 Appendix D Surface Contamination Values(1) (dpm/100cm2)
Radionuclide
Removable 2,4
Total
(Fixed +
Removable)2,3
U‐nat, U‐235, U‐238, and associated decay
products
7 1,000
7 5,000
Transuranics, Ra‐226, Ra‐228, Th‐230, Th‐
228, Pa‐231, Ac‐227, I‐125, I‐129
20 500
Th‐nat, Th‐232, Sr‐90, Ra‐223, Ra‐224, U‐232, I‐
126, I‐131, I‐133
200 1,000
Beta‐gamma emitters (nuclides with decay
modes other than alpha emission or
spontaneous fission) except Sr‐90 and others
noted above5
1,000
5,000
Section 73
Tritium and STCs6 10,000 See Footnote 6
1 The values in this table, with the exception noted in footnote 6 below, apply to radioactive contamination deposited on, but
not incorporated into the interior or matrix of, the contaminated item. Where surface contamination by both alpha‐ and beta‐
gamma‐emitting nuclides exists, the limits established for alpha‐ and beta‐gamma‐emitting nuclides apply independently.
2 As used in this table, dpm (disintegrations per minute) means the rate of emission by radioactive material as determined by
correcting the counts per minute observed by an appropriate detector for background, efficiency, and geometric factors
associated with the instrumentation.
3 The levels may be averaged over one square meter provided the maximum surface activity in any area of 100 cm2 is less than
three times the value specified. For purposes of averaging, any square meter of surface shall be considered to be above the
surface contamination value if: (1) from measurements of a representative number of sections it is determined that the
average contamination level exceeds the applicable value; or (2) it is determined that the sum of the activity of all isolated
spots or particles in any 100 cm2 area exceeds three times the applicable value.
4 The amount of removable radioactive material per 100 cm2 of surface area should be determined by swiping the area with
dry filter or soft absorbent paper, applying moderate pressure, and then assessing the amount of radioactive material on the
swipe with an appropriate instrument of known efficiency. (Note ‐ The use of dry material may not be appropriate for tritium.)
When removable contamination on objects of surface area less than 100 cm2 is determined, the activity per unit area shall be
based on the actual area and the entire surface shall be wiped. It is not necessary to use swiping techniques to measure
removable contamination levels if direct scan surveys indicate that the total residual surface contamination levels are within
the limits for removable contamination.
5 This category of radionuclides includes mixed fission products, including the Sr‐90 which is present in them. It does not apply
to Sr‐90 which has been separated from the other fission products or mixtures where the Sr‐90 has been enriched.
6 Tritium contamination may diffuse into the volume or matrix of materials. Evaluation of surface contamination shall consider
the extent to which such contamination may migrate to the surface in order to ensure the surface contamination value
provided in this appendix is not exceeded. Once this contamination migrates to the surface, it may be removable, not fixed;
therefore, a "Total" value does not apply. In certain cases, a “Total” value of 10,000 dpm/100 cm2 may be applicable either to
metals of the types from which insoluble special tritium compounds are formed, that have been exposed to tritium, or to bulk
materials to which insoluble special tritium compound particles are fixed to a surface.
7 These limits apply only to the alpha emitters within the respective decay series.
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
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Scan Survey for Fixed Contamination
A scan survey for fixed contamination requires passing a detector attached to a portable
instrument over the surface of the area being surveyed at a fixed, known scan speed and at a
specified distance from the surface. Typically, the scan speed is 2 in./s (5 cm/s) and the
maximum distance is 0.25 in. (0.6 cm) for alpha‐contamination instruments. A scan survey
should be used to survey material that resides in an area controlled for contamination
purposes, an area where unsealed radioactive sources are used, or an area surrounding an
area controlled for contamination purposes.
Section 74
During the performance of scan surveys, the audible response of the instrument is faster than
the needle deflection. Therefore, audible response should be used in conjunction with meter
readings. For alpha surveys, the surveyor should pause for 3 to 5 seconds each time an
individual pulse is detected in order to allow a longer count time at the location of the
detected pulse, until it is determined whether the response indicates random background
noise or detected contamination.
The most critical factor affecting a scan survey measurement is the speed at which scan
surveys are performed. Counting time is inversely proportional to scan speed. For instruments
with larger detector faces, the scan speed is faster for a given rate of meter movement
because a point on the surveyed surface remains beneath the window longer. To ensure that
low levels of contamination can be detected, it is necessary that a maximum scan speed be
mandated and that this speed be implemented during field measurements. Empirical
information is available indicating that, for most instruments in current use, a maximum scan
speed of 2 in./s (5 cm/s) can detect contamination at or above the total contamination values
specified in Table 4.1 for nearly all radionuclides with 67% confidence.
For a rectangular probe, the detection probability can be increased by moving the probe
lengthwise.
4.2.3 Release Criteria
Material in contamination, high contamination, or airborne radioactivity areas, shall be
treated as radioactive material and shall not be released to controlled areas if either of the
following conditions exist:
a. Measurements of accessible surfaces show that either the total or removable
contamination levels exceed the values specified in Table 4‐1.
b. Prior use suggests that the contamination levels on the inaccessible surfaces are likely
to exceed the values specified in Table 4‐1 (10 CFR § 835.1101).
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Usually, an ALARA evaluation is needed to ensure the contamination levels cannot be
reduced even further below the DOE Order 458.1 release limits for a reasonable cost.
Material that has never been in a contaminated or airborne radioactivity area may be
removed to controlled areas without survey. If the history of the item is unknown, it is
appropriate to assume that it may have been in a contaminated or airborne radioactivity area.
To release material from radiological control, a methodology has been developed to reduce the time
required to perform a survey while meeting DOE requirements. A logic diagram of the protocol is
shown in Figure 4‐1. The methodology ensures, with 67% confidence, that the guideline values of
DOE Order 458.1 and 10 CFR Part 835 are met. The most current preapproved authorized limits for
support of DOE Order 458.1 are listed in DOE-STD-1241-2023, Implementing Release and Clearance
of Property Requirements (2023).
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Figure 4‐1. Protocol for Release of Materials from Radiological Control
The material release methodology has four main components: material evaluation, scan
survey for fixed contamination, large‐area wipe survey for removable contamination
(described above) followed by technical smears as necessary, and statistical survey for fixed
contamination. The material evaluation process involves consideration of the previous known
uses of the material, as well as typical uses and the environment in which the material was
used. Material evaluation places the material into one of two categories: not potentially
contaminated or potentially contaminated.
Section 75
Non‐radioactive material can be released without an instrument survey if its documented
history ensures the following:
a. That it has never been used or stored in an area controlled for contamination
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purposes (i.e., a contamination area, high contamination area, or airborne
radioactivity area).
b. That it has never come into contact with unsealed radioactive sources.
c. That it has not been stored or used in a radiological buffer area (RBA) surrounding a
contamination area, high contamination area, or airborne radioactivity area.
This material may be considered to be not contaminated and an instrument survey is not
necessary. A material history release form should be used to document the release of material
that is known to be free of contamination by its history of use. If the material history release
form cannot be completed, or if the history of the material is unknown, an instrument survey
must be made of the material. Material released from RBAs around contamination areas, high
contamination areas, or airborne radioactivity areas should also be evaluated using an
instrument survey.
The material evaluation process should also consider the nuclides to which the material was
potentially exposed. If the material was exposed to significant quantities of nuclides that are
difficult to detect, including tritium 14C, 125I, or 129I, an appropriate survey methodology should
be applied.
A scan survey for fixed contamination requires passing the detector of an alpha and a
beta/gamma survey instrument, as applicable, over the accessible surface of the material. The
detector should be moved at a constant rate that allows detection of contamination at a level
equal to three times the guideline value. If a change in the audible output of the instrument is
heard, the area under the window of the instrument should be re‐surveyed using a stationary
measurement for 3 to 5 seconds. If the increase does not persist, the scan should continue. If
the elevated counts persist, it is good practice to consider the material is contaminated and
should not be released. This procedure should be followed until the surface of the material
has been surveyed.
The scan survey for fixed contamination ensures that none of the material’s surface is
contaminated above three times the guideline value. If no contamination above background is
detected during the scan survey, a large‐area wipe survey for removable contamination
should be performed. If contamination above background is detected, then decontamination
of the material should be considered and the methodology described in this document should
not be applied.
Following the scan and large‐area wipe surveys, a statistical survey for fixed contamination
should be performed. The survey methodology should be used for both beta/gamma and
alpha contamination, unless only one type of potential contaminant exists in the facility. If no
measurements above background are observed, the material may be released from
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radiological control.
The fixed survey measurements should be chosen using random detector placements over the
entire surface of the material. It may be prudent to bias some of the measurements toward
those areas that are more likely to be contaminated, including handles, horizontal surfaces,
stains, cracks, and other surface anomalies in which foreign material typically accumulates.
This type of selection bias will further increase the confidence associated with the statistical
survey method.
Section 76
Measurements performed to release material should be made in a low‐background area
unless the MDA of the instrument in a high‐background area is known and appropriate
considerations are made. If material is being surveyed for release from a radiological area,
performing measurements in a low‐background area may not be possible. If background count
rates are high enough that the release guideline values cannot be measured in the radiological
area by using portable survey instruments, a survey for removable contamination should be
performed to avoid spreading removable contamination from the radiological area. If the
survey for removable contamination does not indicate the presence of contamination in
excess of background levels, the material may be moved to an area with a lower background
for an immediate fixed contamination survey.
4.2.3.1 Uranium Contamination Detection
The detection and measurement of uranium contamination is necessary to ensure control of
contamination and compliance with DOE requirements. Typically, detection of uranium
contamination has been performed using the alpha activity. However, for some conditions
and situations, detection of the beta/gamma radiations from uranium decay products may be
a more sensitive and more appropriate monitoring technique. For natural uranium, depleted
uranium, and the lower levels of enriched uranium that are in equilibrium with their decay
products, the detection sensitivity for the beta/gamma radiations is about five times more
sensitive than by the detection of the alpha alone. If the uranium is highly enriched or has
been very recently processed, detection using the alpha radiation is necessary because of the
high alpha:beta ratio.
Detection of uranium contamination may require use of beta/gamma‐sensitive instruments
when surveying upholstery material, rugs, cloth, and wet surfaces. Because of the range and
ease of shielding alpha particles, burial or surface liquid may preclude the detection of the
alpha radiation. The use of GM detectors, such as the thin‐window detector probe, is
particularly useful in these situations. In some instances, a thin Nal detector may be better
than a GM detector for detecting low‐energy photons from uranium contamination.
Many of the processes used in uranium facilities may separate and/or concentrate impurities
or decay products of uranium. Examples of these processes are uranium recovery from ore,
reduction of green salt to metal, UF6 conversion, casting of metal, and uranium oxidation.
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Radionuclides of particular importance are 234mPa and other decay products and trace
impurities such as 99Tc, 239Pu, and 231Np. In addition to the separation processes, some of the
decay products of uranium may be selectively accumulated in tank and pipe liner material.
Effective dose rates of up to 150 mrem/h, attributed to radium accumulation, have been
measured from neoprene liner material. Dose rates from furnace lids and crucibles have been
measured as high as 30 rad/h.
Detection and measurement of uranium contamination, both surface and airborne, require a
knowledge of the process and of the separation and concentration mechanisms. Depending
upon the process, the time since separation, and the isotopic ratios of the uranium,
contamination resulting from uranium operations may be almost totally alpha or totally
beta/gamma‐emitters. Consequently, detection techniques may require the capability to
detect all types of radiations. Appropriate monitoring in most facilities requires both types of
surveys, but on differing frequencies.
Section 77
4.2.4 ALARA Guidelines
Contamination levels should be maintained ALARA to minimize the potential for the spread of
contamination and to reduce the protective measures and equipment required. Control of
radioactive material at the source and prevention of the generation of contamination are
generally more effective and less costly than remediation.
4.3 Personnel Contamination Control
Contamination control should be achieved primarily by physical design features, including
engineering controls (see the discussion above), such as containment, confinement, and
ventilation control. Only if the primary controls fail or if there is a potential for personnel
contamination during an activity are controls such as protective clothing and respirators
advisable.
4.3.1 Monitoring Philosophy
Although the primary hazard to personnel from uranium is from internal exposure,
contamination is also of concern because of potential skin doses. Additionally, an objective of
the contamination control program is to confine uranium contamination to production/work
areas and to prevent any spread of contamination to areas outside the plant or to the public.
Therefore, guidelines for allowable contamination on personnel and personal clothing/shoes
both inside the plant and prior to exiting radiological areas are required. Also, a personnel
monitoring program must be developed with adequate monitoring equipment and sensitivity
to provide assurance that contamination is effectively controlled. The guidelines should be
developed considering the following factors:
a. The need to prevent detectable activity from appearing outside the controlled area;
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b. The degree of risk to the health of the employees, their families, and the public from
contamination removed from the plant;
c. The technical feasibility of measurement of the guide levels;
d. Commitment to the policy of keeping contamination to the minimum practical level;
e. The presence of other radionuclides due to the presence of recycled uranium
contaminants or uranium daughters.
4.3.2 Monitoring Program
Instrumentation should be provided and persons in a uranium workstation should be
required to survey themselves at established frequencies. As a minimum, workers should
survey their gloves and coverall sleeves each time they are withdrawn from a glove box (or
similar containment system) and after each glove replacement or bag‐out operation.
In addition to mandatory monitoring at the exit to areas controlled for contamination,
personnel monitoring for contamination should be mandatory at the egress from controlled
areas and be conducted in a verifiable manner. Portal monitors, hand‐and‐shoe counters,
and/or portable survey instruments may be used for this purpose. If employees are instructed
to perform self‐monitoring, the equipment should be set up in a "go/no‐go" mode and
employees should be clearly instructed in the required actions to take if predetermined action
levels are exceeded. Frequent audits should be performed to verify that controls are
adequate. Limiting the number of egress points and controlling personnel movement can
minimize the numbers of locations where positive control of personnel monitoring must be
maintained.
Monitoring of shoes, clothing, and hands should be required prior to leaving a workstation
where uranium or uranium contaminated material was handled. Following routine work, self‐
monitoring upon exit is usually considered adequate if the person has received proper training
in the use of the instrument provided. The instrument should clearly detect an unacceptable
level of contamination.
Section 78
For work that involves a high potential for intake of radioactive material in excess of the
regulatory limits, engineering and administrative controls should be implemented to eliminate
this potential. If these controls are inadequate, then appropriate PPE, including respirators,
should be implemented.
After performing work that, in retrospect, involved a high potential for intake of radioactive
material, each worker should provide a swipe of the nasal passages, to be counted
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immediately. If respiratory protection was worn, there is no need for nasal swipes unless a
breach of the respirator seal is suspected. If facial contamination is detected during the exit
contamination monitoring, a nasal swipe should be taken and counted immediately. Chapter 5
provides guidance on the actions to be taken if a nasal swipe is positive.
4.3.3 Protective Clothing
Various types of protective clothing, including laboratory coats, shoe covers, gloves, coveralls,
plastic or rubber suits, and air‐purifying or atmosphere‐supplying respiratory protective
equipment, may be required for operations with transuranic radionuclides. The use of
company‐issue shoes and clothing for employees with work assignments in process areas can
be a major aid in contamination control. Some facilities are using disposable anti‐
contamination clothing. This may be a cost savings from a handling standpoint. However,
disposal costs should be considered.
4.3.4 Respiratory Protection
While every attempt should be made to control uranium hazards utilizing physical design
features, including engineering controls, the use of respiratory protection is an essential part
of the radiological control program.
As with personnel protective equipment, respiratory equipment utilized must also provide
protection from the full range of airborne hazards that may be encountered in the work
environment. For example, a uranium metal machining operation may have both an airborne
uranium oxide hazard and an airborne hazard from solvent vapors. The respirator utilized
must be effective for both types of hazards. Also, one airborne contaminant may interfere
with the effectiveness of the canister in an air‐purifying device that is designed for a different
contaminant. For example, a corrosive gas, such as hydrofluoric acid (HF), may attack a HEPA
filter and render the filter ineffective. It is important to coordinate the use of respiratory
protection requirements with other health protection groups. The respiratory protection
program should also be in compliance with ANSI Standard Z88.2‐2015, American National
Standard for Respiratory Protection (2015a) requirements. In specifying respirators for various
applications, one should always know the applicable protection factors to determine that the
range of hazard that may be encountered will be covered. While the specification of
respiratory protection should normally be made a result of personal and/or area sampling
results, the use of respirator guides based on surface contamination monitoring results is also
acceptable.
4.3.5 ALARA Guidelines
The total dose to an individual and the collective dose to the work force should be ALARA.
When applied to personnel contamination or internal intakes, this generally means less‐than‐
detectable dose with the best available commercial technology.
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4.3.6 Release Criteria
Section 79
The decision to release personnel with detectable uranium contamination is made on a case‐
by‐case basis. If the individual is injured and needs prompt medical attention, medical
treatment will always take precedence, with compensatory measures made for protecting
medical personnel and facilities. If injuries are absent or do not require immediate attention,
decontamination is preferable to ensure that the dose to the contaminated individual and the
potential for inhalation by the victim and medical staff are minimized and the spread of
contamination is prevented.
In a case where decontamination is incomplete due to injury to the skin or other reasons, the
individual may be provisionally released with measures to prevent the spread of
contamination.
4.4 Decontamination and Decommissioning Techniques
This section concentrates on decontamination techniques to be used in the final
decommissioning of a uranium‐contaminated facility for unrestricted release. Some of these
techniques are similar to those used during routine operations (e.g., personnel
decontamination and some equipment and building surface decontamination). Contamination
detection methods are similar for routine and decommissioning operations.
4.4.1 Personnel Decontamination
Skin decontamination should be performed by health physics technicians or other members of
the health physics staff. The treatment and decontamination of wounds should be performed
by medical staff.
Non‐abrasive methods should be used for skin decontamination to protect the tissues from
deeper contamination. Masking tape should be used to remove dry contamination. Wet
decontamination should be used to remove residual contamination. The skin should be gently
scrubbed with soap and water. Diluted bleach with water may be applied as needed to
decontaminate more effectively. The following procedure is recommended:
a. Survey the worker to determine the contaminated areas of the skin. Have the medical
staff treat and decontaminate breaks in the skin.
b. Wipe loose contamination with a gauze sponge or cotton applicators dipped in mild
antiseptic detergent. Do not spread contamination to uncontaminated areas.
c. Rub the skin with the applicators to produce good lather.
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d. Use soft bristle scrub brushes for fingernails and other difficult‐to‐clean areas as long
as the skin barrier is maintained intact. It may be difficult to decontaminate the
cuticles and under the nails.
e. Dry the skin area with cleansing tissue.
f. After the skin is thoroughly dry, survey it for any remaining contamination.
g. If no contamination is detected, apply a good‐quality hand cream to prevent
chapping.
Another effective non‐abrasive decontamination method involves placing the contaminated
hand in a cotton glove and then a Latex glove (causing the hand to perspire).
The decontamination factor is the ratio of the initial contamination level to the contamination
level after decontamination methods are applied, as determined by survey instrument
readings. Non‐abrasive methods should be repeated until the decontamination factor
between washes drops below 2 or 3 with significant contamination still remaining.
Section 80
If contamination persists on the skin, a more abrasive decontamination method may be
necessary. The decision to proceed with a more abrasive method should be based on the
effectiveness of the decontamination. An abrasive soap should be applied with a moist gauze
sponge or soft brush while rubbing the skin to develop a soapy lather. Care should be
exercised to prevent damage to the skin surface. If contamination persists after using the
abrasive soap, potassium permanganate (KmnO4) and sodium bisulfite (NaHSO3) should be
considered. Paint the contaminated skin with KmnO4 using cotton‐tipped applicators, allow
the solution to dry, and paint it again two or three more times, allowing the solution to dry
thoroughly between each application. The skin will then appear almost black. Applicators
should be discarded after each use to avoid spreading contamination to the solutions. Then,
rub the treated area with sodium bisulfate using cotton applicators, until the brown
discoloration is removed. Rinse the skin with water to remove the remaining KmnO4 and dry
the area thoroughly and survey it for contamination.
If contamination persists after all the above decontamination efforts, wrap the contaminated
area to control the contamination and consult with medical personnel.
Liberal irrigation with room temperature water or saline solution (preferable) is
recommended for eye, nose, and mouth contamination. These procedures are performed by
the medical staff to remove contamination.
4.4.2 Equipment and Surface Decontamination
Decontamination of surface areas may be as simple as hosing off the floors with water,
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washing surfaces with detergent and water, or wiping with household dust cloths. Waste
material generated from decontamination activities (e.g., water and wipe material) must be
contained and disposed of as radioactive waste. For some locations, vacuuming the surfaces
may be appropriate. If vacuuming is used, HEPA‐filtered vacuum systems are required to keep
airborne radioactive material out of the vacuum exhaust.
For some operations, periodic surface flushing with water may be adequate to maintain
acceptable contamination levels. Precautions should ensure control and collection of run‐off
water so material may be recovered and wastewater analyzed before discharge. Depending
upon which isotope of uranium is involved, geometrically safe containers may be required for
collecting and holding the liquid.
Depending upon the physical and chemical form of the uranium and the type of surface,
uranium may become imbedded in the surface. Removal of embedded material may require
physical abrasion, such as scabbling, grinding, sand blasting, or chipping, or it may be
accomplished using chemical etching techniques. If the surface is porous, complete
replacement could be necessary. The use of high‐pressure water (hydro blasting) has been
quite successful for metal and concrete surfaces.
Ultrasonic cleaning techniques, electro‐polishing, or chemical baths may be useful for
decontamination of high‐cost items if the chemicals used are compatible with the material to
be cleaned.
A description of different decontamination techniques is found in DOE/EM‐0383, DOE
Decommissioning Handbook (2000), and publications by the Electric Power Research Institute.
The DOE Decommissioning Handbook also includes guidance on decontamination techniques,
assessment of environmental impacts, disposition of wastes, and preparation of
decommissioning cost estimates.
Section 81
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5 INTERNAL DOSIMETRY
Internal dosimetry is an essential part of a comprehensive radiological control program at
every facility where uranium is handled or processed. The purpose of an internal dosimetry
program is to monitor workplace activities, assess accidental or inadvertent intakes of
radioactive material, and conduct internal dose assessments from bioassay measurement
data.
DOE requires that new or modified facilities be designed, operated, and remediated to
prevent intakes of radioactive materials in accordance with 10 CFR § 835.1002. Radiological
controls for the workplace shall ensure that under normal conditions, radionuclides are
contained and handled properly, and that intakes are as low as reasonably achievable.
Experience has shown that the most common route for inadvertent uranium intake is
inhalation. The uranium may be in natural, enriched, or depleted form, or a combination
thereof. Intakes can also occur by accidental ingestion or by wound contamination.
Surveillance programs should be designed to rapidly detect a release in the event of a loss of
radioactive material containment. Internal dosimetry programs should be tailored to the
needs of each uranium‐handling facility so that workers’ internal doses are determined by
appropriate methods.
When workers are inadvertently exposed to radioactive material, appropriate corrective
action should be taken to ensure that control and containment are re‐established. Prompt
detection by routine workplace monitoring practices is essential to regaining control after any
contamination spread or loss of containment. Prompt workplace indications of potential
intake are also crucial to ensure timely initiation of special bioassay monitoring for intake and
dose assessment. An early assessment of the probable severity of an intake and its
corresponding dose, preferably within the first two hours of the intake, is needed for decisions
on dose reduction therapy and event reporting. Uranium is both a radiological and chemical
hazard. Because the total risk must be considered, both hazards must be considered. For
uranium intakes, it may take many months to obtain the bioassay data necessary for final dose
assessment. Until such data become available, ongoing preliminary assessments of intake and
dose may be necessary to provide guidance for the administrative and medical management
of the workers.
5.1 Internal Dose Evaluation Program
Internal doses are not directly measured, but are estimated or calculated based on knowledge
of the material to which a worker may be exposed and it’s known or assumed biokinetic
behavior. The common approach to internal dosimetry is to calculate an occupational intake
based on worker bioassay measurements or workplace air‐sample data and assumed
breathing rates. Once an intake is calculated, appropriate equivalent doses to organs and
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tissues of concern can be estimated by using fundamental dosimetry principles, by various
intake‐to‐dose conversion factors, that incorporate assumed biokinetic models, or by use of
an appropriate computer code. Intake‐to‐dose conversion factors can be found in ICRP
Publication 68 (1994b). Further discussion on intake and dose assessment is provided in
Section 5.8.
Section 82
Participation in internal dose evaluation programs (which include routine bioassay programs)
is required for conditions identified in 10 CFR § 835.402(c). The internal dose evaluation
program must address both general workplace conditions and individual intakes. Workplace
conditions are monitored through air and surface contamination monitoring programs.
Individual monitoring for intakes is commonly performed using bioassay procedures. Bioassay
monitoring includes both direct (in vivo) measurements of radioactivity in the body and
indirect (in vitro) measurements of material excreted or removed from the body.
10 CFR § 835.402 requires participation in a bioassay program if a general employee is likely to
exceed 0.1 rem CED from all intakes for all radionuclides in a year. Participation in a bioassay
program is generally based on the possibility that a single intake causing a dose in excess of
0.1 rem CED might occur.
Indications of intake include (but are not limited to) detection of facial or nasal contamination,
positive air monitoring or sampling results that may indicate internal exposure, or any wound
in which contamination is detected or suspected. The most common internal exposure
monitoring program for workers is the bioassay program, which must be designed for the
specific nuclides and forms of material at a particular facility. Likely candidates for internal
exposure monitoring include personnel who may be routinely exposed to surface or airborne
contamination, or those identified by workplace indicators.
Workplace monitoring for potential internal exposures is performed to verify the adequacy of
containment and work practices. This monitoring includes air sampling, continuous air
monitoring, personal contamination surveys, and workplace contamination surveys. Facilities
are to be designed and operated to minimize internal exposure. Details regarding workplace
monitoring and control practices are discussed in Chapter 4, Contamination Control.
5.1.1 Performance Capabilities for Internal Exposure Monitoring
Bioassay programs must be capable of showing compliance with the 5‐rem/year stochastic
and 50‐rem/year deterministic dose limits of 10 CFR § 835.202. 10 CFR § 835.402(c)(1)
identifies 0.1 rem CED for all likely intakes in a year as a level above which workers must
participate in a bioassay program. Therefore, such bioassay monitoring programs must be
capable of detecting individual doses at that level. To meet this requirement, reliance must be
placed on workplace monitoring to identify potential intakes at the time they occur so that
special bioassay monitoring can be initiated.
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Performance capabilities for bioassay and internal dosimetry programs can be expressed as
the minimum detectable dose, based on some combination of minimum detectable activity
and frequency of measurement or time post‐intake at which the measurement is made. The
term "minimum detectable dose" is preferred over any variants of the occasionally
encountered terms "dose‐missed" or "potentially undetected dose," which were usually
defined as the same thing. The connotation of the latter terms is that of an actual intake
which was not detected, whereas the intent was to define a measure of program sensitivity to
doses that might have gone undetected had an intake occurred. The preferred term
"minimum detectable dose" (MDD) ties the concept to the recognized terminology of MDA.
Section 83
The MDD for a bioassay program must meet the aforementioned dose limit requirements of
10 CFR § 835.202. A design goal of 0.1 rem CED from all intakes of similar nuclides in a year is
desirable but unrealistic for a routine program. To meet these requirements, bioassay
programs should have measurement sensitivities (i.e., MDAs for bioassay measurements)
established based on the material to which workers might be exposed. Examples of such
sensitivities are given in Tables 5‐1 through 5‐3 for pure 238U monitored by urinalysis, fecal
analysis, and lung counting, respectively. The bioassay goals are calculated by multiplying the
intake (nCi) by the intake retention fraction (IRF) and by a correction factor of 2,220 dpm/nCi,
where intake is the dose limit divided by a calculated dose conversion factor (rem/nCi). For
uranium‐238, for simplicity, the dose limit goal is based on the 50‐rem committed equivalent
dose (for type S uranium‐238, the stochastic limit is slightly (5rem) is slightly more restrictive);
the other goals are based on the 0.1 rem CED monitoring threshold. Table 5‐1 through Table
5‐3 give values for bioassay goals and the calculations used to derive them.
There may be circumstances in which the measurement technology is not available to provide
the sensitivities required for the 0.1 rem goal using routine, periodic measurements at
reasonable frequencies. Therefore, because the goal of 0.1 rem CED cannot be met through
routine bioassay, the radiation protection organization should take the following
administrative actions:
a. Ensure that adequate control measures are applied to prevent intakes.
b. Document the adequate control measures for auditing purposes.
c. Upgrade bioassay measurement systems and workplace monitoring practices to
provide state‐of‐the‐art measurements.
d. Ensure that internal dose assessments use state‐of‐the‐art technology.
All confirmed occupational intakes of uranium, regardless of magnitude, should be assessed.
The results of all bioassay and other measurements needed to demonstrate the quality of
measurements and dose assessment should be recorded and maintained. The recording and
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reporting requirements for internal dosimetry data are set forth in Section 3.7 of this technical
standard.
Table 5‐1. Urine Bioassay Goals(a) for 238U
Days Post‐Intake
Urine Intake
Retention Fraction(b)
Dose Limit Goal(c)
(dpm)
100‐mrem CED Goal(d)
(dpm)
Type F Inhalation
1 1.85E‐01 5.55E+05 1.91E+04
7 3.47E‐03 1.04E+04 3.58E+02
30 6.78E‐04 2.03E+03 7.00E+01
60 2.26E‐04 6.78E+02 2.33E+01
90 1.20E‐04 3.62E+02 1.24E+01
200 2.44E‐05 7.32E+01 2.52E+00
400 4.58E‐06 1.37E+01 4.73E‐01
1000 2.31E‐06 6.93E+00 2.39E‐01
10000 2.32E‐07 6.96E‐01 2.40E‐02
20000 9.63E‐08 2.89E‐01 9.94E‐03
Type M Inhalation
1 2.34E‐02 5.40E+04 8.78E+02
7 6.43E‐04 1.48E+03 2.41E+01
30 2.65E‐04 6.12E+02 9.94E+00
60 1.67E‐04 3.85E+02 6.26E+00
90 1.25E‐04 2.88E+02 4.69E+00
200 5.76E‐05 1.33E+02 2.16E+00
400 1.79E‐05 4.13E+01 6.71E‐01
1000 1.12E‐06 2.58E+00 4.20E‐02
10000 5.74E‐08 1.32E‐01 2.15E‐03
20000 2.37E‐08 5.47E‐02 8.89E‐04
Type S Inhalation
1 7.13E‐04 3.28E+02 7.50E+00
7 1.91E‐05 8.80E+00 2.01E‐01
30 7.71E‐06 3.55E+00 8.11E‐02
60 5.18E‐06 2.39E+00 5.45E‐02
90 4.28E‐06 1.97E+00 4.50E‐02
200 3.18E‐06 1.46E+00 3.35E‐02
400 2.55E‐06 1.17E+00 2.68E‐02
1000 1.52E‐06 7.00E‐01 1.60E‐02
10000 1.01E‐07 4.65E‐02 1.06E‐03
20000 2.56E‐08 1.18E‐02 2.69E‐04
(a) The goals reflect the activity in a 24 hour urine void corresponding to either a 50 rem committed
Section 84
equivalent dose or a 0.1 rem CED.
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
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(b) IRF values obtained from “Intake Retention Functions Developed from Models Used in the
Determination of Dose Coefficients Developed for ICRP Publication 68 – Particulate Inhalation”
(Potter, 2002).
(c) Calculated as Goal (dpm) = Intake * IRF * 2220 dpm/nCi, where Intake (nCi) is the 50 rem
committed equivalent dose limit/ dose conversion factor and IRF is the intake retention
fraction.
The dose conversion factor (committed dose per unit intake) derived from the ICRP Publication
68 Database is shown below:
Type F,
rem/nCi
Type M,
rem/nCi
Type S,
rem/nCi
3.70E‐02 4.81E‐02 2.41E‐01
(Bone Surface) (Lungs) (Extrathoracic Airways)
(d) Calculated as Goal (dpm) = Intake * IRF * 2220 dpm/nCi, where Intake (nCi) is the 0.1 rem CED
limit/ dose conversion factor and IRF is the intake retention fraction.
The dose conversion factor (committed dose per unit intake) derived from the ICRP Publication
68 Database is shown below:
Type F,
rem/nCi
Type M,
rem/nCi
Type S,
rem/nCi
2.15E‐03 5.92E‐03 2.11E‐02
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
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Table 5‐2. Fecal bioassay Goals(a) for 238U
Days Post‐Intake
Urine Intake
Retention
Fraction(b)
Dose Limit Goal(c)
(dpm)
100‐mrem CED Goal(d)
(dpm)
Type F Inhalation
1 5.65E‐02 1.68E+05 5.82E+03
7 8.54E‐04 2.58E+03 9.00E+01
30 3.17E‐06 9.60E+00 3.30E‐01
60 1.41E‐06 4.20E+04 1.44E‐01
90 7.83E‐07 2.34E+04 7.80E‐02
200 1.62E‐07 4.86E‐01 1.68E‐02
400 3.04E‐08 9.00E‐02 3.12E‐03
1000 1.53E‐08 4.56E‐02 1.56E‐03
10000 1.54E‐09 4.62E‐03 1.62E‐04
20000 6.39E‐10 1.92E‐03 6.60E‐05
Type M Inhalation
1 1.08E‐01 2.53E+04 4.02E+03
7 2.21E‐03 5.10E+03 8.40E+01
30 2.72E‐04 6.00E+02 1.02E+01
60 1.25E‐04 2.88E+02 4.68E+04
90 6.22E‐05 1.44E+02 2.34E+04
200 1.15E‐05 2.64E+01 4.32E‐01
400 2.78E‐06 6.60E+00 1.02E‐01
1000 8.10E‐08 1.86E‐01 3.06E‐03
10000 3.81E‐10 0.9E‐01 1.44E‐05
20000 1.57E‐10 3.60E‐04 5.88E‐06
Type S Inhalation
1 1.16E‐01 5.34E+03 1.20E+03
7 2.42E‐03 1.14E+02 2.52E+01
30 3.50E‐04 1.62E+01 3.66E+04
60 1.86E‐04 8.40E+00 1.98E+04
90 1.07E‐04 4.92E+00 1.14E+04
200 3.30E‐05 1.50E+00 3.48E‐01
400 2.12E‐05 9.60E‐01 2.22E‐01
1000 1.11E‐05 5.10E‐01 1.14E‐01
10000 6.00E‐08 2.76E‐03 6.00E‐04
20000 6.69E‐09 3.06E‐04 7.20E‐05
(a) The goals reflect the activity in a 24 hour fecal sample corresponding to either a 50 rem
committed equivalent dose or a 0.1 rem CED.
(b) IRF values obtained from “Intake Retention Functions Developed from Models Used in the
Determination of Dose Coefficients Developed for ICRP Publication 68 – Particulate Inhalation”
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
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(Potter, 2002).
(c) Calculated as Goal (dpm) = Intake * IRF * 2220 dpm/nCi, where Intake (nCi) is either the 50 rem
committed equivalent dose or threshold/committed equivalent dose conversion factor and IRF
is the intake retention fraction.
The dose conversion factor (committed dose per unit intake) derived from the ICRP Publication
68 Database is shown below:
(d) Calculated as Goal (dpm) = Intake * IRF * 2220 dpm/nCi, where Intake (nCi) is the 0.1 rem CED
threshold/CED conversion factor and IRF is the intake retention fraction.
The dose conversion factor (committed dose per unit intake) derived from the ICRP Publication
68 Database is shown below:
Type F,
rem/nCi
Type M,
rem/nCi
Type S,
rem/nCi
3.70E‐02 4.81E‐02 2.41E‐01
(Bone Surface) (Lungs) (Extrathoracic Airways)
Type F,
rem/nCi
Type M,
rem/nCi
Type S,
rem/nCi
2.15E‐03 5.92E‐03 2.11E‐02
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
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Section 85
Table 5‐3. In Vivo Measurement Bioassay Goals for 238U(a)
Days Post‐Intake
Urine Intake
Retention
Fraction(b)
Dose Limit Goal(c)
dpm
100‐mrem CED Goal(d)
dpm
Type F Inhalation
1 3.65E‐01 1.10E+06 3.77E+04
7 7.27E‐02 2.18E+05 7.51E+03
30 3.63E‐02 1.09E+05 3.75E+03
60 2.49E‐02 7.47E+04 2.57E+03
90 2.00E‐02 6.00E+04 2.07E+03
200 1.38E‐02 4.14E+04 1.42E+03
400 1.17E‐02 3.51E+04 1.21E+03
1000 9.94E‐03 2.98E+04 1.03E+03
10000 3.29E‐03 9.87E+03 3.40E+02
20000 1.79E‐03 5.37E+03 1.85E+02
Type M Inhalation
1 4.74E‐01 1.09E+06 1.78E+04
7 6.39E‐02 1.47E+05 2.40E+03
30 4.51E‐02 1.04E+05 1.69E+03
60 3.34E‐02 7.71E+04 1.25E+03
90 2.64E‐02 6.09E+04 9.90E+02
200 1.42E‐02 3.28E+04 5.33E+02
400 6.28E‐03 1.45E+04 2.36E+02
1000 2.59E‐03 5.98E+03 9.71E+01
10000 8.08E‐04 1.86E+03 3.03E+01
20000 4.39E‐04 1.01E+03 1.65E+01
Type S Inhalation
1 4.89E‐01 2.25E+05 5.14E+03
7 6.24E‐02 2.87E+04 6.57E+02
30 5.04E‐02 2.32E+04 5.30E+02
60 4.25E‐02 1.96E+04 4.47E+02
90 3.82E‐02 1.76E+04 4.02E+02
200 3.16E‐02 1.46E+04 3.32E+02
400 2.60E‐02 1.20E+04 2.74E+02
1000 1.55E‐02 7.14E+03 1.63E+02
10000 1.06E‐03 4.88E+02 1.12E+01
20000 2.86E‐04 1.32E+02 3.01E+00
(a) Suitable for elemental or any long half‐life uranium isotope.
(b) IRF values obtained from “Intake Retention Functions Developed from Models Used in the
Determination of Dose Coefficients Developed for ICRP Publication 68 – Particulate Inhalation”
(Potter, 2002).
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
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(c) Calculated as Goal (dpm) = Intake * IRF * 2220 dpm/nCi, where Intake (nCi) is the 50 rem
committed equivalent dose limit/dose conversion factor and IRF is the intake retention fraction.
The dose conversion factor (committed dose per unit intake) derived from the ICRP Publication
68 Database is shown below:
(d) Calculated as Goal (dpm) = Intake * IRF * 2220 dpm/nCi, where Intake (nCi) is the 0.1 rem CED
limit/dose conversion factor and IRF is the intake retention fraction.
The dose conversion factor (committed dose per unit intake) derived from the ICRP Publication
68 Database is shown below:
Type F,
rem/nCi
Type M,
rem/nCi
Type S,
rem/nCi
3.70E‐02 4.81E‐02 2.41E‐01
(Bones Surface) (Lungs) (Extrathoracic Airways)
Type F,
rem/nCi
Type M,
rem/nCi
Type S,
rem/nCi
Effective Dose 2.15E‐03 5.92E‐03 2.11E‐02
Radiation exposure records programs must also provide for the summation of internal and
external doses, as required by 10 CFR § 835.702. While the summation process is not necessarily
performed under a site internal dosimetry program, it is recommended that the program
coordinator recognize what is required. The following summations are identified by 10 CFR §
835.702(c)(5):
a. Total effective dose (TED) in a year is defined as the summation of effective dose from
external exposure and the CED to the whole body in a year.
b. For any organ or tissue assigned an internal dose during the year, the sum of the
equivalent dose from external exposure and the committed equivalent dose to organs
or tissues of concern.
c. Cumulative TED defined as the sum of all total effective dose values recorded for an
individual plus, for occupational exposures received before the implementation date
of this amendment, the cumulative total effective dose equivalent (as defined in the
November 4, 1998 amendment to this rule) values recorded for an individual, where
available, for each year occupational dose was received, beginning January 1, 1989.
d. For the embryo/fetus of a declared pregnant worker, the summation of the equivalent
Section 86
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
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dose to the mother from external exposure during the entire gestation period and the
CED to the embryo/fetus from intakes by the mother during the entire gestation
period.
Doses must be calculated and recorded (if greater than 10 mrem) for any confirmed uranium
intake. What constitutes a confirmed intake is discussed in Section 5.7. Along with the doses,
supporting records must be maintained, including the bioassay data, assumptions, biokinetic
models, and calculational methods used to estimate the doses. These may be included in
letter‐report dose assessments, databases, technical basis documents, and similar records,
either singly or in combination.
5.1.2 Protection of the Embryo/Fetus, Minors, and Members of the Public
The effective dose limit for the embryo/fetus of a declared pregnant worker is 0.5 rem for the
entire gestation period, defined as the summation of external dose received and internal dose
received during the gestation period (not the 50‐year committed internal dose). Internal
exposure monitoring is required if an intake is likely to result in more than 10% of that limit
(i.e., 50 mrem for the gestation period). Providing adequate protection to keep the mother’s
intakes below the occupational limits will also provide adequate protection for the
embryo/fetus. Thus, special bioassay for uranium during pregnancy is not required. As a
matter of caution, some sites try to obtain baseline bioassays as soon as a pregnancy is
declared, with another baseline bioassay following the end of pregnancy. Some sites also offer
to restrict pregnant workers from jobs with relatively high potential for occupational intakes.
Minors and members of the public are limited by 10 CFR § 835.207 and 10 CFR § 835.208 to a
total effective dose of 0.1 rem/year. Minors are also limited to 10% of the occupational dose
limits of 10 CFR § 835.202(a)(3) and (a)(4). Internal exposure monitoring is required if an
intake is likely to result in 50% of that limit (0.05 rem) from all radionuclide intakes in a year.
With routine fecal sampling for insoluble uranium (Type S) a routine bioassay program
is sufficiently sensitive to identify such intakes. Enhanced workplace surveillance or restriction
of access may be required.
5.2 Characterization of Internal Hazards
Monitoring for uranium poses special problems for the following reasons.
a. Uranium presents both chemical and radiological toxicity risks, the relative
importance of which depends on its transportability from the lung.
b. Uranium usually exists in mixed transportability classes.
c. Small, recent intakes easily mask larger, older intakes because nearly 50% of the
uranium going to blood is cleared immediately through the urine.
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
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d. An intake of Type S material potentially resulting in a CED of 0.1 rem generally cannot
be detected by routine urinalysis alone. Monitoring of the workplace to document the
working environment and to provide immediate indication of an intake is essential
unless a combination of urine and fecal sampling is used in the routine bioassay
program.
e. Low‐level chronic intakes are common, so the bioassay program must monitor for
long‐term buildup as well as for potentially significant acute intakes.
f. Individual and temporal variability in the environmental background of uranium
complicates interpretation of urinalysis and fecal results.
Section 87
Consequently, the proper bioassay monitoring program for uranium workers is best
determined on a case‐by‐case basis in consultation with an internal dosimetry specialist. As
part of the program technical basis, the uranium mixtures need to be determined. In addition,
determinations should be made at the time of identified incidents of potential intake.
Methods for such determination may include radiochemical analysis or chemistry followed by
mass spectrometry.
Solubility is of major importance in uranium inhalation toxicology. Soluble uranium
compounds are absorbed and rapidly transported to kidney and bone, or excreted in urine.
Because uranium damages kidney tissues by the same mechanisms as other heavy metals,
dissolved uranium is considered to be a chemical toxicant. Dissolved uranium also deposits in
bone and is retained for long periods of time, such that sufficiently enriched uranium can
deliver an accumulated radiation dose sufficient to be considered a radiological hazard to
bone (Morrow, 1986).
Oxides of uranium tend to exhibit inhalation Type S behavior, slightly more soluble
compounds are assigned to Type M, and soluble compounds are assigned to Type F. Note that
some compounds that have been classified as type S have shown a more rapid clearance from
the lung than for other Type S compounds, i.e., having a 100‐day effective half‐life in the lung
compared to the class S compounds that have a 500‐day effective half‐life. This may be due to
the existence of mixtures having more than one physicochemical form (ICRP 1988b;
NUREG/CR‐5566, 1990). As uranium ages in a residual, loose contamination form, such as
might be found in old duct work, glove boxes, or other such components, it can be expected
to undergo slow oxidation to a more insoluble form. Thus, Type S forms of uranium may be
reasonable assumptions of what to expect during many decommissioning operations.
For depleted uranium to present a chemical toxic hazard from inhalation, the depleted
uranium would have to be subdivided into soluble particles that can be inhaled, transported
into the lungs, and transferred to the blood for transport to the kidneys. Depleted uranium
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
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metal is not readily subdivided into small, respirable particles. However, depleted uranium
metal can slowly oxidize under ambient environmental conditions (corrosion), resulting in
formation of small particles. The solubility of uranium oxides may be affected by the rate of
oxidation, which will vary with the temperature and water vapor present in the air.
Following an accidental release from a nuclear reactor, fission and activation products may be
present in fragments of irradiated fuel, of which the matrix is predominately uranium oxide
(Devell, 1988; Begichev et al., 1989; Toivonen et al., 1992). Studies of the in vitro dissolution of
particles released from the Chernobyl accident, seven out of ten of which consisted mainly of
uranium (Cuddihy et al., 1989), were consistent in assigning all the gamma‐emitting
radionuclides to Type M (ICRP 71).
Particle size is an important consideration for inhalation exposures. The normal practice for an
aerosol is to identify the activity median aerodynamic diameter (AMAD) and its associated
particle‐size distribution. Particle sizes of 10 µm or less are considered respirable. For
compliance with 10 CFR Part 835, the common practice is to assume a 5‐µm particle size for
dosimetry purposes unless actual particle size information is available. Particle size data are
most readily obtainable for chronic exposure situations. Unless representative air sampling is
performed in the immediate proximity of a worker during abnormal working conditions, the
practical likelihood of obtaining good particle‐size information is slim.
Section 88
5.3 Scope of Bioassay Program
For Types F and M uranium compounds, the monitoring programs need to be designed to
maintain exposures, including those from single acute intakes, below levels that will cause
transient kidney damage due to the heavy metal toxicity of uranium. Typically, urine sampling
is the preferred method of monitoring for Types F and M uranium. For Type S natural uranium
and all types of highly enriched uranium, radiological considerations are more limiting. In
addition, local factors concerning the diversity of chemical forms of uranium must be taken
into account when designing a bioassay monitoring program. For these materials, a
combination of direct and indirect monitoring may be required.
5.3.1 Classification of Bioassay Measurements
Bioassay measurements can be classified according to the primary reason for their
performance. This is a useful practice for historically documenting why a worker participated
in a bioassay program. Numerous reasons for bioassay measurements may be defined for
specific facilities; some suggested common classifications are as follows:
a. Baseline measurements are used to establish a pre‐exposure condition, either for a
new employee or as a result of a new work assignment. DOE‐STD‐1098‐2017 (2017b)
recommends baseline measurements if workers are considered likely to receive
intakes resulting in greater than 100‐mrem CED. It is a good practice to perform such
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
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measurements for newly hired employees, intra‐company transferees, or workers
transferred from facilities where bioassay measurements may not have been
required. In addition, baseline measurements can verify workers’ status for special
work assignments. For uranium bioassay, baseline measurements made before any
occupational exposure can be expected to yield only dietary levels of uranium in urine
or feces.
b. A special consideration is the evaluation of intakes that include natural materials such
as uranium. The sensitivity of urine sampling as a uranium bioassay tool is limited by
the presence of environmental levels of uranium, which is subject to some uncertainty
in interpretation. Knowledge of background level of uranium excretion is an important
factor in analysis and interpretation of urine or feces for uranium bioassay purposes.
In ICRP Publication 23 (1975), model values for excretion of uranium by Reference
Man are given as 0.05 to 0.5 µg/day in urine and 1.4 to 1.8 µg/day in feces (ICRP,
1975). There are two distinct decisions to be made: whether a result differs from an
analytical blank, and if so, whether the amount detected is greater than what would
be expected in a population that is not occupationally exposed (Long et al., 1994). For
example, the internal dosimetry program at Hanford distinguishes between the
environmental decision level LC and the analytical decision level DL (Carbaugh et al.,
1995) using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP/MS) to look for the
presence of 236U. Since the 236U isotope does not occur in nature, it is used as a flag to
indicate occupational exposure.
c. Exempting workers from baseline bioassay implies accepting any detectable results as
likely attributable to current occupational exposure. However, requiring baseline
measurements can potentially impact the schedule of short‐term jobs; the time
required to obtain a chest count and a large‐volume urine sample may add a day or
two delay to entry procedures. Moreover, missing a baseline for a long‐term
employee who will be placed on a routine bioassay program is not likely to be as
troublesome as not obtaining a baseline for a short‐term worker who provides a
termination sample that shows detection of uranium after the worker has left the site
and is difficult to reach for follow‐up.
Section 89
d. Routine, or periodic, measurements are performed on a predetermined schedule
(e.g., an annual or quarterly frequency).
e. Special bioassay measurements are performed as follow‐up to unusual routine
results or suspected intakes.
f. End of assignment or termination measurements are performed following
completion of specific work or at the time of termination of employment. DOE‐STD‐
1098‐2017 recommends that workers who participate in bioassay programs have
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
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appropriate termination measurements.
Bioassay classification is important because the purpose of a sample may affect the collection
and analysis or monitoring method chosen. For example, single‐void urine samples are not
adequate for routine monitoring of potential uranium exposure, but can provide important
information for dose‐reduction therapy following a suspected intake; samples representative
of excretion over a 24‐hour period should be collected for quantitative intake and dose
assessment. The date of sample collection (and possibly the time of collection) can be very
important to special monitoring performed to assess intake. However, these are much less
important with regard to periodic monitoring, for which measurements are not expected to
show detectable activity and when any detection whatsoever is likely to initiate investigation
and special bioassay.
5.3.2 Monitoring Requirements and Selection of Employees
Workers who are considered likely to have intakes resulting in excess of 0.1 rem CED are
required to participate in a bioassay program. The workers at highest risk of incurring an
intake are the ones in closest contact with the material. Typically, these are the operators,
maintenance, and radiological control personnel handling uranium or uranium‐contaminated
objects in the course of routine glovebox, maintenance, or decommissioning operations. In
the event of containment system failure, it is these workers who will most likely incur
exposure and subsequent intake. These workers should be on a routine bioassay program
designed to meet the requirements of 10 CFR Part 835 as a kind of safety net to identify
intakes which might have gone undetected by workplace monitoring.
Other workers (e.g., supervisors, inspectors, observers, guards, and tour groups) who work in
or visit a uranium facility but are not directly working with the material or contaminated
objects are normally at a substantially lower risk for incurring an intake. Although these
people may not need to be on a routine bioassay program, they should be subject to
participation in a special bioassay program if workplace indications suggest loss of control or
containment.
Routine bioassay monitoring should be implemented whenever quantities of uranium handled
exceed the respective quantities in Table 5‐4. Although these values were derived using the
older ICRP 30 models (1979), on this kilogram scale, there would not be much difference with
the newer models.
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
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Table 5‐4. Minimum Uranium Bioassay Monitoring(a,b)
TYPES OF OPERATION MASS ACTIVITY AMOUNT(c)
Processes in open room on bench
top, with possible escape from
process vessels
0.5 kg(d)
320 µCi
Process with possible escape of
uranium that are carried out within
a fume hood of adequate design,
face velocity, and performance
reliability with approved method of
usage (e.g., sash height)
5 kg
3,200 µCi
Process carried out within
gloveboxes that are ordinarily
closed, but with possible release
from process vessels and occasional
exposure to contaminated box and
leakage
Section 90
50 kg
32,000 µCi
(a) From ANSI/HPS N13.22‐2013 (2013a).
(b) Values chosen as conservative for any transportability class or mixture of isotopes of
uranium. For a particular type of operation, the value of mass or activity that is more
restrictive for the mixture should be used.
(c) Obtained from DAC values for pure 235U (see Appendix A.2 of ANSI/HPS N13.22‐2013
(2013a)).
(d) From ANSI/HPS N13.22‐2013 (2013a), Appendix A.1.
5.3.3 Selection of Bioassay Monitoring Techniques
Bioassay monitoring techniques fall into two broad categories: direct measurement of
radioactive materials in the body (in vivo counting) and analysis of material removed from the
body for laboratory (in vitro analysis). In vivo counting includes measurements of the chest,
lung, skeleton, liver, and wounds. In vitro measurements include urinalysis, fecal analysis, and
occasionally analysis of tissue, sputum, or blood samples. Methods for in vitro analysis include
liquid scintillation counting, fluorescence measurements, gamma spectrometry, chemical
separation followed by electrodeposition, and counting with radiation detectors. A brief
overview of bioassay techniques and capabilities has been developed (Selby et al., 1994).
Further discussion of the techniques is provided below.
In addition, to ensure that adverse chemical toxicity effects are unlikely, bioassays for uranium
should be performed when intakes of 1 mg or more of soluble uranium are likely to occur in
any one workday (ANSI, 2013a).
5.3.3.1 In Vivo Counting
Direct bioassay (in vivo counting) is the measurement of radiations emitted from radioactive
material taken into and deposited in the body. Direct bioassay is appropriate for detection and
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
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measurement of photons emitted by uranium and its decay products. Lung, wound, and
skeleton counting are examples of in vivo monitoring most commonly used for uranium and
its progeny.
When direct bioassay is used, the detection system should be calibrated for the radionuclides
to be measured in the appropriate organs. All calibration procedures, calibration records, and
quality control data should be maintained.
A uranium facility should have the capability to detect and assess depositions of uranium in
the lungs of affected workers. The major objective of lung counting is to provide
measurements of suspected intakes triggered by workplace monitoring results. Lung
measurements should be made to provide an early estimate of the magnitude of the intake
and resulting lung deposition.
The most widely used systems for lung counting are high‐purity germanium detectors, thin
sodium‐iodide detectors, phoswich detectors, and proportional counters. Multiple high‐purity
germanium detectors have advantages over the other detector systems because of their good
resolution, allowing better identification of the radionuclide, better detectability, and better
background prediction capability. The main disadvantages of germanium detector arrays are
their higher cost and lower reliability relative to other types of in vivo detectors. Germanium
detectors also must be continuously cooled with liquid nitrogen.
For natural and enriched uranium, the energy most commonly used for in vivo monitoring is
the 185‐keV gamma that is emitted with 54% abundance from the decay of 235U (ANSI, 2013a;
Gerber and Thomas, 1992). For natural uranium, approximately 50% of the activity is due to
decay of 234U. For enriched uranium, 234U is the major contributor to total activity. To calculate
dose, one needs to know the total uranium activity and the isotopic distribution of the
material.
Section 91
For natural or depleted uranium, detection of the 92.4‐keV and 92.8‐keV K x‐rays emitted by
the 234Th daughter product are most commonly used (ANSI, 2013a; Gerber and Thomas, 1992).
This monitoring method would not be appropriate for freshly separated uranium as the 234Th
will not be in equilibrium with the 238U and would potentially result in an underestimate or
overestimate of the actual internal burden.
Measurement equipment to detect and measure uranium contamination in wounds should be
available at all uranium facilities. Instrumentation used for this purpose may include thin‐
crystal NaI(Tl), intrinsic germanium, or Si(Li) detectors. Correction for depth due to absorption
of photons in the overlying tissues should be considered. Collimated detectors are useful for
determining the location of the uranium in wounds.
Estimates of the depth of uranium contamination in a wound may be made using solid‐state
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
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germanium or Si(Li) detectors to measure the relative absorption of the low‐energy x‐rays
emitted by uranium. Information about depth is important for determining whether tissue
excision is necessary to remove the contamination.
5.3.3.2 In Vitro Analysis
The two most common forms of in vitro analysis are urinalysis and fecal analysis.
Urinalysis. Urine sampling provides useful information about the amount of uranium excreted
following an intake. After chemical isolation, the uranium in urine samples may be determined
by alpha spectrometry (gas‐flow proportional or surface‐barrier detection), alpha counting
(zinc sulfide or liquid scintillation counting), or track counting. Analytical procedures for in
vitro measurement of uranium and other radionuclides have been published (Volchok and
dePlanque, 1983; Gautier, 1983).
Urine samples should be collected away from the uranium facility to minimize cross‐
contamination. Samples should be collected in contamination‐free containers; measures
should be considered for minimizing plateout on walls of container surfaces (such as by
addition of trace amounts of gold, oxalate, or nitric acid).
Fecal Analysis. Fecal analysis is a useful procedure for evaluating the excretion of uranium and
many other radioactive materials because more than half of the material deposited in the
upper respiratory tract is cleared rapidly to the stomach and gastrointestinal (GI) tract.
The total fecal plus urinary elimination for the first few days after exposure, combined with in
vivo counts that might be obtained, may provide the earliest and most accurate assessment of
intake. Fecal samples taken during the second and third day after an inhalation incident are
likely to provide the most useful data because the gastrointestinal hold‐up time may vary from
a few hours to a few days.
Fecal sampling is primarily a monitoring procedure for confirming and evaluating suspected
intakes, but is used at some uranium facilities for routine periodic monitoring as well. Workers
may find fecal sampling unpleasant or objectionable, and laboratory technicians may also
have aversion to fecal sample analysis. Some of these problems may be minimized if
commercial fecal sample collection kits are used for convenient collection and handling of
samples. Collection kits also provide a means for collecting uncontaminated samples. Fecal
samples may require additional sample preparation before analysis.
5.4 Establishing Bioassay Frequency
Section 92
The bioassay measurement frequency should be based on: 1) the potential risks of an intake
occurring; and 2) the sensitivity of a bioassay program to detecting potential intakes. The
bioassay program sensitivity can be selected using specified intervals between measurements
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based on the MDD associated with an interval.
The rationale for the selected bioassay measurement frequency should also be documented.
It is appropriate to evaluate the probability of intake and to modify the sampling frequency
based on that probability.
The frequency of bioassay measurements should normally not be decreased because
analytical results are below the detection level. The bioassay program should be maintained
to confirm the proper functioning of the overall internal exposure control program and to
document the absence of significant intakes of radionuclides.
5.4.1 Frequency Based on Program Sensitivity
The minimum detectable dose concept refers to the potential dose associated with an MDA
bioassay measurement at a given time interval post‐intake. The pattern of retention of activity
in the body, the MDA for a bioassay measurement technique, and the frequency with which
that technique is applied define a quantity of intake that could go undetected by the bioassay
program. An intake of such a magnitude would not be detected if it occurred immediately
after a bioassay measurement and if it were eliminated from the body at such a rate that
nothing was detected during the next scheduled measurement. The dose resulting from such
an intake would be the MDD for that particular measurement technique and frequency.
Estimates of MDD in terms of CED should be documented for each measurement technique,
MDA, and frequency. The MDA is defined in ANSI/HPS N13.30 (2011) as a measure of the
detection limit. Analytical radiobioassay laboratories should meet the Acceptable MDAs
(AMDAs) recommended in ANSI N13.30‐2011 (2011) as a minimum. The AMDAs for U
bioassay are shown in Table 5‐5.
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Table 5‐5. Categories and Performance Criteria for Uranium Bioassay
Direct Bioassay
CATEGORY ORGAN AMDA(a)
Measurement of 234Th Lung 3 nCi*
Measurement of 235U Lung 0.2 nCi
* Based on 10 mg 238U.
Indirect Bioassay
CATEGORY NUCLIDE AMDA(a)
Alpha (Urine) 234U, 235U, 238U 0.1 pCi/L
Isotope specific
measurements
(a) Note: The "Acceptable MDAs (AMDAs)" were removed from later drafts of the ANSI standard
due to possible misinterpretation of the word "acceptable". The AMDAs have been replaced
with test ranges for externally conducted quality control tests that take into consideration
the need to be several times MDA or more before reasonably low coefficients of variation
can be obtained for individual sample measurements. In this way, bias as well as precision
can be estimated from reasonably small samples within each test category.
Retention functions specific to the various chemical forms and particle size distributions found
in the facility should be used. Examples of MDD tabulations can be found in La Bone et al.
(1993) and Carbaugh et al. (1994). In establishing MDD tables, it is important to consider dose
contributions from all appropriate radionuclides in any mixture, rather than just the dose
contribution from the bioassay indicator nuclide.
The minimum frequency for routine bioassay programs is interrelated to action levels, as
specified in Table 5‐6 (ANSI, 2013a). Special bioassays are taken as needed.
Section 93
Mass determination Uranium (natural) 5 µg/L
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Table 5‐6. Minimum Suggested Frequencies for Routine Bioassay for Uranium(a)
ABSORPTION
TYPE
SITUATION
FREQUENCY
URINE FECAL IN VIVO
Radiological
F Monthly (b) (b)
M
S
Quarterly
(b)
Annually
Annually
Chemical
Toxicity
F and M Monthly Annually(c)
(a) From ICRP Publication 72 (1995c).
(b) The method of analysis not usually used.
(c) For Type F.
5.4.2 Frequency Based on Potential Risk of Intake
Although uranium workers are not generally considered to be at high risk of incurring intakes
that might result in CEDs of 0.1 rem or more, any uranium worker can be considered to have
the potential for such an intake (see Section 5.3.2). However, having the potential for intake
does not mean that they are likely to incur an intake.
Workers who have the highest potential risk for an intake are those most closely working with
uranium or uranium‐contaminated material. Typically, these workers are glove‐box workers,
maintenance workers, and operational radiological control surveillance staff. These workers
should be on a routine uranium bioassay program, including urinalysis and in vivo
measurements. Such programs are relatively insensitive compared to the 0.1 rem CED
monitoring threshold and are a safety net intended to catch intakes of significance relative to
regulatory limits, rather than substantially lower administrative levels. Selection of bioassay
frequency depends on the facility experience with potential intakes, the perceived likelihood
of intake, and the MDD of a program. Annual urinalyses and in vivo chest counts are fairly
typical. More frequent (e.g., semi‐annual or quarterly) measurements may permit more timely
review of workplace indicators in the event that an abnormal bioassay result is obtained, but
do not necessarily mean a more sensitive program.
5.4.3 Special Bioassay as Supplements to Routine Bioassay Programs
Special bioassay programs for workers with known or suspected acute inhalation intakes of
uranium or other alpha‐emitting radionuclides should include both urine and fecal sampling.
Special bioassay measurements should be initiated for each employee in a contaminated work
area when surface contamination is detected by routine surveillance if it is possible that the
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contamination resulted in a CED of 0.1 rem or greater. Excreta samples should not be
collected where they may be contaminated by external sources of uranium. Ideally, total urine
and feces should be collected for about a week following intake. This permits a sensitive
assessment of potential intake and internal dose. Longer‐term special samples collected at
various times from a month to a year following intake can help to discriminate between
ingestion, Type M inhalation, and Type S inhalation.
5.4.4 Long‐term Follow‐up Bioassay Programs
Following an intake, a long‐term follow‐up bioassay program may be required for a worker to
compare the actual excreta or in vivo results with those projected by the evaluation. This is
important to verify the accuracy of intake and dose assessments. The frequency and duration
of a special program is dependent upon the projected values; it is suggested that as long as a
worker continues to have detectable bioassay results, he or she should continue to be
monitored. It is particularly important to have good baseline data and projections for
individuals who return to uranium work.
Section 94
The ability of a bioassay program to distinguish between an established, elevated baseline and
a new potential intake is important in the continued monitoring of workers once an intake has
occurred. Because of statistical fluctuations in low‐level uranium measurements, it can be very
difficult to identify a new intake by routine bioassay if a worker has an elevated baseline.
5.4.5 Other Frequency Situations
For chronic exposures to soluble uranyl compounds approaching the occupational exposure
limits, more frequent bioassays should be taken. Some suggested frequencies are to sample
after each work break and to sample at the beginning or end of the work week.
If exposure to pure class Y material occurs, monitoring may be done either by fecal analysis, or
urinalysis methods with lower MDAs. As a minimum, the monitoring must be adequate to
show compliance with the dose limits (10 CFR § 835.402(d)). Increased frequency is one way
to lower MDAs for urinalysis for the average of a number of measurements.
5.5 Administration of a Bioassay Program
Administering a bioassay program requires that the policies, procedures, materials, support
facilities, and staff be in place to enable a bioassay program to commence. Among the
administrative items to address are the following:
a. Management policy requiring participation in bioassay program by appropriate
workers (may be part of an overall radiation protection policy);
b. Implementing procedures (e.g., criteria for who should participate, scheduling, sample;
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kit instructions, sample kit issue/receipt, follow‐up to unsuccessful sample or
measurement attempts, data‐handling);
c. Arrangements with appropriate analytical laboratories, including specifications of
analysis sensitivity, processing times, reporting requirements, and quality assurance
provisions;
d. Onsite support facilities (e.g., sample kit storage locations, sample kit issue/collection
stations, measurement laboratory facilities, equipment maintenance);
e. Staff selection, qualification, and training;
f. Total CED from all intakes during a year;
g. Committed equivalent dose to organs or tissues of concern from all intakes during a
year;
h. Magnitude of intake for each radionuclide during a year;
i. Data necessary to allow subsequent verification, correction, or recalculation of doses;
j. Gestation period equivalent dose to the embryo/fetus from intake by the mother
during the entire gestation period.
Recommendations for testing criteria for radiobioassay laboratories are in ANSI N13.30. These
recommendations include calculational methods and performance criteria for bias, precision,
and testing levels. The establishment of minimum detection capability must be driven by
programmatic needs, ideally related to some concept of a minimum detectable dose, rather
than as a single magnitude number.
Some sites have established brief flyers or brochures describing their bioassay measurements.
These may be distributed to workers during classroom training, upon notification of scheduled
measurements, or at the time of the measurement or sample.
The choice of the measurement technique, or of a combination of techniques, depends on the
radioisotopes, physicochemical forms, and exposure pathway.
Section 95
Because of the wide range of chemical and physical forms of uranium, an appropriate bioassay
program is one that does not rely on assumed transportability and will provide data from
which radiation dose can be calculated that will not be dependent on the chemical form. This
will normally require both in vivo and in vitro bioassay. If the uranium being handled has been
shown to be of medium to high transportability, then the bioassay program must be designed
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to demonstrate that 3 µg U/g kidney has not been exceeded.
Uranium Type S materials cannot be effectively detected at the levels listed in ICRP Publication
54 by ordinary methods available for either lung in vivo counts or urinalysis (ICRP, 1989). This
is shown by the fact that the DIL (based on 0.3 ALI as per ANSI/HPS N13.22‐2013 (2013a)) was
0.06 pCi L‐1, which is below the MDA suggested as reasonable for routine uranium alpha
urinalysis (0.1 pCi L‐1) in the standard. A combination of urine and fecal sampling for Type S
materials will allow for adequate detection of uranium.
5.5.1 In Vivo Monitoring
The scheduling and measurement process for obtaining in vivo measurements is usually
straightforward. Workers are scheduled for the measurements and results are available
shortly after the measurement is completed. The long counting times can impose limitations
on the throughput of workers through a measurement facility, making scheduling an
important issue. Procedures should be in place to ensure that workers arrive for scheduled
measurements and that follow‐up occurs when a measurement is not completed or a worker
fails to show.
Occasionally, workers are found who are claustrophobic when placed inside in vivo counter
cells. Leaving the cell door partially open may help reduce some of the anxiety, but will also
likely compromise the low background for which the system is designed.
Many workers want to know the results of their measurements. While a simple statement by
the in vivo measurement technician may be adequate, a form letter stating that results were
normal (or showed no detection of any of the nuclides of concern) can provide permanent
verification. If results are not normal, a form letter can also be used to explain what happens
next.
In vivo analysis is most useful for characterizing inhalation exposure of Type M or S
compounds of uranium by lung counting. MDAs are generally not sufficiently low to provide
reliable information about systemic distribution of soluble uranium at occupational levels. The
235U decays with emission of an energetic (186‐keV) photon in high abundance that is used for
in vivo monitoring of enriched uranium workers. The other long‐lived uranium isotopes emit
only low yields of low‐energy photons (<60 keV), which are easily attenuated by body tissue
and have limited usefulness for in vivo analysis. Internal exposures to aged depleted uranium
can be measured in vivo by taking advantage of several photons of moderate energy (63‐93
keV) emitted by the 234mPa daughter of 234Th, which are both short‐lived daughters of 238U.
An important aspect of any in vivo measurement program is the calibration and verification
testing of the measurement equipment. In vivo measurement results are highly dependent on
the determination of a background result. Likewise, calibration using known activities in
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appropriate phantoms is also important.
5.5.2 Urine Sampling
Section 96
Urine sampling programs can be effectively administered using either workplace or home
collection protocols. Workplace sampling protocols must determine whether adequate
precautions are taken to prevent external contamination of the sample by levels of activity
well below the detection capabilities of friskers and workplace monitors. Home collection
protocols have the advantage of being sufficiently removed from the workplace to render
essentially nonexistent the potential of very low‐level contamination of the sample from
external sources of uranium. Avoidance of very minor external contamination of the samples
is extremely important due to the dosimetric implications of uranium in urine.
Large‐volume urine samples are necessary for bioassay monitoring due to the very small
urinary excretion rates. Ideally, 24‐hour total samples would be preferred; however, such
samples often impose substantial inconvenience on workers, resulting in noncompliance with
the instructions. As an alternative, total samples can be simulated by either time‐collection
protocols or volume normalization techniques.
One method of time‐collection simulation (NCRP 87, 1987a; Sula et al., 1991) is to collect all
urine voided from 1 hour before going to bed at night until 1 hour after rising in the morning
for two consecutive nights. This technique has been reviewed with regard to uranium (Medley
et al. 1994) and found to underestimate daily urine excretion by about 14%. Such a finding is
not unexpected, since the time span defined by the protocol is likely to be about 18 to 22
hours for most people.
The volume normalization technique typically normalizes whatever volume is collected to the
ICRP Reference Man daily urine excretion volume of 1400 ml. Reference Woman excretion
(1000 mL/d) may be used for gender‐specific programs. As a matter of practicality, routine
monitoring programs do not usually use gender as a basis of routine data interpretation,
particularly since results are anticipated to be nondetectable under normal conditions.
A third method calls for collection of a standard volume (e.g., 1 liter) irrespective of the time
over which the sample is obtained. This method uses the standard volume as a screening tool
only for routine monitoring. It does not attempt to relate measured routine excretion to
intake, relying on well‐defined and timely supplemental special bioassay to give true or
simulated daily excretion rates.
The most common sample collection containers are 1‐liter polyethylene bottles. Although
glass bottles are also used, they pose additional risks of breakage. Wide‐mouthed bottles are
preferred for convenience and sanitation. The number of bottles included in the kit should be
appropriate to the protocol; for a total 24‐hour protocol, as much as 3 liters can be expected.
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Special provisions, such as a funnel or transfer cup, may improve the esthetics of sample
collection and provide for added worker cooperation.
Some concerns can exist with length of sample storage before analysis. Storage may come
from delays before batching samples in‐house or due to transportation times to an offsite
laboratory. The longer a sample stands, the more chemical and biological change it can
undergo, typically manifesting itself as sedimentation and plate‐out on container walls. While
samples can be preserved by acidification or freezing, good radiochemistry techniques should
ensure essentially complete recovery of any plate‐out or sediment. Samples sent offsite for
analysis can be preserved with acid, but this method imposes hazardous material shipping
requirements. Freezing samples can preserve them, but plate‐out and sedimentation upon
thawing should still be expected.
Section 97
Precautions are necessary if a lab uses an aliquot for analysis and extrapolates the aliquot
result to the total sample. The aliquoting procedure should be tested using spiked samples to
determine if it is representative.
A quality control (QC) verification program should exist for laboratory analyses, including use
of known blank samples and samples spiked with known quantities of radioactivity. Ideally,
the samples should not be distinguishable by the analytical laboratory from actual worker
samples. The number of QC verification samples may range from 5% to 15% of the total
samples processed by a large‐volume program; a small program focused on submittal of
special samples following suspected intakes may have a much higher percentage of controls.
An additional QC provision may be to request the analytical lab to provide results of their in‐
house QC results for independent review.
There are no standard or regulatory requirements for bioassay sample chain‐of‐custody
provisions, nor has there been consensus on their need. Tampering with samples has not been
a widely reported or suspected problem. Site‐specific chain‐of‐custody requirements should
be based on balancing the need with the resources required to implement them. Some sites
have no chain‐of‐custody requirements associated with bioassay sample collection. At other
sites, a simple seal placed on a sample container following collection by the subject worker is
an effective means of providing a small degree of chain‐of custody. At the more complex level
would be strict accountability requiring signature of issue, certification of collection, and
signature of submittal.
Procedures describing details of the bioassay program should be documented. These
procedures should include a description of sample collection, analysis, calibration techniques,
QC, biokinetic modeling, and dose calculational methods used.
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5.5.3 Fecal Sampling
Fecal analysis is most useful in the first few days after a known acute exposure, since a large
fraction of either an ingestion or inhalation deposition is excreted in feces. Chronic inhalation
exposures to Type M or S uranium can also be characterized by fecal analysis, since a large
fraction of the material clears to the GI tract and is eliminated in feces. Urinalysis is the only
reliable method for determining inhalation exposures to Type F uranium and for monitoring
the excretion of systemic uranium. It also provides complementary information, which, when
used with in vivo or fecal monitoring results, contributes to greater accuracy in internal dose
assessments. Because urinalysis is generally less disruptive to work schedules than in vivo
monitoring and more acceptable to workers than fecal monitoring, it occupies a prominent
place in most uranium bioassay programs.
Fecal analysis is often more likely to detect exposure to highly insoluble Type S material than
urinalysis. The ratio between the fecal excretion level per day and the urine excretion level per
day is greater than 7, as calculated for a 90‐day sampling interval. All action levels are above
the typically attainable MDA for fecal analysis of 0.1 pCi per L (ANSI, 2011b). Thus, it is
recommended that facilities that have a significant Type S uranium exposure potential should
have fecal analysis capabilities available to them, unless they have urinalysis methods that
have MDAs well below the 0.1 pCi per sample (ANSI, 2013a).
Section 98
A fecal sampling program must be designed to optimize worker cooperation, whether
collecting samples at home or in the workplace. Since the frequency of fecal voiding varies
greatly from person to person, the sample collection program must be adaptable. Flexibility in
sample dates is important. It is suggested that when a fecal sample is required, the worker be
provided with a kit and instructed to collect the sample, noting the date and time of voiding
on the sample label. This practice can reduce the likelihood of unsuccessful samples. If
multiple samples are required (for example, to collect the total early fecal clearance following
an acute inhalation exposure), the worker may be given several kits and told to collect the
next several voids, noting the date and time of each.
Since the total fecal voiding should be collected, thought must be given to the kit provided.
Fecal sampling kits can be obtained from medical supply companies or designed by the site. A
typical kit might include a large plastic zipper‐closure bag to hold the sample, placed inside a
1‐ to 2‐liter collection bucket with a tight‐fitting lid. The bucket and bag can be held in place
under a toilet seat by a trapezoid‐shaped bracket with a hole through it sized to hold the
bucket. After sample collection, the zipper bag is sealed, the lid is snapped tight on the bucket,
and the bucket placed in a cardboard box.
Following collection, the provisions for sample handling, control, analytical, and QC are similar
to those described above for urine samples. One particular concern for fecal analysis is the
potential difficulty of dissolving class S uranium in the fecal matrix. While nitric acid
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dissolution may be adequate, enhanced digestion using hydrofluoric acid may be preferred.
5.5.4 Conditions for Adjustments of Action Levels
When workers are potentially exposed to other radiation sources or toxic agents, the action
levels should be reevaluated. Since uranium has both chemical and radiological toxicity
characteristics, urinalysis results should be interpreted both in terms of mass and radioactivity
to ensure that the most appropriate set of action levels is used (ANSI, 2013a).
5.6 Interpretation of Bioassay Results
Bioassay measurements detecting uranium in workers can be initially interpreted as indicating
that occupational intakes may have occurred. Standard bioassay procedures are not
sufficiently sensitive to detect or differentiate occupational intakes from the range of
environmental background levels in vivo or in excreta. For example, there may be significantly
elevated uranium bioassay results in certain populations who obtain their drinking water from
wells. Since most uranium bioassay measurement procedures include counting for
radioactivity as the final step in the measurement process, they are also subject to the
statistics associated with the counting process.
Two key questions associated with bioassay data are:
1) When does a sample result indicate the presence of something (i.e., when is the analyte
detected?
2) What is the overall capability of the bioassay method for continual assurance of
detection of the analyte?
Section 99
The decision level Lc (also called the critical level for detection) is the level for a given
measurement that indicates the likely presence of the analyte. The Lc is dependent on the
probability of obtaining false positive results (type I, or alpha, error) that is acceptable to the
program. A 5% probability of false‐positive results is a common design parameter of
measurement programs, implying that for a large number of measurements, 5% of the time
results will be indicated as positive when in fact there is no activity present. The Lc is
calculated from results of analyses of blank samples. Once a measurement is performed, it is
appropriate to compare it with the Lc to determine whether or not the result is "positive" (i.e.,
the analyte is detected).
The MDA is the level at which continued assurance of detection can be provided. The MDA is a
function of the probabilities of both false positive and false negative (type II, or beta) errors
and is typically based on a 5% probability for each kind of error. The MDA is also determined
from analysis of blank samples, but is substantially higher than the Lc. The MDA is appropriate
for use in designing bioassay programs and as the basis for estimating minimum detectable
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intakes and doses as indicators of program sensitivity. The MDA should not be used as a
comparison with actual measurements to determine whether or not activity is present (i.e.,
<MDA is not an appropriate use of the concept).
Methods for calculating both Lc and MDA are given in ANSI N13.30 (2011).
As an alternative to the Lc and MDA of classical statistics, there have been proposals (Miller et
al., 1993) to use Bayesian statistical methods for evaluating bioassay data.
General follow‐up actions to abnormal bioassay measurements should include data checks,
timely verification measurements, work history reviews, and performance of special in vivo
measurements or excreta sample analyses for intake and dose assessments.
5.6.1 In Vivo Count Results
In vivo uranium measurements are generally relatively insensitive with regard to levels of
occupational exposure concern. This applies particularly to routine chest or lung counting,
skeleton counting, and liver counting. For that reason, any detection of uranium should be
investigated. The investigation should address the validity of the measurement by reviewing
the spectrum and its associated background subtraction. These reviews are particularly
important if the result is near the Lc. Follow‐up to a positive result should include a confirming
measurement. Ideally, this should be an immediate (same day) recount of equal or higher
sensitivity. The farther removed in time a verification measurement is from the original
measurement, the more important it becomes to factor in potential lung clearance in
comparing the two measurements. A follow‐up measurement taken 30 days after an initial
high‐routine may not be capable of providing verification if the material of concern exhibits
type M behavior.
Chest‐wall thickness has a significant impact on chest counting. Corrections are commonly
made using a height‐to‐weight ratio or ultrasonic methods (Kruchten and Anderson, 1990).
Section 100
Corrections may be required to address apparent detection in one tissue resulting from
photon crossfire from another tissue. For example, chest counting is performed primarily to
estimate activity in the lung. Yet, there is substantial bone over the lungs (rib cage, sternum)
and behind the lungs (vertebrae). Plutonium and uranium are both bone‐seeking
radionuclides which will deposit on those bone surfaces and can interfere with chest counting.
It is possible for a person having a systemic burden of uranium from a wound in the finger to
manifest a positive chest count from material translocated to the skeleton, axillary lymph
nodes, or liver (Carbaugh et al. ,1989; Graham and Kirkham, 1983; Jefferies and Gunston,
1986). Interpreting such a chest count as a lung burden can render dose estimates somewhat
inaccurate.
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When comparing in vivo measurements made over many years, it is important to make sure
that the measurements are, in fact, comparable. One consideration is to make sure that
corrections have been consistently applied to all similar measurements. It is not unusual for
measurement systems to be replaced or to change the algorithms used for calculating results
over time. Step changes in data can occur and should be addressed in monitoring long‐term
detectable trends (Carbaugh et al., 1988).
In vivo wound counting for uranium is usually one facet of special bioassay. While a portable
alpha survey meter may show if surface contamination is present at the wound site or
contamination of the wounding object, alpha detectors are not capable of measuring
imbedded activity or activity masked by blood or serum. Thus, uranium facilities should have
available a wound counter utilizing a thin sodium iodide or semi‐conductor (e.g., planar
germanium) detector. Such detectors are capable of measuring the low‐energy photons
emitted from uranium. The ability to accurately quantify wound activity is highly variable,
depending on the calibration of the equipment and how deeply imbedded material is in the
wound. If the object causing a wound and blood smears taken at the time of a wound show no
detectable activity, then a wound count also showing no detectable activity is probably
sufficient to rule out an intake. If the wounding object or the blood smears show detectable
activity, special urine samples should be obtained regardless of the wound count result. In this
latter circumstance, lack of detectable activity on a wound count could be attributable to
deeply imbedded material at the wound site or to rapid transportation of material from the
wound to the systemic compartment.
5.6.2 Urine Sample Results
Detection of uranium activity in a routine or special urine sample using commonly available
radiochemical measurement techniques should be investigated as a potential intake. A data
review should be made to determine if the sample result was correctly determined, and batch
QC sample data should be verified.
If the result is near the Lc, it is possible that statistical fluctuation of the measurement process
could account for the apparent detection. Recounting the final sample preparation once or
twice can be a helpful technique to verify a result or classify it as a false‐positive. If the first
recount also detects the analyte, it can be concluded that the sample does contain the analyte
(the likelihood of two consecutive false positives at a 5% type I error per measurement is
0.0025, or 0.25%.) If the first recount does not detect the analyte, a second recount can be
performed as a tie‐breaker.
Section 101
An investigation should be initiated for any abnormal uranium urinalysis result. "Abnormal"
for a person with no prior history of intake should be interpreted as any detectable activity.
Once an intake is confirmed, obtaining sufficient samples is necessary to establish a
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reasonably anticipated baseline against which future measurements can be compared. This is
important both to provide future verification of the accuracy of the assessment and to identify
potential additional intakes.
The statistical fluctuation of low‐level measurements can be particularly troublesome for long‐
term excretion patterns. Factors of two can be easily expected due to day‐to‐day variability
and imprecise adherence by the worker to urine collection protocols.
5.6.3 Fecal Sample Results
Fecal samples are much more sensitive to detection of intakes than are urine samples and,
consequently, are an important part of follow‐up bioassay monitoring for potential intakes
initially identified by workplace indications. Pitfalls to the data interpretation include highly
variable individual fecal voiding patterns, ranging from more than one per day to one every
few days. This makes it extremely important to know what time interval is represented by a
collected fecal sample. While a single set of fecal data can be normalized to a daily excretion
rate for Reference Man, it is not likely to improve the quality of assessment.
The preferred fecal sampling protocol following an intake is to collect all the early fecal
clearance (meaning total feces for the first 5 to 7 days). This method will allow a good
estimation of inhalation or ingestion intake, but does not readily permit discrimination of
inhalation from ingestion, or identify whether inhaled material exhibits Type F, M, S clearance
patterns. For optimum interpretation, total fecal collection should be interpreted in light of
early urine and in vivo data for preliminary estimates. The urine data is likely to be particularly
valuable in conjunction with fecal data to classify an intake as Type M or S. Longer‐term
follow‐up fecal samples at nominally 30, 60, and 90 days post‐intake should substantially
improve the classification of material as Type M or S.
5.6.4 Use of Air Sample Data in Internal Dosimetry
Results of air sampling and continuous air monitoring implying more than 40 DAC‐hours
exposure should be used to initiate special bioassay to assess intakes of uranium. Although
bioassay data are the preferred method for assessing intakes and internal doses, air sample
data can be used if bioassay data are unavailable or determined to be inadequate or
nonrepresentative. Air sample data can be used to calculate an exposure to airborne material
either in terms of DAC‐hours or potential radioactivity intake as follows:
DAC - hours =
Air Concentration
x Duration (hours)
DAC
Intake = Air Concentration x Breathing Rate x Time
If air sample results are HE,50 representative of air breathed by individuals, then doses can be
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50
calculated using the 5‐rem stochastic limit for CED (E50) or the 50‐rem nonstochastic limit for
committed tissue dose equivalent (HT,50) and the respective stochastic or nonstochastic DAC or
ALI conversion factor, as shown bel–ow:
–
E50
= (DAC - hours) x
Dose Limit
2000 DAC - hours
E = Intake x Dose Limit
ALI
If respiratory protection is worn by workers, the appropriate respirator protection factor may
be applied to the above calculations (i.e., dividing the calculated result by the protection
factor.)
Section 102
General air sampling programs should be augmented by breathing zone sampling when air
concentrations to which individuals are exposed might be highly variable. Breathing zone
sampling may include both fixed‐location and personal (lapel) air samplers. Personal air
samples are more likely to be representative of actual exposure conditions than are samples
collected at fixed locations, and they can be particularly useful for assessing potential intakes
involving short‐term exposure to well‐monitored air concentrations.
5.7 Dose Assessment
Understanding the behavior of uranium in the body is essential for being able to model the
uranium body burden on the basis of a bioassay. Knowledge of pathways the radionuclides
follow, the organs and systems that make up the pathways, the rates at which the
radionuclides travel along these pathways, and the rates at which they are eliminated from
the body are essential for determining radiation dose. The US Department of Health and
Human Services Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Toxicological Profile for
Uranium (2013) details the toxicokinetics of uranium in the body.
Dose assessment involves collecting and analyzing information concerning a potential intake
and developing a conclusion regarding the magnitude of intake and its associated committed
dose equivalents. Dose assessments are conducted by investigating the nature of a potential
intake and by analyzing bioassay measurement results or other pertinent data. Biokinetic
models are used in conjunction with bioassay data to evaluate the intake, uptake, and
retention of uranium in the organs and tissues of the body. Intake estimates can then be used
to calculate committed effective and organ dose equivalents. It is essential that good
professional judgement be used in evaluating potential intakes and assessing internal doses. A
number of considerations for dose assessments have been identified (Carbaugh 1994).
Computer codes are commonly used for assessment of intakes, dose calculation, and bioassay
or body content projections. An overview of what should be considered in selecting a
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
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computer code, as well as descriptions of a number of internal dosimetry codes available in
1994, has been developed (La Bone 1994). Internal dosimetry code users should understand
how the code works and be aware of its limitations. Computer codes merely provide the
logical result of the input they are given. Use of a particular computer code does not
necessarily mean a dose estimate is correct.
As used in this section, the definition of "intake" is the total quantity of radioactive material
taken into the body. Not all material taken into the body is retained. For example, in an
inhalation intake, the ICRP Publication 68 (1994b) respiratory tract model predicts that, for 5‐
µm particles, 82% of the intake will be deposited in the respiratory tract; the other 18% is
immediately exhaled. For a wound intake, material may be initially deposited at the wound
site. Once the material has been deposited, it can be taken up into systemic circulation either
as an instantaneous process (e.g., direct intravenous injection of a dissolved compound) or
gradually (e.g., slow absorption from a wound site or the pulmonary region of the lung). Both
the instantaneous and slow absorption processes are often referred to as uptake to the
systemic transfer compartment (i.e., blood). Once material has been absorbed by the blood, it
can be translocated to the various systemic organs and tissues.
Section 103
An understanding of this terminology is important to review of historical cases. Before DOE
Order 5480.11, many sites reported internal doses not as dose equivalent estimates but as an
uptake (or projected uptake) expressed as a percentage of a maximum permissible body
burden (MPBB). The standard tabulated values for MPBBs were those in ICRP Publication 2
(1959). Many archived historical records may have used this approach. DOE Order 5480.11
(now superseded) required calculation of dose equivalent. Now, 10 CFR Part 835 has codified
the calculation of intakes and committed doses.
5.7.1 Methods of Estimating Intake
There are several published methods for estimating intake from bioassay data (Skrable et al.,
1994; Strenge et al., 1992; ICRP, 1989; King, 1987). These methods each employ an idealized
mathematical model of the human body showing how materials are retained in and excreted
from the body over time following the intake. An intake retention function (IRF) is a simplified
mathematical description of the complex biokinetics of a radioactive material in the human
body. These functions are used to predict the fraction of an intake that will be present in any
compartment of the body, including excreta, at any time post‐intake. Intake retention
functions incorporate an uptake retention model that relates uptake to bioassay data and a
feed model that relates intake to uptake and bioassay data. ICRP Publication 54 (1989) and
others (Lessard et al., 1987) contain compilations of IRFs.
In its simplest form, a compartment content at any time post‐intake (Qt) can be expressed as
the product of intake multiplied by the intake retention function value for compartment Q at
time t post‐intake, or:
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Qt = Intake x IRF(Qt)
Results predicted by the model can then be compared with the observed bioassay data. Such
results are often referred to as expectation values.
Simple algebraic manipulation of the model allows calculation of intake from the
compartment content at time t, as shown below:
Intake =
Qt
IRF(Qt)
When multiple data points are available for a compartment, the intake can be estimated using
an unweighted or weighted least‐squares fitting procedure, as described by Skrable (1994)
and Strenge (1992) or as can be found in most statistics textbooks. As an alternative, data can
be fit by eye to a graphical plot; however, the apparent fit can be misleading if data have been
logarithmically transformed.
Intake can also be estimated from air sample data, as described in Section 5.7.4. This method
is appropriate if bioassay data are not available or insufficiently sensitive. Intake estimates
based on air samples and bioassay data are also appropriate as a check on each other. Valid
bioassay data showing detectable results should be given preference over intake estimates
based on air sample results.
5.7.2 Alternate Methods of Intake Assessment
Historically, intake as described in the foregoing section was not always calculated when
assessing uranium exposures. Estimates of uptake using recognized methods (Langham 1956,
Healy 1957, Lawrence 1987) focused on assessing the magnitude of radioactivity retained in
the body, rather than intake (which includes material not retained and of no dosimetric
significance). These methods were (and are) dosimetrically sound in so far as estimates of
deposition and uptake are concerned.
5.7.3 Estimating Effective Dose from Intakes of Uranium
Section 104
The committed equivalent dose resulting from an intake of uranium may be calculated by
multiplying the estimated intake (I) by an appropriate dose conversion factor (DCF):
H50 = I x DCF
Dose conversion factors can be obtained from tabulated data in ICRP Publication 68 (1994b)
or calculated directly using computer programs.
Values for simplified dose conversion factors can be obtained by dividing a dose limit by the
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
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corresponding value for the ALI. A caution must be observed with this approach: not all
tabulated values of ALIs are the same. The ALIs are commonly rounded in most tabulations to
one significant figure. Substantial variation can occur as a result of unit conversion. Such
rounding errors can introduce significant discrepancies in dosimetry calculations. This method
also raises a question about which ALI should be used if compliance monitoring is being based
on comparison with secondary limits, such as the ALI rather than the primary dose limits.
Where individual‐specific data are available, the models should be adjusted. However, the
general lack of capability to monitor organ‐specific retention for uranium (i.e., content and
clearance half‐times) makes the use of default models most practical.
Ideally, one should obtain as much bioassay information as possible to determine the intake
and track the retention of uranium in the body to reduce the uncertainty associated with the
daily variation in the measurements. A regression analysis should be used to fit the
measurement values for estimating the initial intake and clearance half‐times.
5.8 Reference and Action Levels
Reference and action levels are essential to operation of a routine internal dosimetry
program. Because a wide range of levels can be defined by various facilities and organizations,
this document does not attempt to prescribe particular level titles. As used in this document,
reference and action levels are simply workplace or bioassay measurements, or associated
calculated doses, at which specific actions occur.
Notification levels based on workplace indicators for reacting to a potential intake are
suggested in Table 5‐9. The intent of these notification levels is to provide guidance for field
response to any potential intake of radioactive material with a potential for a dose
commitment that is >100‐mrem CED. Table 5‐10 suggests notification levels to the
occupational medicine physician for possible early medical intervention in an internal
contamination event. These tables, derived from Carbaugh et al. (1994), are based on general
considerations and significant experience with past intakes of radioactive material and,
because they are based on field measurements, do not correspond with any exact dose
commitment to the worker.
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
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Table 5‐7. Uranium Levels for Internal Dosimetry Notification
Indicator Notification Level
Nasal or mouth smears Detectable activity
Facial contamination
(direct measurement) 200 dpm
Skin breaks or blood smears Any skin break while handling material other than sealed sources
Head, neck contamination 2,000 dpm
Contamination in respirator Detectable activity inside respirator after use
Hands, forearms, clothing(a) 10,000 dpm
Airborne radioactivity Acute intake equivalent to 40 DAC‐hours after accounting for
respiratory protection factor(b)
(a) Clothing contamination levels apply to exposure without respiratory protection, such as on inner
coveralls or personal clothing.
Section 105
airborne concentration
(b) DAC - hours = DAC x hours of intake
Table 5‐8. Uranium Contamination Levels for Notification of Occupational Medicine
Physician
Indicator
Medical Notification Level
(dpm)
Nasal or mouth smears
1,000
Facial contamination 25,000
Skin breaks or wounds
100
The decision to administer treatment and the treatment protocol are solely the
responsibilities of the physician in charge. The basic principle is that the proposed intervention
should do more good than harm (Gerber and Thomas, 1992).
Guidelines for the medical intervention of a radionuclide intake can be found in several
publications. The Guidebook for the Treatment of Accidental Internal Radionuclide
Contamination of Workers (Gerber and Thomas, 1992) contains detailed guidance in
intervention and medical procedures useful in mitigating radiation overexposures. The
CEC/DOE Guidebook has been based on the ALI for action levels, rather than on CED, to
overcome the problem of uncertainties in dose per unit intake. The ICRP recommends in
Publication 60 (1991b) a limit of 2‐rem/y (20‐mSv/y) on effective dose (ICRP, 1991a). Thus, the
ALIs found in ICRP Publication 61 and used in the Gerber and Thomas (1992) noted above are
those which would provide a CED of 2‐rem/y instead of current U.S. regulations of 5‐rem/y
(Gerber and Thomas, 1992).
Guidance in the CEC/DOE Guidebook can be summarized as follows:
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a. When the estimated intake is below 1 ALI, treatment should not be considered.
b. When the estimated intake is between 1 and 10 times the ALI, treatment should be
considered. Under these situations, short‐term administration will usually be
appropriate, except for intake of materials poorly transported from the lung (Type S).
c. When the estimated intake exceeds 10 times the ALI, then extended or protracted
treatment should be implemented, except for materials poorly transported from the
lung.
d. For poorly transported material in the lung, lung lavage is the only recommended
treatment, and it is only a consideration for intakes exceeding 100 times the ALI.
Because the dose associated with the ALI in the Gerber and Thomas (1992) is 2‐rem CED and
because the upper administrative control level suggested by DOE‐STD‐1098‐2017 (2017b) is 2
rem, intervention levels of 2 rem and 20 rem might be used for guidance in the manner
presented in the Gerber and Thomas (1992):
a. When the CED estimated intake is below 2 rem, treatment is not generally
recommended.
b. When the CED for an estimated intake is between 2 rem and 20 rem, treatment
should be considered. Under these situations, short‐term administration will usually
be appropriate.
c. When the CED for an estimated intake exceeds 20 rem, then extended or protracted
treatment is strongly recommended, except for poorly transported material in the
lung.
A useful method to enhance excretion of uranium via the kidneys is the formation of
radionuclide complexes using sodium bicarbonate. This type of complexation appears to be
the only current method that has a reasonable chance of reducing or preventing kidney
damage during the early period after incorporation of this chemo-toxic heavy metal.
Section 106
An initial prophylactic chelation therapy may be appropriate because bioassay measurements
(particularly urinalysis) cannot usually be completed within the response time required for
effective chelation therapy. Urinalysis becomes very helpful following administration of
chelation therapy because there is a direct correlation between urinary excretion and dose
averted because of uranium excreted. This provides a method of measuring the effectiveness
of chelation therapy and determining if it is worthwhile to continue therapy. It is probable that
the efficacy of treatment will decrease with continued administration as uranium is removed
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
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and the rate of transfer into the systemic compartment decreases.
5.9 Response to Suspected Intakes
Experience has shown that most intakes of uranium are accidental. Uranium facilities and
operating procedures are designed to prevent intakes. Nonetheless, it is important for
management to prepare for the possibility that workers might receive an intake of uranium‐‐
even though the probability of an incident may be very small. Prompt and appropriate action
following an accidental intake of uranium will allow for therapeutic measures to be taken to
minimize the internal contamination and lessen the potential for harmful effects. The health
physicist and medical staff should work closely to ensure that the proper course of action is
followed.
All employees suspected of having received an intake of uranium should be referred for
special bioassay measurements. Because a fraction of an intake by inhalation may be retained
in the nasal passages for a few hours after exposure to airborne radioactive materials, any
level of contamination on a nasal swab indicates an intake that should be followed up by a
special bioassay measurement program. However, lack of detection on nasal smears cannot
be taken as evidence that an intake did not occur either because the nasal passages can be
expected to clear very rapidly or, alternatively, because the worker could be a mouth‐
breather. Special bioassay should also be initiated if uranium contamination is found on the
worker in the vicinity of nose or mouth.
Developing specific field criteria to identify the need for medical response can be challenging.
Inhalation intake estimations based on DAC‐hours exposure are straightforward and discussed
earlier in this document. Early bioassay measurement levels corresponding to the action levels
have been calculated at Hanford and are summarized in Table 5‐11. Another method is to
develop field observation criteria (e.g., nasal smear or skin contamination criteria) which
might imply that an action level has been exceeded. This latter approach is highly subjective
with any number chosen likely to be arguable. Knowledge of facility operations, material
forms, and past experience will likely play a key role in development of such criteria.
For acute intakes, direct bioassay measurements should be taken before, during, and after the
period of rapid clearance of activity. Urine and fecal samples collected after known or
suspected inhalation incidents should also be used to estimate the magnitude of the intake.
Initial assessments of intakes from contaminated wounds are based primarily on wound count
and urinalysis data.
If a significant intake is indicated, the worker should not return to further potential exposure
to uranium until the intake has been thoroughly assessed and a predictable bioassay pattern
established. This is particularly important because a new intake of a very low level may
confound the interpretation of bioassay measurements for previous intakes of uranium.
Section 107
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
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Table 5‐9. Early Bioassay Measurement Results Corresponding to the Therapeutic
Intervention Action Levels Used at the Hanford Site (Carbaugh et al., 1995)
Isotope and
Dose
(HE,50)
Measurement
Result
Action Possible
Treatment
Uranium,
Soluble
Potential
kidney
toxicity
Chest count
>MDA (14‐21
mg)
Consider
therapy
Na or Ca
bicarbonate;
intestinal
adsorbents
Second‐void
urine
sample
>0.1 mg
12‐hour urine
sample >0.5 mg
Uranium
Insoluble(a)
2 rem Chest count >MDA for 235U
or 234Th
Consider
therapy
None
recommended
200 rem
Same
100 x ALI
Treatment
strongly
recommended
Lung lavage
a. If soluble component is present, then urine sampling is appropriate. Use same
action levels as above for soluble uranium.
The health physicist must make important decisions for prompt action at the site of an
accidental or suspected intake of uranium or other radioactive materials. Often, these
decisions must be based on limited data. Information that may be available for initially
estimating the amount and type of intake may include the following:
a. levels of measured contamination in the work area;
b. skin contamination levels, affected areas, and whether the skin is damaged or
punctured;
c. wound contamination levels;
d. chemical form of the material involved;
e. results of air monitoring;
f. nasal smear activity levels;
g. sputum and/or mouth contamination.
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The special bioassay monitoring program is initiated following a known or suspected intake.
This information is needed for dose assessment and future exposure management. The intake
is confirmed if follow‐up bioassay measurements indicate positive measurement results.
Additional bioassay measurements may be needed to quantify the intake and provide data for
determining the effective dose equivalent. The frequency of bioassay monitoring will depend
on the specific case to be evaluated. Selection of the appropriate sampling frequency is based
on the previously discussed performance capabilities for workplace monitoring programs,
consultations with internal dosimetry specialists, and the cooperation of the affected
employee.
5.9.1 Emergency Action Planning
The management at the uranium facility should be prepared to follow an emergency action
plan for response to a uranium intake. If a worker accidentally inhales or ingests uranium or is
injured by a uranium‐contaminated object, the action plan should be initiated immediately. A
rapid response is important because any delay in implementing appropriate action could
lessen the effectiveness of decorporation therapy and increase the probability for internalized
uranium to deposit in the kidneys or on bone surfaces.
5.9.2 Medical Emergency Response Plan
The health physicist and medical staff must establish an emergency action plan for the
appropriate medical management of an accidental intake of uranium. The elements of the
plan should include the following:
a. Decision levels for determining when monitoring data or accident events require
emergency medical response;
b. Responsibilities of the affected worker, health physicist, medical staff, and
management or supervisory personnel;
c. Instructions for immediate medical care, decontamination, monitoring, and longer‐
term follow‐up response;
d. Provisions for periodically reviewing, updating, and rehearsing the emergency action
plan.
Section 108
The sequence and priority of the emergency action plan may vary with the magnitude and
type of accidental conditions and their severity. An initial early assessment of the incident
should focus, first, on treatment of life‐threatening physical injuries and, second, on the
radioactive contamination involved. Minor injuries should be treated after decontamination.
A rapid estimate of the amount of internal contamination by uranium or other alpha emitters
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
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may not be possible. If a significant intake (meaning one that exceeds 10 times the ALI) is
suspected, medical staff should proceed with decorporation therapy after first treating major
injuries.
5.9.3 Responsibilities for Management of Internal Contamination
Responsibilities should be assigned for action in response to an accidental internal uranium
contamination. The affected worker has the responsibility to inform the health physicist,
radiological control technician (RCT), or his immediate supervisor as soon as an intake is
suspected. The health physicist or RCT should make an initial survey of the extent of the
contamination and immediately contact his supervisor and, when action levels are exceeded,
contact a member of the medical staff. Monitoring and radiation safety support to the medical
staff and supervisors should continue during the management of the contamination incident.
Care should be taken to limit the spread of radioactive contamination.
The health physicist should immediately begin to gather data on the time and extent of the
incident. Contamination survey results should be recorded. Radionuclide identity, chemical
form, and solubility classification should be determined. Nasal smears should be obtained
immediately if an intake by inhalation is suspected. When action levels are exceeded, all urine
and feces should be collected and labeled for analysis. Decontamination should proceed with
the assistance of the medical staff. Contaminated clothing and other objects should be saved
for later analysis.
5.9.4 Immediate Medical Care
The medical staff should provide immediate emergency medical care for serious injuries to
preserve the life and well‐being of the affected worker. Minor injuries may await medical
treatment until after an initial radiation survey is completed and the spread of contamination
is controlled. However, the individual should be removed from the contaminated radiation
area as soon as possible. Chemical contamination and acids should be washed immediately
from the skin to prevent serious burns and reactions.
A chelating agent should be administered by a qualified medical professional immediately
following an accidental intake of uranium if the dose thresholds discussed in Section 5.9 (2
rem‐20 rem) are exceeded. Sodium bicarbonate should be available for treating internal
uranium contamination. The worker to be treated must first be informed of the proposed use
of a chelating agent, instructed on the purpose of administering the chelating agent, and
warned about the possible side‐effects. The worker must then give signed consent before
chelation therapy may be initiated. Even though sodium bicarbonate therapy is the only
method available for reducing the quantity of uranium retained in the body, the affected
worker has the right to refuse its use.
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
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Section 109
The recommended therapy for decorporation is a systemic administration of 250 mL of
isotonic (1.4%) solution of sodium bicarbonate by slow intravenous injection (Gerber and
Thomas, 1992). The sodium bicarbonate reacts with uranyl ions, UO2 ++, in body fluids to form
an anionic complex, probably UO2(CO3)3, which is rapidly excreted in urine. Treatment may be
continued if bioassay indicates that decorporation therapy continues to enhance the urinary
excretion of uranium. However, if treatment is extended over the days following the incident,
the dosage should be adapted to prevent contraindications of alkalosis (bicarbonate solution
is alkaline) and respiratory acidosis (Gerber and Thomas, 1992).
5.9.5 Contaminated Wounds
Medical treatment for contaminated wounds may include flushing with saline and
decorporating solutions, debridement, and surgical excision of the wound. These measures
are all the responsibility of trained medical staff operating under the direction of a physician.
Radiological control personnel can provide valuable assistance by prompt assessment of
materials removed from the wound and identification of magnitude of residual activity as
decontamination proceeds. Decontamination should continue until all radioactivity has been
removed or until risk of permanent physical impairment is reached.
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
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6 EXTERNAL DOSIMETRY
The external dosimetry program is an integral part of the external dose control program. DOE
G 441.1‐1C Chg 1 (Admin Chg) (2011a) provides detailed guidance for implementing an
external dosimetry program that meets the requirements of 10 CFR Part 835. The reference
section of that Guide lists specific documents applicable to external dosimetry. Because the
requirements and recommendations are explicitly given in these documents, they will not be
discussed in any great detail in this chapter. Rather, the emphasis will be on items that are
unique to uranium facilities and the radiological aspects for safe handling of uranium.
Measuring the external radiation exposure and the resultant dose is complicated by the many
radiations involved in uranium handling. Chapter 2 of this Technical Standard discusses the
radioactive decay schemes for and radiations emitted by the uranium isotopes and their
radioactive daughter products. Uranium has a wide distribution of beta and gamma energies,
with a 2.29‐MeV beta as the most significant of these. The dose rate from photons is relatively
low. Uranium also emits alpha particles that may generate ~2 MeV neutrons as a result of
interactions with the nuclei of fluorine or other low‐Z atoms. The magnitude of the neutron
fluence depends on the enrichment of the uranium and on the interacting chemical.
The elements of the external dose control program are: detection and characterization of the
beta, gamma, and neutron radiation fields; measurement and quantification of these fields;
measurement of personnel dose; and determination and establishment of dose control
practices.
6.1 DOSE LIMITS
10 CFR Part 835 specifies the applicable limits used for control of external radiations. Table 6‐1
lists the appropriate depths in tissue for measurement of doses to the whole body, lens of the
eye, "unlimited areas of skin," and extremities.
Table 6‐1. Effective Depth of Tissue for Various Organs
Tissue Type Depth of tissue,
(mg/cm2)
Deep (penetrating) 1000
Lens of eye 300
Shallow (skin, extremities) 7
6.1.1 Limiting Quantities
Section 110
In 1994, the ICRP introduced a major revision in recommended radiation protection practice
with the introduction of ICRP Publication 60 (1991a). The new methodology expands on a
"risk‐based" system of dose limitation. The ICRP introduced the terms stochastic and
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
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deterministic for radiation effects and set limits for both types of effect. Stochastic effect is
defined as one for which the probability of the effect occurring (as opposed to the degree or
severity of effect) is a function of radiation dose. Deterministic effect is defined as one for
which the severity of the effect is a function of the dose; a threshold may exist. Limits were
established such that the risk of stochastic effects occurring was equivalent to about the same
risks faced by workers in "safe" industries who were not occupationally exposed to radiation
in the workplace. Limits were also established for deterministic effects that prevented these
effects from occurring even if the exposure occurred at the annual limit over the lifetime of
the worker.
Equivalent dose (HT), which is the absorbed dose averaged over tissue or organ due to
radiation, is given by the equation:
HT = LwR DT,R
R
Where:
WR is the radiation weighting factor (See Table 6‐2)
DT,R, is the average absorbed dose (rad) in a tissue or organ
The equivalent dose is not always the appropriate quantity for use in relations to deterministic
effects because the values of radiation weighting factors (wT) have been chosen to reflect the
relative biological effectiveness of the different types of energies of radiation in producing
stochastic effects.
Table 6‐2. Radiation Weighting Factors, wR
Type and Energy Range Radiation Weighting
Factor (wR)
Photons, electrons and muons, all energies 1
Neutrons, energy<10keV 5
Neutrons, energy 10 keV to 100 keV 10
Neutrons, energy > 100 keV to 2 MeV 20
Neutrons, energy > 2 MeV to 20 MeV 10
Neutrons, energy > 20 MeV 5
Protons, other than recoil protons, energy > 2
MeV 5
Alpha particles, fission fragments, heavy nuclei 20
The Effective dose (E) is the summation of the products of the equivalent dose received by
specified tissues or organs of the body and the appropriate tissue weighting factor (wT).
Effective dose is expressed in terms of rem (or Sv).
E = L wT HT
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Where:
WT is the tissue weighting factor (See Table 6‐3)
HT is the equivalent dose in rem (or Sv)
Table 6‐3. Tissue Weighting Factors
Organs or tissues, T
Tissue weighting factor, wT
Gonads 0.20
Red bone marrow 0.12
Colon 0.12
Lungs 0.12
Stomach 0.12
Bladder 0.05
Breast 0.05
Liver 0.05
Esophagus 0.05
Thyroid 0.05
Skin 0.01
Bone surfaces 0.01
Remainder(a) 0.05
Whole body(b) “1.0
0
“
a.
b.
"Remainder" means the following additional tissues and organs and their
masses, in grams, following parenthetically: adrenals (14), brain (1400),
extrathoracic airways (15), small intestine (640), kidneys (310), muscle
(28,000), pancreas (100), spleen (180), thymus (20), and uterus (80). The
equivalent dose to the remainder tissues (Hremainder), is normally calculated
as the mass‐weighted mean dose to the preceding ten organs and tissues.
In those cases in which the most highly irradiated remainder tissue or organ
receives the highest equivalent dose of all the organs, a weighting factor of
0.025 (half of remainder) is applied to that tissue or organ and 0.025 (half
of remainder) to the mass‐weighted equivalent dose in the rest of the
remainder tissues and organs to give the remainder equivalent dose.
Section 111
For the case of uniform external irradiation of the whole body, a tissue
weighting factor (wT) equal to 1 may be used in determination of the
effective dose.
Table 6‐4 lists the annual radiation dose limits for DOE activities. However, DOE contractors
usually establish lower annual administrative control levels, typically 500 mrem/year or less.
In practice, it is difficult to measure the effective dose equivalents specified in Table 6‐4
because it is necessary to know not only the type of radiation but also its energy and direction.
If the flux, energy, and direction of incidence are known, it is possible to calculate effective
dose equivalent using fluence to effective dose equivalent conversion coefficients presented
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
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in ICRP Publication 51 (1987), which presents the effective dose equivalent as a function of
energy for various irradiation geometries. Conversion coefficients for mono‐directional beams
of neutrons can be found in an article by Stewart et al (1994). Conversion coefficients for
photons in various irradiation geometries, including planar sources, can be found in a report
by Zankl et al. (1994). This approach will provide more accurate values of effective dose
equivalent, as opposed to numerically setting the value of effective dose equivalent equal to
dose equivalent geometries. Conversion coefficients for mono‐directional beams of neutrons
can be found in an article by Stewart (Stewart et al. 1994). Conversion coefficients for photons
in various irradiation geometries, including planar sources, can be found in a report by Zankl
et al. (1994). This approach will provide more accurate values of effective dose equivalent, as
opposed to numerically setting the value of effective dose equivalent equal to dose
equivalent.
Table 6‐4. Radiation Dose Limits for DOE and DOE Contractors
Type of Radiation
Exposure Limit
Occupational Exposures
of Adults
Stochastic Effects
Deterministic Effects
Lens of eye
Extremity
Skin
Individual organ or
tissue
5‐rem total per year (sum of effective dose from
external exposures and CED received during year)
15‐rem equivalent dose per year
50‐rem equivalent dose per year
50‐rem equivalent dose per year
50‐rem dose equivalent per year (sum of equivalent
dose from external exposures and CED received
during the year)
Occupational Exposures
of
Minors
Stochastic Effects
Deterministic Effects
(Lens of eye, extremity,
skin, individual organ, or
tissue)
0.1‐rem per year (sum of effective dose from external
exposures and CED received during year)
10% of occupational dose limits for adults
Embryo/fetus of a
Declared Pregnant
Worker
0.5‐rem equivalent dose per gestation period
Planned Special
Exposure
Same as routine occupational dose limits in a year
(but accounted for separately)
5 times the routine occupational dose limits over an
individual’s lifetime
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
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6.1.2 Operational Quantities
Because of the difficulties in determining effective dose equivalent from direct measurements,
the concept of operational quantities has been introduced to be more closely related to
measurable quantities. Operational quantities include ambient dose equivalent used for area
monitoring and personal dose equivalent used for personnel dosimetry. Operational quantities
are designed to be a conservative estimator of effective dose equivalent, i.e., the values of the
operational quantities will be equal to or higher than the effective dose equivalent specified
for the limiting quantities.
Section 112
The ambient dose equivalent, H*(d), is the dose equivalent at a depth, d, in a 30‐cm‐diameter
sphere of tissue, where: a) the radiation field has the same fluence and energy distribution as
the point of reference for the measurement; and b) the fluence is unidirectional (i.e., the
sphere can be viewed as being in an aligned radiation field). Most survey instruments are
designed to measure ambient dose equivalent, and international standards are based on the
ambient dose equivalent concept. The depth of interest is typically 1 cm of soft tissue, as
specified in 10 CFR Part 835.
The personal dose equivalent, Hp(d), is the dose equivalent in soft tissue at the appropriate
depth, d, below a specified point on the body. Obviously, personnel dosimeters should be
calibrated in terms of personal dose equivalent.
In reality, most instruments and personnel dosimeters used at DOE facilities are calibrated in
terms of equivalent dose. For example, consider the case in which personnel neutron
dosimeters are calibrated on acrylic plastic phantoms at a specified distance from a calibrated
neutron source. For DOELAP testing, the dose equivalent at this point has been calculated in
accordance with ICRP Publication 74 (1996).
In most instances, the present methods based on dose equivalent overestimate effective dose
equivalent. In cases where personnel are approaching dose limits, it may be prudent to more
accurately evaluate effective dose equivalent using special calibrations. Depending on the
irradiation geometry and energy, effective dose equivalent may be as much as a factor of two
less than dose equivalent.
6.2 RADIATIONS IN URANIUM FACILITIES
As outlined in Section 2.0 of this Technical Standard, the uranium isotopes are primarily alpha‐
emitters and their progeny emit a wide variety of radiations, including alpha and beta
particles, as well as more penetrating x rays and gamma rays. Alpha‐neutron interactions (and
the small cross‐section for spontaneous fission) add the potential for neutron exposure to the
radiation mix. This section outlines methods to calculate the dose equivalents from radiations
emitted by uranium and its progeny. Examples of measured dose rates are also included.
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The design of an external dose control program, including instrument and dosimeter selection,
is dependent upon the type and intensity of the radiation fields to which the workers will be
exposed. Many factors can affect the radiation field:
a. Enrichment (mix of uranium isotopes);
b. Emissions from parent radionuclide(s);
c. Emissions from daughter radionuclide(s);
d. Emissions from impurity radionuclide(s);
e. Type of radiation emitted (e.g., beta, gamma);
f. Energies of emitted radiation;
g. Specific activity of the source material;
h. Self‐shielding of source material;
i. Shielding provided by process equipment;
j. Shielding provided by personal protective equipment;
k. Distance and geometry factors.
The ratio of uranium isotopes in a specific process (a function of enrichment) will determine
the source term by which the radiation fields can be predicted. This mix of uranium isotopes
and daughter radionuclides may be estimated by using an equation developed to predict
specific activity as a function of enrichment.
Section 113
Radiation fields from uranium are frequently dominated by contributions from daughter
product or impurity radionuclides. For example, nearly all of the beta radiation field from
depleted uranium comes from the daughter radionuclide 234mPa, and to a lesser extent from
234Th. During melting and casting operations, these daughter elements may concentrate on
the surface of the castings and equipment, producing beta radiation fields up to 20 rad per
hour.
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Figure 6‐1. Beta Radiation Readings at Surface of Uranium Metal vs. % Enrichment by
Weight
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Figure 6‐2. Absorbed Dose Rate as a Function of Depth in Mylar
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Figure 6‐3. Changes in Beta Energy Spectra and Shallow Dose Rate from a Natural
Uranium Metal Slab Source Caused by Protective Apparel (Note the
bremsstrahlung peak in the low energy ranges).
6.2.1 Alpha and Beta Doses
Uranium is an alpha‐emitter and is of concern if inhaled or ingested into the body. The skin is
an effective barrier to alpha particles, and contamination is only a problem if there is a wound
or break in the skin.
Beta radiation fields are usually the dominant external radiation hazard in facilities requiring
contact work with unshielded forms of uranium. Figure 6‐1 gives the estimated beta dose
rates from a semi‐infinite slab of uranium metal of various enrichments. For uranium
enrichments up to 30%, the beta radiation field is dominated by contributions from 238U decay
products. Thus, for uranium of these enrichments, one is dealing essentially with 2.29‐MeV
(Emax) beta particles from 234mPa, the most energetic contributor to the beta exposure.
Beta doses to the skin, extremities, and (sometimes) the lens of the eye can be limiting in
facilities that process unshielded depleted, natural, or low‐enrichment uranium. Absorbed
dose rates as a function of depth were measured by Plato (1979) with an extrapolation
chamber in a tissue equivalent medium (Mylar) (See Figure 6‐2). Skin doses at less than 4
mg/cm2 resulting from alpha particles are of no concern from an external radiation exposure
standpoint. Potentially significant skin exposure from uranium occurs primarily from the
234mPa betas at tissue depths of 4 mg/cm2 and greater.
Processes that separate and sometimes concentrate beta‐emitting uranium daughters are not
uncommon in DOE uranium facilities. Surface beta dose rates on the order of 1 to 20 rad per
hour have been observed in such circumstances. Exposure control is complicated by the fact
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that considerable contact work takes place in facilities that process uranium metal. Beta
particles are shielded by rubber gloves or other protective devices or are usually absorbed
within the dead layer of skin. The actual beta dose to live tissue would depend on the energy
of the beta particles and the thickness and types of intervening shielding.
The data in Figure 6‐3 were obtained with a tissue equivalent plastic scintillation detector and
demonstrate the spectral changes and the resultant exposure rates under typical protective
clothing. It can be seen from Figures 6‐2 and 6‐3 that significant fractions of the uranium beta
radiation will penetrate typical protective clothing worn in facilities which process uranium.
6.2.2 Gamma Doses
Section 114
Gamma radiation from uranium is normally not the controlling challenge to radiation
protection. For example, the contact beta radiation field from depleted uranium is
approximately 240 mrem/h, while the contact gamma radiation field is less than 10 mrem/h.
Although gamma radiation fields from uranium are not usually the dominant concern,
significant gamma fields can exist in areas where large quantities of uranium are stored.
Bremsstrahlung from the 2.29 MeV 234mPa beta can contribute up to 40% of the photon dose
from uranium metal. Neutron fields from enriched uranium fluoride compounds can also add
to this area of concern. Care should be taken that dose‐equivalents from such fields are kept
to levels that are ALARA.
Although beta radiation fields from unshielded uranium tend to present the most intense
radiation problem, storage of large quantities of uranium can create widespread, low‐level (<5
mrem/h) gamma radiation fields. Such fields can create ALARA problems‐‐particularly when
significant numbers of people must work in adjacent areas.
6.2.3 Neutron Dose Equivalents
In uranium processes that create fluoride compounds (e.g., UF4, UF6), the a‐n reaction with
this light nuclide can result in neutron radiation fields, the intensity of which are a function of
the compound, mixing, storage configuration, and enrichment. As indicated in Section 2.0, low
enriched UF6 (< 5%) in large storage containers can result in neutron radiation in the 0.2
mrem/h range, while highly enriched (> 97%) UF6 can create fields in the 4 mrem/h range. At
high enrichments, the neutron fields can be up to a factor of 2 higher than the gamma fields
and be the limiting source of whole body exposure. Neutron radiation from uranium metals
and low enriched compounds is considerably lower than the gamma component and,
consequently, is not limiting.
Neutron dose equivalent rates can be calculated accurately with computer codes, such as the
Monte Carlo Neutron Program (MCNP) (Briesmeister, 1986). The MCNP code has the
advantage that it can calculate both neutron and photon doses through shielding and in
complex arrays. The Monte Carlo codes can also calculate the effects of neutron multiplication
in systems
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containing large amounts of uranium. However, neutron dose equivalent rates can also be
calculated from simple empirical formulas. Unlike gamma doses, there is very little self‐
shielding for neutrons in sub‐kilogram masses of uranium.
Table 6‐5 lists spontaneous fission yields for uranium isotopes that may be found in facilities
within the DOE complex. These data are taken from NUREG/CR‐5550 (NRC 1991) and are
believed to be more current then the previously published PNL values (Backenbush et al.,
1988). As a rule of thumb, nuclides with even numbers of protons and neutrons have the
highest spontaneous fission neutron emission rates. The spontaneous fission rate for odd‐
even nuclides is about 1000 times less, and the rate for odd‐odd nuclides is about 100,000
less. Spontaneous fission neutrons are emitted with a Maxwellian energy distribution given by
the equation:
N(E) = √E * exp(E/ 1.43 MeV) ;
Where N(E) is the number of neutrons as a function of the energy E in MeV.
Table 6‐5. Spontaneous Fission Neutron Yields
Isotope Total Half Life
(years)
Spontaneous Fission
Half Life
(years)
Spontaneous
Fission Yield
(n/sec gram)
Section 115
232U 71.7 8 x 1013 1.3
233U 1.59 x 105 1.2 x 1017 8.6 x 10‐4
234U 2.45 x 105 2.1 x 1016 5.02 x 10‐3
235U 7.04 x 108 3.5 x 1017 2.99 x 10‐4
236U 2.34 x 107 1.95 x 1016 5.49 x 10‐3
238U 4.47 x 109 8.20 x 1015 1.36 x 10‐2
Energetic alpha particles can overcome coulomb barriers in low‐atomic‐number elements and
create an unstable nucleus that emits neutrons. Because of the high alpha activity of uranium,
this can be a significant source of neutrons. There are two nuclear reactions that are of
importance:
∝ + 180 → 21Ne + n
∝ + 19F → 22Na + n
Table 6‐6 lists the alpha‐neutron yields for oxides and fluorides for the uranium isotopes. Note
that the neutron yields are normalized per gram of nuclide, not per gram of compound. These
data are taken from NUREG/CR‐5550 (NRC 1991).
The total neutron yield per gram of uranium can be found by summing the contributions from
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a. Spontaneous fission (from Table 6‐5)
b. Alpha‐neutron reactions in oxides or fluorides (from Table 6‐6)
c. Neutrons from low‐atomic‐number impurities (from Table 6‐7)
Multiplying the specific neutron yield (neutrons per second per gram (nps/g) of uranium by
the mass of uranium (grams) gives S, the neutron emission rate (neutrons per second).
In order to sum the three contributions, it is necessary to convert the values in Table 6‐7.
The specific activity of U‐234 is converted from Ci/g to disintegrations per second per gram
(dps/g):
6.2x10‐3 Ci/g x 3.7x1010 dps/Ci = 2.3x108 dps/g.
Now we set (for Be): 106 disintegrations = 44 neutrons
2.3x108 dps/g x 44 neutrons/106dis ≈ 104 nps/g
Table 6‐6. Neutron Yields from Alpha‐Neutron Reactions for Oxides and Fluorides
Isotope
Alpha Decay
Half Life
Alpha Yield
(alpha/s g)
Average Alpha
Energy (MeV)
alpha, n Yield in
Oxides (n/s g)
alpha, n Yield in
Fluorides (n/s g)
232Th 1.41 x 1010 y 4.1 x 103 4.00 2.2 x 10‐5
232U 71.7 y 8.0 x 1011 5.30 1.49 x 104 2.6 x 106
233U 1.59 x 105 y 3.5 x 108 4.82 4.8 7.0 x 102
234U 2.45 x 105 y 2.3 x 108 4.76 3.0 5.8 x 102
235U 7.04 x 108 y 7.9 x 104 4.40 7.1 x 10‐4 0.08
236U 2.34 x 107 y 2.3 x 106 4.48 2.4 x 10‐2 2.9
238U 4.47 x 109 y 1.2 x 104 4.19 8.3 x 10‐5 0.028
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Table 6‐7. Neutron Yields for Trace Impurities of Uranium
Element
Neutron Yield
per 106 Alphas
at 4.7 MeV (234U)
Li 0.16 ± 0.04
Be 44. ± 4
B 12.4 ± 0.6
C 0.051 ± 0.002
O 0.040 ± 0.001
F 3.1 ± 0.3
Na 0.5 ± 0.5
Mg 0.42 ± 0.03
Al 0.13 ± 0.01
Si 0.028 ± 0.002
Cl 0.01 ± 0.01
6.3 RADIATION DETECTION AND EVALUATION
This section describes the response of portable instruments, personnel dosimeters, and
nuclear accident dosimeters to the radiations emitted by uranium, which are primarily alpha
and beta particles and photons. Neutron emissions may range from negligible to significant.
Data are also included on special spectrometry instruments used to calibrate dosimeters in
the field.
6.3.1 Portable Survey Instruments‐‐Beta Radiation Response
The primary exposures of concern when handling bare uranium materials come from the beta
radiation. The accuracy and precision of survey instruments used for measurement of beta
radiation fields depend upon some or all of the following factors:
a. beta energy response
b. angular response of instrument
c. source‐detector geometry factors
d. detector construction (e.g., window thickness)
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6.3.1.1 Energy Dependence
Section 116
Most commercially‐ available radiation survey instruments under‐respond to beta radiation
fields from uranium. Figures 6‐4 and 6‐5 show the beta and gamma spectra measured with a
tissue equivalent plastic scintillation. Table 6‐8 presents typical survey instrument response to
uranium fields specifically. At best, typical "beta correction factors" (true dose rate/indicated
dose rate) are on the order of 1.5 to 2. This under‐response is due primarily to a) the angular
response of the detector and b) attenuation of the dose‐rate by the detector window and the
sensitive volume of the detector.
Figure 6‐4. Meter Readings for a Depleted Uranium Ingot
Figure 6‐5. Meter Readings for an Open Drum of UF4 (green salt)
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Table 6‐8. Instrument Response to Uranium Beta Fields
Instrument Window
(mg/cm2)
Beta Correction
Factor(a)
Exposure
Geometry
Victoreen 471 1.1 1.4 30 cm from U foils
Eberline RO‐2 7 2.0 30 cm from U foils
Eberline RO‐2A 7 4.0 Contact with DU
slab
Aluminum‐walled GM
Detector 30 1.7 30 cm from U foils
Victoreen Radector III 34 14 Contact with DU
slab
HPI‐1075 7 1.8 Contact with DU
slab
Teletector 30 (low range) 50 Contact with DU
slab
Eberline PIC‐6A 30 40 Contact with DU
slab
British BNL‐3 7 1.3 1.5 cm from 100
cm2 DU
(a) True reading/measured value.
Currently, skin dose measurements are related to the dose at a depth of 7 mg/cm2 in tissue.
Window thicknesses of commonly available survey instruments typically range from on the
order of 7 mg/cm2 to several hundred mg/cm2.
Even if the window provides only minimal attenuation, the attenuation of the beta field
through the sensitive volume of large detectors remains a problem. The detector indicates the
average dose‐rate throughout the sensitive volume. The "true" dose‐rate is that which occurs
at the plane of the detector incident to the radiation source. The instrument will under‐
respond by the ratio of this average dose‐rate to the incident dose‐rate. This sensitive volume
under‐response is a function of the beta energy distribution and of the size and shape of the
sensitive volume.
6.3.1.2 Angular Response
The construction of most survey instruments (e.g., "cutie pie") leads to a severe angular
dependence when measuring beta radiation fields. This angular dependence results from the
attenuation of the beta field by the walls of the detector as the window is moved away from
the source.
Figure 6‐6 demonstrates the response of a tissue equivalent response (a 5 mg/cm2 detector
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
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under a 5 mg/cm2 window and mounted in a TE phantom) to off‐axis (non‐incident) 90Sr/90Y
betas (energies similar to those from uranium), 204Tl, and 147Pm. Skin tissue dose response is
greater to off‐axis betas; survey instruments, which effectively shield these high angle
particles, will under‐respond compared to skin tissue.
Figure 6‐6. Measured Angular Response to the INEL TE Survey Meter to Parallel Beams of
Beta Particles from Three Standard Beta Sources.
6.3.1.3 Source‐Detector Geometry
Measurements taken close to small beta sources may be inaccurate due to non‐uniform
irradiation of the sensitive volume of the detector. Uranium in most DOE facilities tends to
present wide‐area sources of beta radiation. However, adjustments would need to be made if
significant non‐uniform irradiation was encountered.
6.3.1.4 Detector Construction and Use
Section 117
Characteristics of instrument construction may significantly affect their response and use. For
example, many survey instruments have "beta windows" that are intended to discriminate
between beta and gamma radiation. Obviously, measurements of beta dose‐rate must be
made with the beta window open. It should be noted, however, that a number of instruments
have beta windows that are only a few hundred mg/cm2 thick. Such windows can transmit a
significant fraction of the dose‐rate from high‐energy beta‐emitters (e.g., 234mPa). Thus, up to
10% or 20% of the "gamma only" reading may be due to the higher‐energy betas penetrating
the so‐called beta window.
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Occasionally, survey instruments are placed in plastic bags or covered to protect them from
becoming contaminated. Bagging the instrument places additional absorber between the
radiation field and sensitive volume of the detector. Calibration of the instrument (or
application of a correction factor) should take this additional shielding into account.
6.3.2 Portable Survey Instruments‐‐Gamma Radiation Response
Although the external dose resulting from gamma and x‐ray radiation from bare uranium is a
small fraction of the total, it represents the "penetrating" or whole body dose source and is
the only source of radiation from contained facilities (i.e., those having glove boxes). Survey
instruments are typically calibrated with 137Cs (0.662‐MeV) photons. Typical portable survey
instruments demonstrate a fairly flat energy response above 250 keV, while the response
below 250 keV can be variable to a greater or lesser degree depending upon the instrument
design. Figures 6‐7 and 6‐8 show average response of a group of commercial survey
instruments. Figure 6‐9 shows a typical gamma spectrum from a uranium oxide source while
Table 6‐9 illustrates the wide variation that can occur in the photon spectra at various
locations in a single plant. This demonstrates the desirability of using ion chambers or
compensated beta instruments for dose‐rate measurements. It also indicates the need to
have knowledge of the energy response of the instrument used and the value, or at least
qualitative knowledge, of the photon spectra at the various workstations.
Figure 6‐7. Average Ion Chamber Survey Meter Response by Group to X or Gamma Photon
Radiation
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Figure 6‐8. Average GM Survey Meter Photon Energy Response by Group
Figure 6‐9. High Resolution Gamma Spectrum of Slightly Enriched Uranium Oxide (1%
235U) record with Ge(Li) Detector
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Table 6‐9. Gamma Flux and Ratios at Various Locations and Sources at Fernald Plant
Integrated Gamma Flux (photons/cm2/sec)
Source Description or Location 30 to 225 keV 675 to 1050 keV Ratio
Crucible load station ‐ 55‐gal. drum 990 348 2.8
Beside UO3 barrel 538 159 3.4
Open UO3 barrel 919 232 4.0
Tube‐cutting work station, metal 253 58 4.4
Outside Plant 9 south entrance, near 776 165 4.7
exhaust fan
Box of black top crop at 25 cm 848 154 5.5
Lathe work station 424 76 5.6
Background outside Building 3045 “35” 5 7.”0
Near "thorium" hopper 424 58 7.3
Plant 9 west wing, SW hot area 708 72 9.8
Crucible burnout station 776 69 11.2
Plant 9 HP change room 5 <0.4 12.5
Background 75 ft from Bldg. 3045 25 2 12.5
Graphite crucible (G‐8010) 30 cm 183 11 16.6
Graphite crucible (3898) 30 cm 310 18 17.2
6.3.3 Portable Survey Instruments‐‐Neutron Response
Section 118
The need for neutron surveys at uranium facilities depends on the quantity of uranium
present, its form, and the potential for (α,n) reactions, such as occurs with uranium fluoride.
In facilities where such monitoring is required, selection of instruments with appropriate
energy characteristics is important because of the energy and angular dependence with most
instruments. Fortunately, uranium compounds emit neutrons in the MeV range, where
problems with energy and angular dependence are minimal. Calibration with sources that
emit neutron energies similar to those in the facility will assist in accurately measuring the
radiation fields and selecting appropriate factors in calculating personnel doses.
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6.4 PERSONNEL DOSIMETRY
It is important to verify and document that personnel dosimetry systems provide accurate
measurements and records of the occupational radiation doses received by workers in
uranium facilities. To provide a level of confidence in dosimetry services in DOE facilities, the
DOELAP accreditation program has been established. 10 CFR Part 835 requires participation in
the DOELAP program (or specific exceptions or other approvals) by all DOE facilities that are
subject to the individual external dose monitoring requirements. Previously, the National
Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) established the National Voluntary Laboratory
Accreditation Program (NVLAP) for testing and accreditation of dosimeter processors serving
the commercial nuclear power industry and medical facilities. The DOELAP standard includes
some tests that differ from those in ANSI N13.11‐2022 (2022a), on which the NVLAP program
is based. Both DOELAP and NVLAP accreditation programs use performance tests that
evaluate the accuracy and precision of personnel dosimetry measurements. The accuracy is
determined by comparing the measured dose equivalent to the "conventionally true dose
equivalent" derived from calibration standards directly traceable to NIST in carefully
controlled conditions.
DOE G 441.1‐1C Chg 1 (Admin Chg) (2011a) provides detailed guidance for developing and
implementing an external dosimetry program that will comply with the requirements of 10
CFR Part 835. This section will focus on dosimetry problem areas specific to uranium facilities
and possible solutions.
Personnel dosimeters produce the data that become the formal or "legal" record of personnel
exposure. However, these detectors experience many of the same energy dependence and
angular response problems encountered by survey instruments. The most difficult problem is
relating badge results to the shallow or skin dose.
Thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLDs), currently the dosimeter of choice in most DOE
uranium facilities, provide the most accurate and precise means of measuring doses received
by workers. Film badges and nuclear track detectors are other types of dosimeters. Although
the following discussion focuses on the more widely used TLD detector systems, the basic
principles apply to film badges, with the added uncertainties associated with the increased
susceptibility of film to environmental influences, such as temperature, humidity, pressure,
etc. Great care is necessary to ensure that the shallow and deep doses are accurately
discriminated and measured.
Section 119
An ideal dosimeter would directly measure doses at 7, 1000, and perhaps 300 mg/cm2
(shallow, deep, and lens of eye doses). In practice, the dose at such depths in tissue must be
inferred from a combination of measurements with different filters. TLD and film elements are
mounted in a badge arrangement, which is covered by at least 10 to 30 mg/cm2 of Mylar,
paper, or other covering for mechanical and/or protective reasons.
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6.4.1 Energy Dependence
Personnel dosimeters are beta energy‐dependent for the same reason that survey
instruments are beta energy‐dependent. That is, the reading obtained from the dosimeter is
proportional to the average rate of energy deposition through the "sensitive volume" or body
of the element. If this average energy deposition is less than the deposition at 7 mg/cm2, then
the dosimeter will under‐respond.
TLD chips of lithium fluoride (0.32 cm x 0.32 cm) are about 240 mg/cm2 thick. Significant
attenuation of the beta field takes place through the body of the chip. As a result, these types
of TLD chips under‐respond to uranium decay betas by a factor of about 2.
Other TLD systems minimize this problem by adhering a thin layer of TL powder onto a plastic
backing. Current TLD personnel dosimeters typically use multiple detectors (typically, four)
under different filter thicknesses. The different responses of each element are used as input
to an algorithm which provides an estimate of the effective radiation energy and the doses at
depths of interest.
Detectors that are very thin minimize energy‐dependence. Film detectors demonstrate a high
energy‐response dependence for low‐energy photons, as well as beta energy‐response
dependence (though the beta response is less variable than that of TLD chips).
Current systems could potentially provide accurate and precise information; however, their
complexity can lead to problems. Calibration of these systems should be performed by a
person with specific expertise in the detector’s system and knowledge of badge response to
high beta or mixed beta and gamma radiation fields.
6.4.2 Angular Dependence
The dosimeter elements must be mounted in a badge or element holder. The assembled
badge usually displays severe angular dependence. Fortunately, in most cases, a worker’s
normal movements will tend to average out some of this dependence. Some badge holder
arrangements can flip the badge completely over so that the "beta window" of the badge is
facing the worker, not the source. The design of the badge holder or strict administrative
controls should be utilized to minimize this problem.
6.4.3 Dosimetry Practices
Beta and gamma fields in working areas should be well‐characterized. See previous figures
and tables as examples. An attempt should be made to correlate survey instrument and
dosimeter badge results. Badge reading frequency should be long enough to accumulate a
significant dose (100‐mrem range) and short enough to allow adequate control. Dosimeter
change frequencies can vary with the specific work‐site conditions.
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Although multiple badging is not usually necessary, it should be considered for use in very
high beta fields produced by separated uranium decay products. The dosimetry system used
shall meet or be specifically excepted from DOELAP standards (10 CFR § 835.402(b)) and be
specifically designated for measuring both shallow and deep doses from uranium.
Section 120
Dosimetry systems should be capable of providing routine results within a reasonable time
period. The system of badge collection and re‐distribution should be well defined and
minimize the possibility of lost badges.
Badge reading systems should have established "action levels" to alert technicians or
operators of unusual results. Such results should include readings or TLD element ratios in
excess of certain levels. If possible, the system should automatically save glow curves of any
unusual results.
The potential for badge contamination should be minimized. Where the potential for badge
contamination exists, badges should be frequently checked for contamination.
6.4.4 Extremity Dosimetry
Doses to the extremities from uranium processing and handling can involve significant
exposures to the skin of the hands and forearms. Doses over small areas of the skin, including
those from hot particles, are discussed in detail in DOE G 441.1‐1C Chg 1 (Admin Chg) (2011a)
and will not be discussed here.
Measurement of the dose to the hands and/or forearms typically are made with TLD chips or
TL powder in finger rings or wrist dosimeters. Such devices do not allow for all of the
sophisticated energy discrimination just discussed. The non‐homogeneity of beta radiation
fields coupled with the angular dependence of commonly available extremity dosimeters can
result in a probability of underestimating the dose. However, by carefully considering the
typical exposure conditions at the work site (e.g., handling metal pieces, glove box work) and
calibrating the dosimeters with appropriate sources (e.g., uranium plaque sources), extremity
doses can be measured with acceptable accuracy for protective purposes.
Care should be exercised in preventing "obvious" underestimations of extremity dose. For
example, finger rings worn on the "top" of the finger (opposite the palm side of the hand) will
not measure the dose received by the palm side when handling metal rods, etc. Dosimeters
worn on the wrist have been shown to underestimate the beta dose to the fingers and palm.
Reference to the Bibliography information sources will provide further information in current
techniques and considerations.
The general methods used to calibrate dosimeters are given in the National Bureau of
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Standards Special Publication 633, Procedures for Calibrating Neutron Personnel Dosimeters
(Schwartz and Eisenhauer, 1982). The Radiological and Environmental Laboratory (RESL) of
Idaho Falls, Idaho conducts the performance test irradiations for the DOELAP program.
Processors submit dosimeters for testing to the performance testing laboratories in the
categories listed in Table 6‐10. If the dosimeter processor passes certain accuracy and
tolerance testing criteria, a team of dosimetry experts visit the processor and assess the
operation of the dosimetry program, including dosimetry records and data retrieval systems,
before the dosimeter processor is certified. These requirements are given in DOE STD‐1111‐
2018, Department of Energy Laboratory Accreditation Program Administration (2018a) and its
associated guidance documents.
Table 6‐10. Performance Test Categories, Radiation Sources, and Test Ranges for the
DOELAP and NVLAP Programs
Category Radiation Source Test Range
Low‐energy photons
(high dose)
IST x‐ray
Beam code M150
0.1 ‐ 50 Gy
High‐energy photons (high dose) 137Cs 0.1 ‐ 50 Gy
Low‐energy photons NIST x‐ray 0.3 ‐ 100 mSv
(low dose) Beam codes:
Section 121
M30
M50(a)
S60
S75(a)
M100(a)
M150
H150(b)
High‐energy photons (low dose) 137Cs 0.3 ‐ 100 mSv
Low‐energy photons
(monoenergetic)
15 ‐ 20 keV(b)
55 ‐ 65 keV(b)
0.3 ‐ 50 mSv
Beta particles 204Tl 1.5 ‐ 100 mSv
90Sr/90Y
Natural or depleted uranium
(slab)(b)
1.5 ‐ 50 mSv
Neutrons 252Cf moderated
252Cf unmoderated(b)
2.0 ‐ 50 mSv
Photon mixtures
Photon/beta mixtures
Photon/neutron mixtures
2.0 ‐ 50 mSv
(a) Category unique to the NVLAP program.
(b) Category unique to the DOELAP program. Note also that 241Am (59‐keV photons)
may be used in place of the mono‐energetic photon (55 ‐ 65 keV) fluorescent x‐ray
source.
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At present, only personnel dosimeters for whole body irradiations are required to be tested,
but a DOE working group developed an extremity dosimetry performance testing standard.
Extremity dosimeters may be voluntarily tested. DOE also conducts an inter‐comparison of
calibration sources used for radiation protection purposes, but in the near future DOE
secondary calibration laboratories will be established to increase the consistency of radiation
protection instrument calibrations to national standards.
There is some question about the correct quality factor to apply to extremity neutron
dosimeters. Most quality factors are defined in terms of linear energy transfer (LET), so a
numerical value for quality factor can be readily derived by calculation or measurement of the
neutron energy spectra. However, the relationship between quality factor and LET was
derived from biological experiments on cancer induction, especially leukemia in blood‐forming
organs. There are no blood‐forming organs in the extremities, so there is no biological basis
for large values of quality factors for extremity exposures. However, regulatory agencies
typically apply quality factors derived for whole‐body exposures to the extremities; thus, for
compliance purposes, qualify factors should be applied for extremity exposures.
6.4.5 Dose to Lens of Eye
It is sometimes assumed that if the skin dose limit is not exceeded, the dose limit to the lens
of the eye will not be exceeded. Such assumptions should be well supported by calculations or
(preferably) actual measurements. See Figure 6‐3 for data indicating significant uranium beta
penetration of even face shields. It is suggested and is a common practice in most fabrication
areas to require the use of safety glasses, a practice which tends to mitigate this concern.
6.5 External Dose Control
Reduction of personnel doses to levels that are ALARA is largely a matter of common sense
applied to the principles of time, distance, and shielding. The first step in any dose control
program is to adequately identify, characterize, and measure the radiation fields. Only after
this step has been performed can optimum dose control be achieved for a given amount of
time, money, and energy. However, other considerations may be just as important. Good
housekeeping practices are vital to keep dose rates low. Even invisible dust layers on the
interior surfaces of glove boxes can increase radiation fields. Storing gloves inside the glove
box when not in use and placing lightweight "pie plate" shields over the glove‐port openings
are examples of practices that can significantly reduce dose rates.
6.5.1 Time
Section 122
As a general rule, a reduction in exposure time will yield a reduction in doses. Any operation
that involves high dose rates (more than a few mrem/hour) or extended exposures should be
reviewed for possible reductions in a worker’s exposure time. Traffic and material flow in
proposed facilities should be closely examined for opportunities to reduce exposure time.
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6.5.2 Distance
Beta dose rates from uranium and its decay products decrease rapidly with distance from the
source due to geometry and air shielding while gamma and neutron radiation decrease less
with distance due to scattering buildup. Because uranium facilities usually involve a high
percentage of contact work, considerable dose reduction can result from simple techniques to
make operations semi‐remote and allow workers to function. Even short distances can affect
significant dose reductions.
6.5.3 Shielding
Shielding is probably the most widely used (and most effective) method of reducing beta
doses from uranium. Relatively lightweight, cheap, and flexible shielding (e.g., plastic or
rubber mats) has been used effectively. Figure 6‐3 demonstrates the spectral basis for
shielding and lists a few protective clothing reduction factors. Table 6‐11 lists the thicknesses
of common shielding materials necessary to stop essentially all of the beta particles from
uranium (i.e., 234mPa). Generally, the lower atomic number and less dense shielding materials
are used whenever possible to eliminate bremsstrahlung as well as beta radiation fields.
Protective clothing commonly worn in the nuclear industry can also afford beta dose
reduction. Figure 6‐3 and Table 6‐12 list approximate dose reduction factors provided by such
clothing. Particular attention should be paid to the use of gloves for "hands‐on" work.
Although lightweight rubber gloves provide some reduction, consideration should be given to
using heavy leather or even leaded gloves for operations that do not require manual dexterity.
Such gloves can be particularly effective in handling materials emitting high beta fields from
unsupported uranium decay products.
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Table 6‐11. Uranium Beta Shielding
Material Approximate Material Thickness
Required to Stop 234mPa Betas, cm
Air 850
Aluminum 0.41
Lead 0.10
Lucite 0.92
Pyrex Glass 0.49
Polyethylene 1.2
Stainless Steel (347) 0.14
Water 1.1
Wood 1.7 (approx.)
Uranium 0.06
Table 6‐12. Uranium Beta Dose Reduction Factors
Item Fraction of Beta
Dose Remaining
Vinyl surgeon’s gloves 0.95
Latex surgeon’s gloves 0.87
Lead loaded, 10‐mil lead equivalent 0.77
Lead‐loaded, 30‐mil lead equivalent 0.13
Pylox gloves 0.62
Leather, medium weight 0“.62
White cotton gloves 0.89
"Tyvek" coveralls 0.98
"Durafab" paper lab coat 0.96
65% Dacron/35% cotton lab coat 0.91
Contamination build‐up inside of work gloves has led to unacceptable hand doses in some
facilities. Re‐use of leather or cloth gloves should be reviewed carefully for such build‐up.
Workers should wear thin, anti‐contamination gloves inside the heavy gloves.
Dose to the lens of the eye can be effectively reduced through the use of ordinary glasses,
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safety glasses, or face shields. Such eye protection should be required when workers are
dealing with the high beta fields from concentrated uranium decay products.
6.5.4 Geometry
Section 123
The beta radiation field from uranium is strictly a surface phenomenon. Dose reduction
programs can take advantage of this fact in some circumstances. For example, large plates or
sheets of uranium metal, if stored in racks ’ledge on," will present less of a beta (and gamma)
radiation field.
6.6 Recordkeeping
10 CFR Part 835 establishes specific requirements for maintenance of records associated with
area and individual monitoring. DOE G 441.1‐1C Chg 1 (Admin Chg) (2011a) and DOE‐STD‐
1098‐2017 (2017b) provide guidance for achieving compliance with these requirements.
There are no occupational radiation protection recordkeeping requirements that are unique
to uranium facilities.
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7 NUCLEAR CRITICALITY SAFETY
This chapter emphasizes present‐day criticality concerns from the standpoint of what nuclear
criticality safety and radiological control personnel in a uranium facility need to know for the
DOE mission to be accomplished in a safe and cost‐effective manner. It provides an overview
of the administrative and technical elements of current nuclear criticality safety programs. It
does not provide a definitive discourse on nuclear criticality safety principles or repeat existing
guidance. For radiological control personnel who require a greater understanding of nuclear
criticality safety, the listed references provide a source of detailed requirements and
information.
Health physicists and other radiation protection personnel have the technical responsibility to
understand nuclear principles and the impact of these principles, in the form of the
radiological conditions that exist in DOE facilities as the result of the processing, handling, and
storage of radioactive and/or fissile materials. Radiation protection personnel provide an
additional knowledgeable resource to help recognize workplace situations that might lead to
the violation of a nuclear criticality control parameter that could contribute to an inadvertent
nuclear criticality event. There have been occasions in which radiation protection personnel
have observed and stopped unsafe actions by facility personnel that, if allowed to continue,
might have resulted in a nuclear criticality accident. Radiation protection personnel must also
be aware of the potential impacts of their actions that would be viewed as routine for normal
radiation protection practice, but which could result in the violation of a nuclear criticality
safety control parameter. Finally, radiation protection personnel are the focus of emergency
response actions should an inadvertent nuclear criticality occur. These actions include use of
emergency instrumentation, accident dosimetry, radiological dose assessment, and recovery.
This section reviews 1) nuclear criticality safety regulations and standards, including technical
safety requirements (TSRs) applicable to DOE facilities, 2) criticality control factors, 3) past
criticality accidents and associated lessons learned, 4) roles, responsibilities, and authorities of
radiological control staff with regard to nuclear criticality safety, and 5) the content of an
acceptable nuclear criticality safety program.
7.1 REGULATIONS AND STANDARDS
Nuclear criticality safety program requirements for DOE facilities are presented in DOE O
420.1C Chg 3, Facility Safety (2019b), which requires the development of a well‐documented
Criticality Safety Program and incorporates compliance with ANSI/ANS‐8 nuclear criticality
safety standards. ANSI/ANS‐8 standards provide guidance and criteria on good practices for
the prevention and mitigation of criticality accidents during handling, processing, storing, and
transporting special nuclear materials at fuels and material facilities.
Section 124
The DOE detailed requirements for criticality safety are contained in Attachment 2, Chapter 3
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of the DOE Order 420.1C Chg 3 (2019b). Criticality safety requirements support the
documented safety analysis required by 10 CFR Part 830, Subpart B.
There are two objectives for nuclear criticality safety in the Order: 1) nuclear criticality safety
is comprehensively addressed and receives an objective review, with all identifiable risks
reduced to acceptably low levels and management authorization of the operation
documented, and 2) the public, workers, property, both government and private, the
environment, and essential operations are protected from the effects of a criticality accident.
7.2 Criticality Control Factors
As noted in ANSI/ANS‐8.1, Nuclear Criticality Safety in Operations with Fissionable Materials
Outside Reactors (1998), nuclear criticality safety is achieved by controlling one or more
factors of the system within subcritical limits.
Control may be exercised through the following:
• Administrative procedures (e.g., requiring a mass not exceed a posted limit);
• Physical restraints (e.g., confiding a solution to a cylindrical vessel with a diameter no
greater than a specified value below the subcritical limit);
• Instrumentation (e.g., utilize devices that measures the fissile concentration and
prevent its buildup in a chemical system);
• Chemical means (e.g., prevention of conditions that allow precipitation, thereby
maintaining concentration characteristic of an aqueous solution);
• Reliance on the natural course or credible course of events (e.g., by relying on the
nature of a process to keep the density of uranium oxide less than a specified fraction of
theoretical).
7.2.1 Controllable Factors
Some of the criticality safety controls used maintain a system in a subcritical state are
described below.
7.2.1.1 235U Enrichment
Enriched uranium is normally required to provide sufficient fissionable material to sustain a
critical nuclear reaction in a small enough mass to meet the needs of the system. Handling of
natural (0.7% 235U) or depleted (<0.2% 235U) uranium is generally safe at DOE uranium‐
processing facilities because deliberate engineering efforts, such as moderation with heavy
water, reactor‐grade graphite, etc., are required to create a critical mass with natural
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uranium. However, safe‐handling measures should always be observed when handling
uranium of any enrichment.
7.2.1.2 Mass
The minimum mass of uranium that will sustain a chain reaction under specified conditions is
called the critical mass. The minimum critical mass depends on 235U enrichment and other
factors, such as the amount of moderator.
7.2.1.3 Density or Concentration
Density or concentration is defined as mass per unit volume (e.g., grams/liter). A uniform
solution or slurry less than 10.8 gm 235U /l will be subcritical at any volume, while a
concentration four or five times greater could result in the critical mass.
7.2.1.4 Moderation and Reflection
Section 125
A moderator is a material that slows down fast neutrons. The most effective moderators are
those materials having a low atomic weight, such as hydrogen, deuterium, beryllium and
carbon. The moderator concentration is usually expressed as the ratio of the number of
hydrogen atoms to the number of fissionable atoms of the isotope; thus, the extent of
moderation in an aqueous solution of 235U may be expressed as the H/235U ratio. The ratio
H/235U may range from zero for metal, or a dry unhydrated salt, to several thousand for a
dilute aqueous solution. Over this concentration range and with the assumed spherical
geometry, the critical mass may vary from a few tens of kilograms (with little hydrogen)
through a minimum of a few hundred grams (at optimum moderation) to infinity in a very
dilute solution where the neutron absorption by hydrogen makes a chain reaction impossible.
A moderated and/or reflected system allows a smaller mass of 235U to become critical.
A reflected system is an assembly where the fissionable material is partly or wholly
surrounded by another material having a greater neutron scattering cross‐section than air.
(Technically, air is a reflector, but its effect is usually negligible). In a reflected system, a
fraction of the neutrons leaving the fissionable material (core) is reflected back into the
fissionable material where they may induce additional fissions. The effect of a reflection is to
reduce the minimum critical mass. A good reflector is a material that has a low neutron
absorption cross‐section. Water, concrete, graphite, and stainless steel are typically "good"
reflectors, although any material will serve as a reflector. A "fully reflected" system is one
where the fissionable material is totally surrounded by a reflector such that increasing the
reflector thickness results in little or no decrease in the critical mass. For example,
experiments at various laboratories have shown that increasing the thickness of water
surrounding the fissionable material beyond 8 inches does not significantly decrease the
critical Mass (Paxton et. al., 1986).
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7.2.1.5 Geometry or Shape
Leakage of neutrons from a system depends on the shape of the system and on the neutron‐
reflecting properties of surrounding materials. The shape and size of containers are
determined by considering the ratio of surface area (S) to volume (V). The ratio S/V is
maintained at a value that prevents a chain reaction regardless of the quantity of material
contained.
7.2.1.6 Interaction or Arrays
Interaction is the exchange of neutrons between separate containers containing uranium
material. An increase in the exchanged neutrons increases the fission reaction rate. Units that
are subcritical individually can be made into a critical array if brought near each other.
7.2.1.7 Neutron Poisons (Absorbers)
Neutron absorbers (poisons) are nonfissionable materials that capture neutrons, thus
reducing the number of neutrons available for a fission reaction. Cadmium, boron, and
chlorine are examples of neutron absorbers. Boron in borosilicate glass Raschig rings and
chlorine in polyvinyl chloride (CPVC) rings are poisons used in some applications.
7.2.1.8 Monitoring for Deposits for Nuclear Safety Control
Section 126
One concern in many older facilities is the potential for accumulation of uranium compounds
in ventilation ductwork and process piping. A program must be in effect to routinely monitor
such equipment to identify uranium compound deposits in quantities that may present
nuclear criticality safety concerns. The need for such a program should be determined by
nuclear criticality safety specialists, based on the enrichment of material processed (both past
and present) and the geometry of the ductwork or piping. Such a review and survey should
also be conducted prior to shut down and decommissioning of uranium facilities. In general,
the use of NaI detectors, in conjunction with single or multichannel analyzers, can often
provide adequate sensitivity to determine holdup deposits. If intervening shielding reduces
sensitivity and/or background gamma radiation levels are too great, neutron detectors may be
effective in identifying uranium deposits, particularly for highly enriched uranium. Since the
hold‐up measurements are generally taken in "cpm" for maximum sensitivity, it is useful to
have a correlation from "cpm" to exposure or dose units to facilitate an understanding of the
relative radiological hazard.
7.2.2 Administrative Practices
Administrative practices consist of personnel, programs, plans, procedures, training, audits
and reviews, and quality assurance practices used to administer a nuclear criticality safety
program. Administrative controls are used in addition to physical design features, including
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engineered controls, to ensure nuclear criticality safety. ANSI/ANS‐8.19, Administrative
Practices for Nuclear Criticality Safety (2005) outlines administrative practices. An effective
nuclear criticality safety program requires a joint effort by managers, supervisors, workers,
and nuclear criticality safety staff and relies on conformance with operating procedures by all
involved personnel. The following sections describe the key elements of a nuclear criticality
safety program.
7.2.2.1 Nuclear Criticality Safety Program
Management should develop a nuclear criticality safety policy and ensure it is distributed to
fissionable material workers. They should also delegate authority to implement the policy,
monitor the nuclear criticality safety program, and periodically participate in audits of the
program. Supervisory staff should ensure that nuclear criticality safety procedures are written
and staff are trained in those procedures. The nuclear criticality safety staff should provide
technical guidance for equipment and process design and for operating procedure
development. The nuclear criticality safety staff should perform a nuclear criticality safety
evaluation before starting a new operation with fissionable materials or before changing an
existing operation. An independent expert should evaluate the technical adequacy of the
nuclear criticality safety program periodically.
7.2.2.2 Nuclear Criticality Safety Organization
Like the radiation protection program, the nuclear criticality safety organization should report
to the highest level of facility management independent of operations. Management should
clearly communicate nuclear criticality safety organization responsibilities and authorities to
other facility personnel. Organizational and procedural documents should clearly define lines
of interaction and interfaces with other facility organizational components. Management
should assign the responsibility for nuclear criticality safety in a manner that is consistent with
other safety disciplines. The organization should also have an independent nuclear criticality
safety review committee and have access to consultants to assist in the conduct of the
criticality safety program.
Section 127
7.2.2.3 Plans and Procedures
Facility nuclear criticality safety plans and procedures are critical components of the overall
facility operation. The purpose of procedures is to facilitate the safe and efficient conduct of
operations. These documents provide the means by which the program is conducted and
prescribe how nuclear criticality safety is to be achieved. The plans and procedures describe
administrative activities and the technical aspects of nuclear criticality safety analysis. The
processes of procedure development, review, training, and approval should have sufficient
controls to ensure that nuclear criticality concerns are properly addressed. These controls
include periodically reviewing and reaffirming procedures, and properly investigating
procedure deviations and reporting them to facility management and, if appropriate, to DOE.
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The controls should also ensure such deviations do not recur.
Procedures should exist that address the determination and posting of nuclear criticality
safety parameters. These procedures should include a description of how the limits are to be
determined and how workstations are to be posted as to form, geometry controls, mass
limits, moderator limits, etc.
Management should provide fire‐fighting guidelines to ensure fire‐fighting techniques do not
violate a criticality control limit that might lead to an inadvertent nuclear criticality event.
These guidelines should include the posting of specific rooms with acceptable fire‐suppression
techniques that can be used for a specific location or the use of notations on facility fire pre‐
plans (operating procedures) located at fire stations.
Recovery procedures should be in place to provide for the recovery from a nuclear criticality
control limit violation. A limit violation involves exceeding the fissionable material mass limit
or the moderator liquid limit, or violating any other criticality control in an operations
procedure. This process should separately address both static and dynamic cases, as
responses to these violations may be quite different.
Management should develop and implement nuclear criticality safety training plans and
procedures for all personnel working with or near fissionable materials, as required by
ANSI/ANS‐8.20, Nuclear Criticality Safety Training (1991). This program and its associated
procedures describe the program, training requirements, recordkeeping, content,
responsibilities, and objectives of a facility nuclear criticality safety program.
Inspections and audits are performed to assess the success of the nuclear criticality safety
program. Qualified individuals who are independent of the operation should perform the
inspections and audits. The audits and inspections should verify that operating procedures
and other safety standards are being followed and identify any weaknesses in the nuclear
safety program. Deficiencies should be formally addressed, tracked, reported, and resolved.
7.2.2.4 Nuclear Facility Safety Analysis
Documented Safety Analyses (DSA) document the analysis and potential consequences of
accidents and abnormal occurrences at nuclear facilities. Per 10 CFR § 830.204 (2020c), with
respect to a nonreactor nuclear facility with fissionable material in a form and amount to pose
a potential for criticality, the DSA defines a criticality safety program that: ensures that
operations with fissionable material remain subcritical under all normal and credible abnormal
conditions, identifies applicable nuclear criticality safety standards, and describes how the
program meets applicable nuclear criticality safety standards.
Section 128
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7.3 CRITICALITY ACCIDENT EXPERIENCE
Criticality accidents, sometimes called criticality excursions, can either be single pulse,
multiple pulse, or "steady state" (continuous) excursions.
7.3.1 Types of Criticality Accidents
In a pulse‐type criticality accident, there is an initial pulse of 10 16‐1018 fissions over a short
time‐period (less than 1 second), sometimes followed by additional lower‐intensity pulses. In
a fissionable material solution, the pulse or spike is terminated by the heating and consequent
thermal expansion of the solution and by bubble formation that serves to reconfigure the
fissionable mass into a noncritical configuration (Paxton, 1966). If the initial pulse results in a
loss of solution from the container (e.g., by splashing) or redistribution of material, the
criticality event may conclude without further pulses. However, if there is no loss of material
as the solution cools, it may form a critical mass once again and pulse with slightly lower
fission yield.
Criticality accidents can result in lethal doses of neutron and gamma radiation at considerable
distances from the accident site (on the order of tens of meters). There can also be high level
beta‐gamma residual radiation levels from fission products after the excursion is concluded.
The heat generated during the excursion can melt parts of the system that contain the
fissionable material (Moe 1988).
Moe reviewed estimated prompt radiation doses from excursions in a moderated system and
a metallic system, as well as dose rates from residual contamination left by a criticality
excursion. Assuming a burst of 1018 fissions in an unshielded, water‐moderated system, the
total absorbed dose is estimated to be >600 rad up to 6 m and >100 rad up to about 15 m. The
gamma/neutron ratio of the total absorbed dose was 2.8. An excursion of 3 x 1015 fissions in a
metallic, partially reflected 239Pu assembly, assuming no shielding, yielded total absorbed
doses of >600 rad up to approximately 10 m and >100 rad up to approximately 25 m. The
gamma/neutron absorbed dose ratio was 0.1. In general, for a moderated system, the gamma
dose would be expected to be higher than the neutron dose and, for a metal system, the
neutron dose would be expected to be higher than the gamma dose.
Moe (Moe 1988) noted that for an excursion of >1018 fissions, dispersion of the fissionable
material and fission products would occur, resulting in heavy local contamination and
subsequent high residual dose rates. This dose rate was estimated at >1000 rad/h at 100 ft
shortly after the burst and >10 rad/h at 30 ft an hour after the burst. This is the basis for
instructing workers to immediately run from the work area when the criticality alarm is
sounded. Seconds can save significant dose, if not from the excursion itself, then from any
residual radiation that is in the area.
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7.3.2 Summary of Past Criticality Accidents
Current criticality safety practice has been influenced both by the overall experience of the
nuclear industry and by the analysis of the accidental criticality excursions that have occurred.
Los Alamos National Laboratory has published LA‐13638, A Review of Criticality Accidents
(McLaughlin et al., 2000) which provides a description of 60 criticality accidents. According to
LA‐13638, there have been 22 criticality accidents in chemical process facilities. Twenty‐one of
the 22 occurred with fissile material in solutions or slurries, one occurred with metal ingots.
No accidents occurred with powders.
Section 129
Overall, the consequences from the 22 accidents have been 9 deaths, 3 survivors with limbs
amputated, minimal equipment damage, and negligible loss of fissionable material. One of
these incidents resulted in measurable exposure to the general public (well below allowable
worker annual exposures). All accidents have been dominated by design, managerial, and
operational failures. The focus for accident prevention should be on these issues.
7.4 CRITICALITY ALARMS AND NUCLEAR ACCIDENT DOSIMETRY
Guidelines for criticality alarm systems and nuclear accident dosimetry are presented in this
section. Criticality alarm systems provide rapid warning to individuals in the immediate
accident location and nearby locations to evacuate to a predesignated assembly location.
Specific requirements for the criticality alarm system are found in ANSI/ANS‐8.3, Criticality
Alarm System (1997). Key requirements that may be of interest for the radiological control
staff are summarized in Section 7.4.1. Paxton noted lives have been saved in past criticality
accidents by radiation alarms coupled with effective evacuation procedures. Nuclear accident
dosimetry, discussed in Section 7.4.2, provides the means for determining the dose to workers
in the vicinity of the excursion.
7.4.1 Criticality Accident Alarm System (CAAS)
As specified in ANSI/ANS‐8.3 (1997), the need for a CAAS shall be evaluated for all activities in
which the inventory of fissionable material in individual unrelated work areas exceeds 700 g of
235U, 520 g of 233U, 450 g of 239Pu or 450 g of any combination of these three isotopes.
a. If the fissionable material mass exceeds the ANSI/ANS‐8.3 limits and the probability of
criticality is greater than 10‐6 per year, a CAAS shall be provided to cover occupied
areas in which the expected dose exceeds 12 rad in free air. Nuclear accident
dosimetry shall also be provided, as otherwise required. The CAAS should include a
criticality detection device and a personnel evacuation alarm.
b. If the fissionable material mass exceeds the ANSI/ANS‐8.3 limits and the probability of
criticality is greater than 10‐6 per year, but there are no occupied areas in which the
expected dose exceeds 12 rad in free air, then only a criticality detector system (i.e.,
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nuclear accident dosimetry) is needed.
c. If the fissionable material mass exceeds the ANSI/ANS‐8.3 limits, but a criticality
accident is determined to be impossible or less than 10‐6 per year (per a Documented
Safety Analysis), then neither a criticality alarm nor nuclear accident dosimetry is
needed.
The alarm signal shall be for immediate evacuation purposes only and of sufficient volume and
coverage to be heard in all areas that are to be evacuated. Information on sound levels of the
alarm can be found in ANSI/ANS‐8.3 (1997). The alarm trip point shall be set low enough to
detect the minimum accident of concern. The minimum accident of concern may be assumed
to deliver the equivalent of an absorbed dose in free air of 20 rad at a distance of 2 meters
from the reacting material within 60 seconds. The alarm signal shall activate promptly (i.e.,
within 0.5 second) when the dose rate at the detectors equals or exceeds a value equivalent
to 20 rad/min at 2 meters from the reacting material. A visible or audible warning signal shall
be provided at a normally occupied location to indicate system malfunction or loss of primary
power. Each alarm system should be tested at least once every three months. An evacuation
drill shall be conducted at least annually.
Section 130
Criticality accident alarm systems may consist of one to several detectors per unit. In multi‐
detector units (e.g., three detectors), at least two detectors shall be at the alarm level before
initiating the alarm; in redundant systems, failure of any single channel shall not prevent the
CAAS from functioning.
7.4.2 Nuclear Accident Dosimetry
Nuclear accident dosimetry shall be provided for installations that have sufficient quantity of
fissionable material such that the excessive exposure of individuals to radiation from a nuclear
criticality accident is possible (10 CFR § 835.1304(a)).
Requirements for nuclear accident dosimetry programs at DOE facilities are found in 10 CFR
Part 835. A nuclear accident dosimetry program shall include the following:
a. a method to conduct initial screening of individuals involved in a nuclear accident to
determine whether significant exposures have occurred;
b. a system of fixed nuclear accident dosimeter units. Sometimes referred to as area
dosimeters, the dosimeters should be capable of yielding estimated radiation dose
and the approximate neutron spectrum at their locations;
c. personal nuclear accident dosimeters (PNADs);
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d. methods and equipment for analysis of biological materials (such as 24Na activity in
blood and 32P activity in hair).
7.4.2.1 Initial Screening Evaluation
A nuclear accident dosimetry program should provide absorbed dose information within 24
hours after the incident. A method should be established for immediately identifying
individuals exposed to total absorbed doses exceeding 50 rad (ANSI N13.3‐2013, 2013b).
Discussions on initial screening evaluations to segregate exposed from unexposed individuals
(sometimes referred to as "quick sort techniques") are found in several references (Moe,
1988; Delafield, 1988; Petersen and Langham, 1966; Hankins, 1979; Swaja and Oyan, 1987).
A common initial screening method is to provide all workers in areas requiring nuclear
accident dosimetry with an indium foil in their personnel dosimeter or security badge. During
a criticality excursion, the foil will become activated by neutrons per the 115In (n, gamma)
116mIn reaction and can be measured with a portable beta‐gamma survey instrument or ion
chamber. The 116mIn has a 54‐minute half‐life and releases a 1‐MeV beta (maximum energy)
and a 1.3‐MeV gamma (80% of the time).
An alternate screening is to measure body activity due to neutron activation of the sodium in
the blood via the 23Na(n, gamma)24Na reaction. Sodium‐24 has a 15‐hour half‐life and releases
a 1.4‐MeV beta (maximum energy) and two gammas (1.37 MeV and 2.75 MeV). A beta‐
gamma survey meter is used to measure the 24Na activity in the blood by placing the detector
probe against the individual’s abdomen and having the individual bend forward to enclose the
detector (Moe 1988). Alternatively, the probe can be positioned under the armpit with the
open window facing the chest area. Moe (1988) noted this method is less sensitive than the
use of indium foils and even a small reading can indicate a significant exposure. An
approximate equation to calculate worker dose (D) based on body weight and instrument
reading is shown in the following Equation:
Section 131
Differences in incident neutron energy spectrum, orientation, and measurement techniques
relative to conditions used to develop activity‐dose correlations can cause significant errors in
estimated radiation dose based on quick‐sort surveys. Swaja and Oyan (1987) showed
radiation doses estimated from induced body activity can vary by a factor of approximately 2
because of neutron energy spectrum or orientation effects and by as much as 30% due to
probe position. Doses based on indium foil activity can vary by a factor of approximately 9 due
to neutron energy spectrum effects, a factor of 3 depending on foil orientation relative to the
incident field, and a factor of approximately 2 due to probe window setting. Swaja and Oyan
(1987) recommended those count rates above background during quick‐sort techniques
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should be initially interpreted only as an indication that the person has been exposed.
7.4.2.2 Fixed and Personnel Nuclear Accident Dosimeters
A comprehensive nuclear criticality dosimetry system should consist of stationary (fixed‐
location, area) dosimeters, neutron and gamma dosimeters worn by personnel (i.e., PNADs),
and specialized laboratory equipment to evaluate the dosimeters.
Fixed nuclear accident dosimeter units should be capable of determining neutron doses in the
range of 10 rad to 10,000 rad with an accuracy of ±25%. They should also be capable of
providing the approximate neutron spectrum to permit the conversion of rad to rem. The
gamma‐measuring component of the dosimeter should be capable of measuring doses in the
range of 10 rem to 10,000 rem in the presence of neutrons with an accuracy of about ±20%.
The number of fixed dosimeter units needed and their placement will depend on the nature of
the operation, structural design of the facility, and accessibility of areas to personnel.
Generally, dosimeters should be placed so there is as little intervening shielding and as few
obstructions as possible. The number and placement of dosimeters should be periodically re‐
verified to reflect changes in building design and operations. Ease of dosimeter recovery after
a criticality event should be considered in their placement, including the possible need for
remote retrieval.
PNADs should be worn by all individuals who enter a controlled area, with locations requiring
an installed criticality alarm system. The PNADs should be capable of determining gamma
dose from 10 rad to 1000 rad with an accuracy of ±20% and neutron dose from 1 rad to 1000
rad with an accuracy of ±30% without dependence upon fixed‐unit data.
The general criteria of ANSI N13.3‐2013 (2013b) for nuclear accident dosimeters are reviewed
below. Dosimeters, both fixed and personnel, should be protected against radioactive
contamination to avoid false measurements. Periodic inventory methods should be
established and audits made to ensure the dosimeters are not removed or relocated without
appropriate approvals. Techniques for estimating the effect of body orientation at the time of
the exposure should also be developed.
• Neutron‐Measuring Component of Dosimeter. Criticality accidents create a wide range
of neutron energies. Since the neutron dose per unit fluence is strongly dependent on
neutron energy, knowledge of the neutron energy spectrum is important in accident
dosimetry. In criticality accidents, neutrons with energies greater than 100 keV
contribute most of the dose; therefore, measurement of the fast neutron dose is of the
most importance. See Delafield (Delafield 1988) for a review of the different types of
neutron dosimeters available for accidents.
Section 132
• Gamma‐Measuring Component of Dosimeter. Delafield noted the ratio of the gamma
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rays to neutron dose will vary according to the type of critical assembly and whether or
not additional shielding is present. For unshielded assemblies, the gamma‐to‐neutron
ratio can range from 0.1 for a small heavy‐metal system up to approximately 3 for a
small hydrogen‐moderated solution system. A concrete or hydrogenous shielding
material will increase the gamma‐to‐neutron ratio. Gamma dose can be determined by
TLD, film, or radiophotoluminescent glass.
• Dosimeter Comparison Studies. Sims and Dickson (Sims and Dickson, 1979; Sims, 1989)
present a summary of nuclear accident dosimetry intercomparison studies performed at
the Oak Ridge National Laboratory Health Physics Research Reactor. The more recent
summary showed that of the 22 studies conducted over 21 years, 68% of the neutron
dosimeter results were within the ±25% accuracy standard and 52% of the gamma
dosimeter results were within the ±20% accuracy standard. Most measurements that
failed to meet the accuracy standards overestimated the actual dose. Some of their
other findings include the following:
o Doses from hard neutron energy spectra are more accurately measured than those
from soft energy spectra.
o The threshold detector unit (TDU) is the most accurate type of nuclear accident
neutron dosimeter; however, its use is declining due to increasingly strict control of
small quantities of fissionable materials.
o Activation foils (ACT) are the most popular nuclear accident neutron dosimeter.
o For gamma dosimeters, TLDs are the most popular and the least accurate, and film
is the least popular and the most accurate.
7.4.2.3 Biological Indicators
Earlier in this section, a quick‐sort method was described that uses neutron activation of
sodium in the blood as an indicator of worker exposure. More sophisticated laboratory
analysis of blood samples can be performed to obtain a more accurate estimate of worker
dose (Delafield, 1988; Hankins, 1979). The use of neutron activation of sulfur in hair
(32S(n,p)32P) is another method to estimate absorbed dose for workers involved in a criticality
accident. The orientation of the subject can also be determined by taking samples of hair from
the front and back of the person. Hankins described a technique for determining neutron dose
to within ±20‐30% using a combination of blood and hair activations. The evaluation was
independent of the worker's orientation, of shielding provided by wall and equipment, and of
neutron leakage spectra.
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7.5 RESPONSIBILITIES OF RADIOLOGICAL CONTROL STAFF
The radiological control staff should have a basic understanding of program structure,
engineering criteria, and administrative controls as related to nuclear criticality safety and
reviewed in earlier sections of this chapter. However, the health physicist's primary
responsibilities with regard to nuclear criticality safety include emergency instrumentation
and emergency response actions.
7.5.1 Routine Operations
During routine operations, the radiological control staff’s primary responsibility related to
nuclear criticality safety will include calibrating, repairing, and maintaining the neutron
criticality alarm detectors and nuclear accident dosimeters, and maintaining appropriate
records. The radiological control staff should be knowledgeable of criticality alarm systems,
including alarm design parameters, types of detectors, detector area coverage, alarm set‐
points, and basic control design. The staff should also be familiar with locations and scenarios
for designing the fixed nuclear accident dosimetry program and formulating plans for
emergency response.
Section 133
The radiological control staff should maintain an adequate monitoring capability for a nuclear
criticality accident. In addition to the criticality alarm systems and the fixed nuclear accident
dosimeters discussed above, remotely operated high‐range gamma instruments, personal
alarming dosimeters for engineering response/rescue teams, neutron‐monitoring
instrumentation (in case of a sustained low‐power critical reaction), and an air‐sampling
capability for fission gases shall be maintained.
Other support activities may include assisting the nuclear criticality safety engineer or
operations staff in performing radiation surveys to identify residual fissionable materials
remaining in process system or ventilation ducts.
7.5.2 Emergency Response Actions
The priorities of the radiological control staff during a criticality event should be to rescue
personnel, prevent further incidents or exposures, and quickly identify those who have been
seriously exposed. To support these emergency response actions, the radiological control staff
should be trained in facility emergency procedures. These emergency procedures include
evacuation routes, personnel assembly areas, personnel accountability, care and treatment of
injured and exposed persons, means for immediate identification of exposed individuals,
instrumentation for monitoring the assembly area, and re‐entry and formation of response
teams.
Emergency response procedures for conducting the initial quick‐sort of workers should specify
measurement techniques and require that surveyors record methods and instrument settings
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used for quick‐sort operations to ensure proper interpretation of the results.
Surveyors/analysts should compare field results to pre‐established activity‐dose relationships
developed as part of emergency response procedures to determine if a worker was exposed.
Other indicators, such as a discharged self‐reading dosimeter, could also indicate a possible
exposure.
As an immediate follow‐up action on workers identified as being exposed during a quick‐sort
procedure, a more accurate dose estimate should be made using PNADs, fixed‐location
accident dosimeters, or biological activity analyses (24Na in the blood or 32P in the hair). The
more accurate analyses should include: 1) better definition of source characteristics, 2)
location of moderating materials, and 3) location and orientation of the person(s) at the time
of exposure and action of the person following the irradiation. If the radiological control staff
are involved in the rescue and initial monitoring procedures, they can provide valuable
information to support this analysis, particularly regarding the location and orientation of
workers to the excursion.
Radiological control staff should be responsible for retrieving fixed nuclear accident
dosimeters and ensuring that PNADs from any exposed workers are submitted for analysis.
7.5.3 Special Considerations during Decommissioning Activities
Before decommissioning or disposal of any facilities or equipment, an evaluation should be
performed to assess the potential holdup of fissionable material in any equipment. These
types of measurements may require the assistance of radiological control staff.
Some strippable coatings and surface‐fixing films are effective neutron moderators. Nuclear
criticality safety specialists should be consulted when using these coatings to decontaminate
surfaces because criticality could be a concern, depending on the geometry of the removed
coating when in the disposal unit.
Section 134
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8 WASTE MANAGEMENT
A material is a waste once there is no identified use or recycle value for it. Normally, wastes
are considered by their physical form as either solids, liquids, or gasses, except that
containerized liquids are considered solid waste under some of the current regulations.
Although these forms are each processed differently, there are interrelationships. For
example, it may be possible to reduce solid waste by replacing disposable protective clothing
with reusable clothing that must be laundered. The laundry will produce liquid waste. In
treating liquid waste, solids may be generated, e.g., filters or ion exchange resins. By careful
engineering, waste generation, and treatment alternatives, a site can minimize the total waste
volume and elect to generate types of waste that can be disposed of. The following sections
address potentially contaminated waste and waste terminology and handling of airborne
waste, solid waste, and liquid waste. The treatment of excess materials to reclaim uranium is
not a waste treatment process and is not discussed here.
The Atomic Energy Act, 1954, as amended, categorizes uranium as source material (natural) or
as special nuclear material (enriched). For this reason, uranium is exempted from regulation
by the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) in 40 CFR § 261.4(a)(4). However, if
these materials are mixed with other wastes, they may be subject to RCRA. For this reason, it
is important to prevent comingling, mixing, dissolving, etc. of uranium with hazardous waste.
8.1 POTENTIALLY CONTAMINATED WASTES
Wastes are generated within a plant or facility as a consequence of creating the uranium
product(s) for which the plant was designed. Uranium may be entrained in the air, may
contaminate equipment, materials, or other scrap, or may be contained in low concentrations
in liquid wastes and effluents. Wastes resulting from operation of a uranium facility may
include radioactive, nonradioactive, and mixed materials in the form of liquids and gaseous
effluent or solids requiring disposal.
Uranium recovery operations and processes are an operational feature of most major facilities
handling large quantities of material for at least two major purposes, i.e., to salvage valuable
material and to reduce effluent concentrations and volumes to acceptable levels.
The facility and all waste systems must be designed to minimize wastes that result in the
release of radioactive materials, during normal plant operation, the occurrence of a Design
Basic Accident (DBA) meeting the regulatory limits, and conditions in which dose is kept as low
as reasonably achievable. Waste systems include retention containers, cleanup systems for
liquids and solids, and analytical equipment.
Accounting for waste management for solid and liquid wastes is discussed below.
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8.1.1 Solid Waste
Facilities should provide for the safe collection, packaging, inventory, storage, and
transportation of solid waste that is potentially contaminated with radioactive materials. Such
provisions include adequate space for sorting and temporary storage of solid waste,
equipment for assay of the waste, and facilities for volume reduction appropriate to the types
and quantities of solid waste expected. All packages containing potentially contaminated solid
waste should be appropriately monitored, both before being moved to temporary storage
locations and before being loaded for transport to a disposal site.
Section 135
8.1.2 Liquid Waste
Industrial wastes such as discharge from mop sinks, overflow from positive pressure
circulating waste systems, and process steam condensate (if existing) should be analyzed,
collected and transferred to a liquid waste treatment plant or similar treatment area if
mandated by the chemical analysis. Provisions should be made for continuous monitoring and
recording of radioactivity, flow volume, and pH. The radioactivity monitor should have an
alarm located in the liquid waste treatment plant or area. Consideration should be given to
retention systems.
Liquid process wastes should be collected and monitored near the source of generation
before batch transfer through appropriate pipelines or tank transfer to a liquid waste
treatment plant or area. These wastes should be individually collected at the facility in storage
tanks that are equipped with stirrers, sampling and volume‐measuring devices, and transfer
systems. Waste storage tanks and transfer lines should be designed and constructed so that
they are fully inspectable and that any leakage can be detected and contained before it
reaches the environment. Consideration of nuclear criticality (See previous section) is
necessary to prevent accidents.
Sanitary wastes include the nonradioactive wastes usually found at a facility, e.g., discharges
from non‐contaminated chemical laboratories, showers, and lavatories. The sanitary waste
system and the uranium‐handling area should not be connected. Sanitary sewers should
discharge into an onsite, approved sanitary‐sewage treatment system. Current Federal, state,
and local codes regarding the discharge of sanitary wastes must be met.
8.2 DESIGN OF WASTE PROCESSING SYSTEMS
Process system designs may be characterized by their design objectives and the effluents of
concern.
8.2.1 Objectives
A principal design objective for process systems is to minimize production of wastes at the
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source. One of the primary design objectives of any Waste Management Program is to provide
facilities and equipment to handle the wastes generated and further reduce the amounts and
volume of the waste. Volume‐reduction facilities and equipment for liquid and solid wastes
are required, as is air filtration to reduce the concentration of contaminants in the air effluent.
8.2.2 Effluents
Airborne and liquid effluents released uncontrolled to the environment are of particular
concern when societal emphasis on environmental pollution control is high. Process and
monitoring equipment are critical to maintaining acceptable operations.
Effluents (both radioactive and nonradioactive) from the uranium‐handling facility include air
and other gaseous exhausts and liquid wastes. The contamination in the effluents should be
kept ALARA, commensurate with best available technology at the time of design. Emphasis
should be placed on reducing total quantities of effluents (both radioactive and
nonradioactive) released to the environment. Filter systems should be designed so that the
effluent concentrations of uranium should not exceed the inhaled air Derived Concentration
Standard (DCS) for releases, as described in DOE‐STD‐1196‐2022, Derived Concentration
Technical Standard (2022b) for uncontrolled areas measured at the point of discharge (e.g.,
exhaust ducts and stacks) during normal operations. Consideration should be given to
recirculation systems for process ventilation where feasible. Provisions should be made for
retention systems for liquid effluents. All effluent streams should be sampled or monitored as
appropriate to ensure accurate measurements of all releases under normal and DBA
conditions.
Section 136
8.3 Treatment
The following sections provide information about treating airborne, liquid, and solid wastes.
8.3.1 Airborne Wastes
Ventilation control systems within a plant are designed to move air from outside "clean" areas
to process areas and then to air‐cleanup systems. Occupied area off‐gas systems are also
vented to the atmosphere and may have cleanup systems of their own. Process off‐gas
treatment systems consist of any or all of the following:
Wet scrubbers are generally used in dusty process off‐gas situations, in which large amounts
of uranium are present. The scrubbers are capable of removing and processing large
quantities and serve as a prefilter to the remaining cleanup units.
Prefilter systems other than the wet scrubber are bag filters or other rough/coarse filters. The
prefilters are used to remove significant quantities of particulate material from the air off‐gas
and are generally placed before high‐efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters in order to extend
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the life of the more expensive filters.
HEPA filters generally are the final filter in the process off‐gas and serve to reduce the
particulate effluent to insignificant or permissible levels. They may be placed in series to
provide the required filtering efficiency. See section 8.3.3 for disposition of HEPA filters.
8.3.2 Liquid Waste
Because liquid effluents are generally released to the environment, liquid wastes are of equal
concern with airborne wastes. Liquid effluents become available for dispersion and
reconcentration in food chains and may otherwise result in population exposure potential. In
the case of liquid wastes, the concern for chemical pollutants is generally of equal concern to
that of radiological contaminants. Liquid process wastes are generally collected in hold tanks,
monitored, processed or treated, and released.
Hold tanks are used to collect liquid effluent prior to release in order that analyses can be
performed to establish that the concentrations or total quantities are below permissible levels
prior to release. The liquid can be processed or treated to remove radioactive material or
neutralize chemicals.
Settling basins are frequently used to provide a means of reducing effluents further before
releasing them to offsite areas.
Filtration is a simple method of removing insoluble particulate materials entrained in the
liquid streams. For some processes, it is an effective and inexpensive method. The particulate
material collected and filter must be periodically removed and treated as solid waste.
Ion exchange is a cleanup system for removing soluble ions from the liquid streams by
collecting the material on resin columns. The contaminants must be periodically removed by a
regeneration process and the materials processed, concentrated, etc., or by replacing the
resin completely and treating it as solid waste.
Conversion to solid forms is a function of nearly all the processes mentioned which converts
the materials removed from the liquid and airborne waste streams to more manageable forms
for handling and permanent disposal.
8.3.3 Solid Waste
Solid waste come from a variety of sources in the plant from machining chips to contaminated
clothing. The solid wastes should be concentrated (if possible and/or practical), packaged, and
stored on the plant site for an interim time period prior to permanent disposal. Careful
documentation is necessary to establish: a) quantities and nature of the waste being disposed,
and b) compliance with the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) and other
Section 137
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disposal and shipping/handling requirements.
Onsite volume‐reduction facilities, such as incinerators, compactors, or chemical leach from
metallic waste sources, can result in volume reduction in the range of 1 to 400 or more.
8.4 Monitoring
Monitoring the airborne effluents is an important aspect of control and documentation.
Monitoring should be done in the stack at the discharge point and at the boundary of the
uncontrolled area. In addition, total activity discharged and total mass of uranium discharged
should be determined and documented to ensure that concentration requirements are not
exceeded. If stack monitoring cannot be performed (e.g., in instances where the facility design
is such that there are no stacks), then the reason for the monitoring method selected should
also be documented.
Monitors are of two general types: continuous and passive. Continuous monitors are
constructed with a radiation detector which is placed in a shielded container such that it
"views" the activity as it is being collected on a filter from a sample of the stack effluent. The
continuous level of radioactivity on the filter is recorded and set up in such a way that preset
levels trigger an alarm. This type of monitor is less sensitive but provides an alarm in the event
of mishap or equipment failure in time to take effective mitigating action.
Passive monitors consist of a continuous (isokinetic, if practical) sample collected of the
effluent in the stack. The filter is periodically removed and submitted to radiological and/or
chemical analyses. The sensitivity or level of detection is lower for passive sampling systems
than for continuous stack samplers, and provide after‐the‐fact information only.
8.4.1 Air and Gaseous Effluents
All air and other gaseous effluents from confinement areas should be exhausted through a
ventilation system designed to remove particulates. All exhaust ducts (or stacks) that may
contain fissile contaminants should be provided with two monitoring systems. One should be
of the continuous type (CAM) and the other a passive sampler. These systems may be a
combination unit. The probes for sampling purposes should be designed for isokinetic
sampling and located according to good industrial hygiene practices. The design of effluent
monitoring systems should appropriately meet the requirements of ANSI N42.18‐2014,
Specification and Performance of Onsite Instrumentation for Continuously Monitoring
Radioactive Effluents (2014b). Nuclear criticality safety should be considered in the design of
equipment used to treat and clean up radioactive gaseous effluents.
8.4.2 Liquid Effluents
Emphasis should be placed on reducing total quantities of liquid effluents released to the
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environment. The contamination in the effluents should be ALARA, commensurate with the
latest accepted technology at the time of design. All effluent streams should be sampled or
monitored, as appropriate, to ensure accurate measurement of all releases under normal and
DBA conditions. The design of effluent monitoring systems should appropriately meet the
provisions of ANSI N42.18‐2014 (2014b).
8.4.3 Water Collection System
Section 138
Collection systems should be considered and provided where practical for water runoff from
nuclear facilities containing radioactive material, such as from firefighting activities. Nuclear
criticality, confinement, sampling, volume determination, and retrievability of liquids and
solids should be required in the design of collection systems. The size of the collection system
for firefighting water should be based on the maximum amount of water which would be
collected in fighting the Design Basis Fire (DBF). The configuration of the system components
should be based on conservative assumptions as to the concentration of fissile material which
might collect in the system. Recirculating systems should also be considered when there is no
possibility of contamination.
For special facilities that process, handle, or store uranium, the water runoff collection system
should be designed with the following nuclear criticality safety considerations: 1) the
maximum uranium mass loading that could be in the runoff system; 2) the most
disadvantageous uranium concentrations, particle size, and uranium dispersion in the water
slurry; and 3) the change in concentration of uranium and geometric configuration of the
slurry as the uranium settles out of the water.
8.5 Waste Minimization
Uranium facilities shall have a waste‐minimization and pollution prevention program (DOE,
2011). The objective of such a program is the cost‐effective reduction in the generation and
disposal of hazardous, radioactive, and mixed waste. The preferred method is to reduce the
total volume and/or toxicity of hazardous waste generated at the source, which minimizes the
volume and complexity for waste disposal. It is necessary to minimize the generation of RCRA
mixed waste because of the difficulty and cost of later separation.
The waste minimization program applies to all present and future activities of the facilities
that generate hazardous, radioactive, and/or mixed wastes. Furthermore, waste minimization
is to be considered for all future programs and projects in the design stages, and should be
included in all maintenance and/or construction contracts.
All managers of facilities or activities that generate hazardous, radioactive, and mixed waste
are responsible for:
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• minimizing the volume and toxicity of all radioactive, hazardous, and radioactive mixed
waste generated, to the extent economically practicable,
• preparing and updating waste minimization plans for their waste‐generating facilities or
activities (small waste generators in a larger facility may be grouped with others in a
facility or activity plan),
• implementing the facility‐specific or activity‐specific waste minimization plan,
• providing input to the organization responsible for waste characterization and
minimization, to support the waste minimization program,
• communicating waste minimization plans to their employees, and ensuring that
employees receive appropriate training,
• ensuring that existing system/equipment replacement or modification is designed and
installed to minimize generation of waste,
• developing new waste‐minimization strategies and identifying cognizant staff for waste
minimization communications between facility personnel, and
• identifying new waste‐generating facilities or activities and significant process changes
to existing facilities or activities to the waste characterization and waste‐minimization
organization.
Section 139
Waste volume control, or waste minimization, involves limiting the amount of material that
becomes contaminated, segregating clean and contaminated material, and prolonging the
useful life of equipment and material to minimize replacement. Sometimes, materials can be
completely cleaned so that disposal as non‐radioactive solid waste (or refurbishment in clean
areas) is an option.
Program design decisions can affect uranium waste generation. For example, the quantity of
protective clothing may be a significant factor. If an incinerator is available, combustible
protective clothing may be selected to have a low ash content and generate a minimum of
harmful effluents, such as oxides of nitrogen or halogenated compounds. In other facilities,
water‐washable, reusable protective clothing may minimize waste disposal.
In many nuclear facilities, contamination of packaging materials is a problem. For example, if a
tool or material (e.g., a pump or some ion exchange resin) is to be used in a contaminated
area, as much of the packaging material must be removed as possible before the material
enters the radiological area.
Another opportunity for waste minimization occurs when materials are used as a contingency
protection against contamination. For example, strippable coatings may be applied to an area
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that is not expected to become contaminated or may receive only minor contamination so
that it can be easily cleaned. Another example involves disposable surgeons' gloves, which are
routinely worn inside glove‐box gloves. Unless there are serious contamination control
problems in the facility, these can be surveyed and disposed of as non‐radioactive solid waste
rather than LLW or TRU waste.
If a piece of equipment is to have more than a single use in a contaminated environment,
every possible measure should be taken to ensure its continued reliability rather than relying
on frequent replacements. Tools should be of the highest quality and maximum flexibility
consistent with the situation. For example, if a wrench is needed to maintain a piece of
equipment in a glovebox, consideration should be given to future needs and storage
provisions. A socket set with interchangeable sockets may ultimately create less waste than a
box‐end wrench of each size that is needed.
Likewise, all tools and equipment to be placed in a contaminated environment should be
tested for reliability and preferably used on a clean mock‐up to ensure their serviceability
before they become contaminated in order to avoid unnecessary waste volume.
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9 EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
It is DOE policy that all DOE facilities and activities be prepared to deal with operational
emergencies in a way that minimizes consequences to workers, the public, and the
environment. Formal emergency management programs are the final element of DOE’s
defense‐in‐depth against adverse consequences resulting from its operations.
9.1 Emergency Management in DOE
DOE Order 151.1D (2019a) requires each DOE location, including secure transportation
activities, administrative offices in the field, and headquarters offices to plan and prepare for
the management of emergencies. The following discussion of emergency management
principles, requirements and guidance is generally applicable to DOE uranium facilities.
Specific facility requirements are in accordance with the individual facility DOE contract. The
Emergency Management Guides (EMGs) provide guidance for implementing DOE Order
151.1D (2019a).
Section 140
9.1.1 Basis for DOE Emergency Management Policy
DOE emergency management policy and direction is based on the following: planning and
preparedness commensurate with hazards; integrated planning for health, safety, and
environmental emergencies; classification of and graded response to emergencies; and
multiple levels (tiers) of emergency management responsibility.
Note on Terminology: Within the Emergency Management System (EMS), "planning" includes
the development of emergency plans and procedures and the identification of personnel and
resources necessary to provide an effective response. "Preparedness" is the procurement and
maintenance of resources, training of personnel, and exercising of plans and procedures.
"Response" is the implementation of the plans during an emergency to mitigate consequences
and to initiate recovery.
9.1.1.1 Planning and Preparedness Commensurate with Hazards
Because of the wide range of activities and operations under DOE's authority, standards and
criteria suited to one type of facility or hazard may be inappropriate for another. To deal with
this diversity in circumstances while ensuring an adequate overall state of preparedness, DOE
Order 151.1D (2019a) requires that the details of each feature be tailored to the unique
hazards of the facility. This approach provides a more complete and quantitative
understanding of the hazards while providing for focused and cost‐effective emergency
planning and preparedness.
9.1.1.2 Integrated Planning for Health, Safety, and Environmental Emergencies
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A wide variety of different types of Operational Emergencies can occur at DOE operations.
Some may involve loss of control over radioactive or other hazardous materials unique to DOE
operations, while others may involve security, transportation activities, natural phenomena
impacts, environmental damage, or worker safety and health concerns. Planning,
preparedness, and response requirements applicable to DOE facilities and activities for some
types of emergency conditions are specified by other agencies. For example, Federal
regulations on occupational safety, environmental protection and hazardous waste operations
have consequent “emergency planning” requirements. Rather than meet these requirements
piecemeal through separate programs, each DOE/NNSA site/facility must have an Emergency
Management Core Program that implements the requirements of applicable Federal, State,
and local laws/regulations/ordinances for fundamental worker safety programs (e.g., fire,
safety, and security). These requirements are not unique to DOE/NNSA operations.
9.1.1.3 Classification of Emergencies and Graded Response
Operational emergencies involving the airborne release of hazardous materials are grouped
into one of three classes according to magnitude or severity. Classification of events is
intended to promote more timely and effective response by triggering planned response
actions appropriate to all events of a given classification. This principle, termed "graded
response," is embodied in DOE Order 151.1D requirements and is important to the
management of response resources (See DOE Order 151.1D Attach. 3, Sec. 8, Emergency
Categorization) .
9.1.1.4 Tiers of Emergency Management Responsibility
Section 141
Within the EMS, responsibility for emergency management extends from the individual facility
level to the cognizant DOE field element and culminates at the cognizant Headquarters
Program Secretarial Office (PSO). The responsibilities vested at each level of the hierarchy are
specified in DOE Order 151.1D (2019a). The responsibility and authority for recognizing,
classifying, and mitigating emergencies always rests with the facility staff. The cognizant Field
Element Managers oversees the response of contractors and supports the response with
communications, notifications, logistics, and coordination with other DOE elements. The DOE
Headquarters (HQ) Emergency Operations Center (EOC) receives, coordinates, and
disseminates emergency information to HQ elements, the cognizant PSO, Congressional
offices, the White House, and other Federal Agencies (See DOE Order 151.1D Attach. A,
Responsibilities).
9.1.2 Requirements Pertaining to All DOE Operations
DOE Order 151.1D (2019a) identifies 14 core program elements that compose each DOE
facility emergency management program. The 14 core elements form a standard framework,
with the details of each program element varying according to the nature and magnitude of
the facility hazards and other factors. The Order requires that a Hazard Survey be used to
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identify the generic emergency events or conditions that define the scope of the emergency
management program. Where hazardous materials, such as uranium, are present in
quantities exceeding the quantity that can be “easily and safely manipulated by one person”
and whose potential release would cause the impacts and require response activities
characteristic of an Operational Emergency, the Order requires a facility‐specific Emergency
Planning Hazards Assessment (EPHA) be conducted and the results used as the technical basis
for the program element content. Using the results of an objective, quantitative, and rigorous
hazards assessment as its basis, each program is configured to the specific hazards and
response needs of the facility.
Detailed guidance on the implementation of the Order requirements has been published by
the DOE Office of Emergency Management. These EMGs provide acceptable methods for
meeting the EMS Order requirements. Individual guides have been published for the technical
planning basis (i.e., Hazards Survey/EPHA) processes and for programmatic and response
program elements.
9.2 Specific Guidance on Emergency Management for Uranium Facilities
This section provides technical guidance that is specifically applicable to the development and
implementation of emergency management programs for uranium facilities. It is intended to
supplement, not replace, the more general recommendations provided in the EMGs.
9.2.1 Technical Planning Basis
9.2.1.1 Hazards Survey
The Emergency Management Core Program must be based on a Hazards Survey. A Hazards
Survey establishes the planning basis for the emergency management program. It is an
examination of the features and characteristics of the facility or activity to identify the generic
emergency events and conditions (including natural phenomena such as earthquakes and
tornadoes; wild land fires; and other serious events involving or affecting health and safety,
the environment, safeguards, and security at the facility) and the potential impacts of such
emergencies.
In addition to the Emergency Management Core Program requirements (DOE O 151.1D
Attachment 3), DOE sites, facilities, and activities must establish and maintain the Emergency
Management Hazardous Materials Program (DOE O 151.1D Attachment 4) if any site, facility
or activity contains hazardous materials that were not screened out by the hazardous material
screening process detailed in DOE O 151.1D (2019a) Attachment 3.
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Each Hazards Survey must:
a. Describe the applicable potential health, safety, or environmental impacts;
b. Identify the need for developing of further planning and preparedness beyond the
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Emergency Management Core Program requirements that will apply to each type of
hazard;
c. Be submitted for approval to the Field Element Manager or appropriate Federal
Manager; and be updated every 3 years from date of issuance, and when there are
significant changes to site/facility/activity operations or to hazardous material
inventories;
d. Address natural hazards, technological hazards, and human‐caused incidents;
e. Include conducting a Site Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (Site
THIRA).
A Hazardous Material Screening Process must identify specific hazardous materials and
quantities that, if released, could produce impacts consistent with the definition of an
Operational Emergency. The potential release of these materials to the environment requires
further analysis in an EPHA. The release of hazardous materials less than the quantities listed
below does not require quantitative analysis in an EPHA.
a. In general, to meet the definition of an Operational Emergency, the release of a
hazardous material must: immediately threaten or endanger personnel and emergency
responders who are in close proximity of the event; have the potential for dispersal
beyond the safety of onsite personnel or the public in collocated facilities, activities,
and/or offsite; and have a potential rate of dispersal sufficient to require a time‐urgent
response to implement protective actions for workers and the public.
b. The hazardous material screening process must identify all hazardous materials in a
facility/activity that require further analysis in an EPHA. Specifically, for r
c. adioactive materials:
1. All radioactive materials in a facility/activity must be subjected to a hazardous
material screening process.
2. Radioactive materials that may be excluded from further analysis in an EPHA
include: sealed radioactive sources that are engineered to pass the special form
testing specified by the Department of Transportation (DOT) or the American
National Standards Institute (ANSI); materials stored in DOT Type B shipping
containers with overpack, if the Certificates of Compliance are current and the
materials stored are authorized by the Certificate; and materials used in exempt,
commercially available products.
3. Radioactive hazardous materials that require further analysis in an EPHA are those
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associated with a defined Hazard Category 1, 2, or 3 nuclear facility per 10 CFR Part
830. Specifically those material contributing to the categorization of such a facility
when in quantities greater than the largest Category 3 value (or if the sum of the
ratios) exceeds any of the following:
• DOE‐STD‐1027‐92, Hazard Categorization and Accident Analysis Techniques
for Compliance with DOE Order 5480.23, Nuclear Safety Analysis Reports
(1997);
• NA‐1 SD G 1027, CN1, Guidance on Using Release Fraction and Modern
Dosimetric Information Consistently with DOE STD 1027‐92 (2011);
• LA‐12981‐MS, Table of DOE‐STD‐1017‐92 Hazard Category 3 Threshold
Quantities for the ICRP‐30 List of 7574 Radionuclides, LANL Fact Sheet
(2002);
• LA‐12846‐MS, Specific Activities and DOE‐STD‐1027‐92 Hazard Category 2
Thresholds, LANL Fact Sheet (1994).
Section 143
4. The threshold screening quantities should not be used to eliminate from
consideration very low‐specific activity substances, such as depleted, natural, or
low‐enriched uranium in soluble forms. For those materials, chemical‐ not
radiological‐toxicity may be the dominant concern.
5. In a few circumstances, the chemical toxicity of a radioactive substance may actually
be of greater health concern than the potential radiation dose. Because the DOE
Category 3 radionuclide thresholds are based on radiation dose alone, chemical
toxicity may need to be considered when applying the screening values to very low
specific activity radionuclides (or mixtures) that are known to also be chemically
toxic. For practical purposes, the concern is limited to uranium of low enrichment in
the form of compounds that are relatively soluble in body fluids (such as nitrates,
fluorides, and sulfates). Depending on the exact proportions of the different
uranium isotopes, the chemical toxicity concern becomes dominant as the nominal
enrichment (235U weight percent) decreases through the range from about 16
percent to 5 percent. (Stannard, 1988).
9.2.1.2 Emergency Planning Hazards Assessment (EPHA)
Unique properties and characteristics of uranium and its compounds should be considered at
certain steps in the EPHA process.
a. Description of Facility and Operations. The properties of the hazardous material do not
significantly affect the manner in which this step of the EPHA is performed, except to
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the extent that uranium safety considerations may mandate more detailed descriptions
of certain facility physical or operational features.
b. Characterizing the Hazards. The objective of this step is to describe the hazardous
materials in sufficient detail to allow accurate modeling of releases and calculation of
consequences. The following properties of uranium and its compounds strongly
influence the release potential and consequences.
• Chemical form. The chemical toxicity and reactive properties of any uranium
compound must be weighed against the inherent toxicity of the compound or the
uranium alone. For example, gaseous uranium hexafluoride (UF6) reacts with
atmospheric moisture and undergoes hydrolysis, producing uranyl fluoride (UO2F2)
and hydrogen fluoride (HF), a highly corrosive and toxic gas. Depending on the
temperature, humidity, and uranium enrichment, the HF may be a more serious
health and safety concern than either the UF6 or the contained uranium. Some
uranium compounds ignite violently on contact with air, water, or hydrocarbons.
• Physical form. Physical form influences the release potential and toxicity of uranium
and its compounds in numerous ways. Large, monolithic pieces of uranium metal
may be relatively benign; however, they can develop a pyrophoric surface due to
effects of air and moisture. Finely divided metallic uranium can react violently with
numerous other materials or self‐ignite in air, yielding respirable particles of
uranium compounds. UF6 is a solid at ambient temperature but goes directly to a
gaseous state above ~270 °F at atmospheric pressure.
• Solubility. For air exposure, permissible exposure levels for soluble uranium
compounds are based on the chemical toxicity (particularly to the kidney), while for
insoluble compounds, radiotoxicity (radiation dose to the lung) is limiting.
• Particle size. Particle size and the range of sizes have a large effect on the
Section 144
radiotoxicity of inhaled materials. Larger particles will be cleared rapidly from the
upper respiratory regions, delivering little radiation dose to the lung tissues. Small
particles are deposited deeper in the lung and are cleared very slowly, producing a
much larger dose per unit activity inhaled.
• Enrichment. Enrichment, or specific activity of the isotope mixture, often
determines the relative importance of radiological and chemical toxicity for more
soluble materials.
c. Developing Event Scenarios. Properties of the hazardous material do not significantly
affect the manner in which this step of the hazards assessment is performed.
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d. Estimating Potential Event Consequences. For the scenarios developed in the previous
step, this step determines the area potentially affected, the need for protective actions,
and the time available to take those actions. The way these consequences are
determined will depend on properties of the hazardous material. For uranium and its
compounds, the following possibilities should be considered.
• Model types. Depending on the relative significance of radiological and chemical
toxicity, the analyst may need to calculate either radiation dose, air concentration,
or both for the postulated releases. For a specific scenario, different models may be
needed to analyze different consequences to determine which effect is limiting (for
example, radiation dose, soluble uranium intake, or HF concentration).
• Model features. For reactive species, the ability to model the transformation and
depletion of material during transport is important to a sound analysis. Because the
hydrated uranyl fluoride formed by hydrolysis of UF6 is a solid, some will be lost due
to gravitational settling as a plume moves away from the release point. When
analyzing consequences of a postulated accidental criticality, correcting for the
decay during transport of the short‐lived fission product gases will produce a more
accurate assessment of consequences.
9.2.2 Program Elements
Properties and characteristics of uranium and its compounds will also need to be considered
in formulating the emergency management program elements. Following are specific program
element considerations related to the hazardous properties of uranium.
9.2.2.1 Programmatic Elements
The specific properties of the hazardous material do not significantly affect the content of the
programmatic elements: Program Administration, Training and Drills, Exercises, and Readiness
Assurance.
9.2.2.2 Response Elements
a. Emergency Response Organization. The primary influence of uranium’s hazardous
properties on the Emergency Response Organization (ERO) is in the staffing of the
consequence assessment component. As will be discussed below in Consequence
Assessment, staff assigned to the ERO should be knowledgeable of, and able to
quantitatively evaluate, both the health physics (radiological) and industrial hygiene
(non‐radiological) aspects of the hazard.
a. Offsite Response Interfaces. The specific properties of the hazardous material do not
significantly affect the content of this program element.
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b. Operational Emergency Event Classes. As with all hazardous materials, classification of
emergencies for uranium facilities should be based on the predicted consequences at
specific receptor locations, as compared with numerical criteria for taking protective
action (dose, exposure, air concentration). If a material has two or more recognized
modes of effect and associated protective action criteria, classification decisions should
be based on the more limiting one.
Section 145
c. Example: The postulated release of a quantity of a uranium compound will produce a
radiological consequence corresponding to the classification criterion for Alert. The
chemical toxicity of the uranium compound is such that the non‐radiological
consequence exceeds the criterion for Site Area Emergency. The postulated release
should be classified as a Site Area Emergency.
The appropriate classification for the postulated event or condition should be
determined during the EPHA process and the observable features and indications
identified as Emergency Action Levels (EALs) for that event/condition.
d. Notification. The specific properties of the hazardous material do not significantly affect
the content of this program element.
e. Consequence Assessment. As discussed in section 9.2.1.2(d), models and calculation
methods used for consequence assessment should be appropriate physical, chemical,
and radiological properties of the hazards. Models used to calculate and project the
radiological and non‐radiological consequences of a release of uranium and its
compounds should be the same ones used in the EPHA process. If the same models are
not used, the differences between outputs should be characterized and documented to
avoid the potential for confusion and indecision during response to an actual
emergency.
Environmental monitoring capability for assessing consequences of a uranium release
should conform to several general principles.
• Procedures for measurement of airborne uranium should provide for timely analysis
and reporting of results in units that correspond to decision criteria. Decision points
based on initial screening measurements with field instruments should account for
the expected levels of radon progeny collected on the air sample media. Portable
survey instruments capable of performing alpha spectroscopy measurements can be
used to provide rapid isotopic analysis of uranium collected on sample media.
• Measurement of uranium deposition should be planned and proceduralized to yield
results that correspond to those produced by the predictive models used for
emergency response. The correlation between direct or indirect radioactivity
measurements (in units of activity) and measurement methods that give mass or
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concentration of uranium in a sample should be established for the expected
enrichment values of material that might be released.
• If the potential exists for release of uranium compounds with high chemical toxicity
(such as UF6), it is not practical to plan to use survey teams to quantify
concentrations in a plume. The high risk to survey personnel, the protective
equipment necessary to minimize that risk, the time needed to prepare and position
a team for such a survey, and the limited value of the information that could be
gained all weigh against this approach to assessing the consequence of a highly toxic
release.
• Environmental air concentrations are commonly measured continuously around the
perimeter of some uranium facilities. Consequence assessment procedures should
provide for the rapid retrieval and analysis of sample media from fixed samplers
that may be operating in an area affected by a uranium release.
f. Protective Actions. Because the health consequences of a given intake of uranium, or its
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compounds, are highly dependent on properties such as enrichment, particle size, and
solubility, facility and site‐specific protective action criteria stated in terms of observable
quantities and features of the release should be developed. In order for protective
action criteria stated in terms of calculated dose or concentration to be valid, the
calculational models should account for the properties of the material.
The Protective Action Guides (PAGs) published by the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA, 2016) have been adopted by DOE as its basic protective action criteria for
planning and response.
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Table 9‐1. Summary Table of PAGs, Guidelines, and Planning Guidance for Radiological
Incidents (EPA, 2016)
Phase Protective Action Recommendation PAG, Guideline, or Planning Guidance
Early Phase
Sheltering‐in‐place or evacuation of the publicb PAG: 1 to 5 rem (10 to 50 mSv) projected dose over four
daysc
Supplementary administration of prophylactic
drugs – KId
PAG: 5 rem (50 mSv) projected child thyroid dosee from
exposure to radioactive iodine
Limit emergency worker exposure (total dose
incurred over entire response)
Guideline: 5 rem (50 mSv)/year (or greater under
exceptional circumstances)f
Intermediate
Phase
Relocation of the public PAG: ≥ 2 rem (20 mSv) projected dose in the first year, 0.5
rem (5 mSv)/year projected dose in second and subsequent
years
Apply simple dose reduction techniques Guideline: < 2 rem (20 mSv) projected dose in the first year
Food interdictiong PAG: 0.5 rem (5 mSv)/year projected whole body dose, or 5
rem (50 mSv)/year to any individual organ or tissue,
whichever is limiting
Alternative drinking water PAG: pending finalization of proposal
Limit emergency worker exposure (total dose
incurred over entire response)
Guideline: 5 rem (50 mSv)/year
Reentry Guideline: Operational Guidelinesh (stay times and
concentrations) for specific reentry activities (see EPA,
2016 Section 4.6)
Late Phase
Cleanupi Planning Guidance: Brief description of planning process
(See EPA, 2016 Section 5.1)
Waste Disposal Planning Guidance: Brief description of planning process
(See EPA, 2016 Section 5.1)
a. This guidance does not address or impact site cleanups occurring under other statutory authorities such as the United
States Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Superfund program, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s (NRC)
decommissioning program, or other federal or state cleanup programs.
b. Should begin at 1 rem (10 mSv); take whichever action (or combination of actions) that results in the lowest exposure for
the majority of the population. Sheltering may begin at lower levels if advantageous.
c. Projected dose is the sum of the effective dose from external radiation exposure (e.g., groundshine and plume submersion)
and the committed effective dose from inhaled radioactive material.
d. Provides thyroid protection from radioactive iodines only. See the complete 2001 FDA guidance, “Potassium Iodide as a
Thyroid Blocking Agent in Radiation Emergencies.” Further information is also available in “KI in Radiation Emergencies,
2001 – Questions and Answers” 2002, and “Frequently Asked Questions on Potassium Iodide (KI).”
e. Thyroid dose. See Section 1.4.2. For information on radiological prophylactics and treatment other than KI, refer to
http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/EmergencyPreparedness/BioterrorismandDrugPreparedness/ucm063807.htm,
https://www.emergency.cdc.gov/radiation, and www.orau.gov/reacts.
Section 147
f. When radiation control options are not available, or, due to the magnitude of the incident, are not sufficient, doses to
emergency workers above 5 rem (50 mSv) may be unavoidable and are generally approved by competent authority. For
further discussion see Chapter 3, Section 3.1.2. Each emergency worker should be fully informed of the risks of exposure
they may experience and trained, to the extent feasible, on actions to be taken. Each emergency worker should make an
informed decision as to how much radiation risk they are willing to accept to save lives.
g. For more information on food and animal feeds guidance, the complete FDA guidance may be found at
http://www.fda.gov/downloads/MedicalDevices/DeviceRegulationandGuidance/GuidanceDocument
s/UCM094513.pdf
h. For extensive technical and practical implementation information please see “Preliminary Report on Operational Guidelines
Developed for Use in Emergency Preparedness and Response to a Radiological Dispersal Device Incident” (DOE 2009).
i. This cleanup process does not rely on and does not affect any authority, including the Comprehensive Environmental
Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA), 42 U.S.C. 9601 et seq. and the National Contingency Plan (NCP), 40 CFR
Part 300. This document expresses no view as to the availability of legal authority to implement this process in any
particular situation.
http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/EmergencyPreparedness/BioterrorismandDrugPreparedness/ucm063807.htm
http://www.emergency.cdc.gov/radiation
http://www.orau.gov/reacts
http://www.fda.gov/downloads/MedicalDevices/DeviceRegulationandGuidance/GuidanceDocument
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Facilities having substantive and persuasive arguments for using other protective action
threshold values may propose values that are specific to their radioactive material holdings
and operations. Any alternative proposals should be supported by an analysis that addresses
the four principles that form the basis for the selection of the EPA PAG values and the other
considerations utilized in the selection process.
g. Medical Support. If the potential exists for significant uranium intakes, the emergency
management program should include specific planning for the quantification of
exposure, diagnosis of health effects, and treatment. Medical facilities providing
emergency medical support should be provided with references relating to uranium
toxicity and treatment protocols. Criteria for implementing treatments such as surgical
excision of contaminated tissue or use of chelating agents should be discussed with the
medical staff and sources of real‐time advice and assistance should be identified.
h. Recovery and Reentry. The specific properties of the hazardous material do not
significantly affect the content of this program element.
i. Public Information. The specific properties of the hazardous material do not
significantly affect the content of this program element.
j. Emergency Facilities and Equipment. Except for instruments and analysis methods used
in consequence assessment, specialized facilities and equipment will not be required to
meet the emergency management program needs of uranium facilities. Equipment and
analytical techniques for detection and measurement of uranium in environmental
sample media should have sufficient sensitivity to measure levels at or below those
corresponding to decision criteria. Whereas larger sample sizes or longer counting times
may be used to reduce the limit of detection for routine environmental surveillance,
time constraints may dictate that more sensitive techniques be used for emergency
response. Kinetic phosphorimetry, a fast, sensitive, and accurate method for direct
determination of uranium, permits analysis of many sample media directly or with
limited sample preparation.
Section 148
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10 DECOMISSIONING
At the end of the useful life, nuclear facilities are deactivated by placing the facility in a safe
and stable condition by removing the fuel, draining and/or de‐energizing nonessential
systems, and removal of stored radioactive and hazardous materials and related actions. To
minimize or eliminate long‐term institutional control of a facility, with adequate regard for the
health and safety of workers and the public and to protect the environment, a decision may
be made to undergo a decommissioning program. Decommissioning generally takes place
after deactivation, and includes surveillance and maintenance, decontamination, and/or
dismantlement. The ultimate goal of decommissioning is unrestricted release or restricted use
of the site.
This section provides guidance on establishing and implementing an effective
decommissioning program. Major topic areas include regulations and standards, design
features, decommissioning program, decommissioning techniques, and decommissioning
experience. The following subsections concentrate on the radiation protection aspects of
decommissioning at uranium‐contaminated DOE facilities.
10.1 REGULATORY FRAMEWORK
Decontamination and decommissioning of a DOE uranium facility require adherence to a
complex array of regulations and policies. The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of
1976 (RCRA) and the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability
Act of 1980 (CERCLA) are the two main regulatory programs that directly impact the
decommissioning of DOE facilities.
10.1.1 Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 (RCRA)
The purpose of RCRA is to reduce the total quantity of hazardous waste generated and to
prevent releases of hazardous waste to the environment by controlling waste from the cradle‐
to‐grave. Section 6001 of RCRA details that the provisions of RCRA apply to Federal facilities.
Section 6001 also subjects Federal facilities to civil penalties and confirms Federal employees
are personally liable for criminal violations of the provisions of RCRA. If the facility is being
decommissioned under a RCRA permit or order, the EPA or the State may have RCRA authority
over actions taken at the facility during decommissioning. This may include authority to
review documents, set timetables, or require specific closure or corrective actions. Even if a
facility does not have a RCRA permit, RCRA requirements may be applicable and relevant or
appropriate requirements under CERCLA.
10.1.2 Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA)
CERCLA, as amended by the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986, was
enacted to identify and remediate sites where hazardous substances were, or could be,
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released into the environment. Executive Order 12580, Superfund Implementation, delegated
authority to the Secretary of Energy for evaluating whether conditions at sites under the
jurisdiction, custody, or control of DOE meet the CERCLA definition of significant threat of
release of hazardous substances. If so, DOE is authorized to conduct response activities
consistent with 40 CFR Part 300, National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency
Plan. For sites listed on the National Priorities List, the EPA has responsibility for ensuring that
actions taken by DOE comply with CERCLA requirements and may take legal action against
DOE in the event that EPA does not agree with DOE’s determination.
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10.1.3 National Environmental Policy Act
The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) establishes a national policy to ensure that
environmental factors are considered in planning and decision‐making by federal agencies.
The decommissioning of a DOE uranium facility will require a determination whether the
proposed action is a major federal action that may have significant environmental impacts and
requires the preparation of an environmental impact statement (EIS). An environmental
assessment (EA) may be prepared to assist in making this determination. The EA or EIS must
discuss the amount of material that will remain onsite and its effect, in addition to addressing
the alternatives. The alternatives will include retaining radioactive material onsite under DOE
control, cleaning the site to a level that would be acceptable for unrestricted release, and the
null or no‐action alternative of “walking away” from the site. If the action does not require an
EA or EIS, either because the possible adverse effects are insignificant or because
decommissioning was adequately addressed in a pre‐operational or other EA or EIS, then the
decommissioning can proceed in accordance with the information contained in other
applicable regulations.
10.1.4 DOE Directives and Standards
No single DOE Directive covers all decommissioning requirements due to the wide variety of
issues encompassed by decommissioning. These issues include project management,
environmental surveillance, health and safety of workers and the public, engineering design,
characterization survey techniques, decommissioning techniques, waste management, and
waste transport.
10.1.4.1 DOE Order 435.1 Chg 2, Radioactive Waste Management (2021a)
The management and disposal of radioactive waste resulting from environmental restoration
activities, including decommissioning, must meet the substantive requirements for DOE O
435.1 Chg 2, Radioactive Waste Management (2021a), as well as DOE M 435.1‐1 Chg 3,
Radioactive Waste Management Manual (2021b). DOE radioactive waste must be
appropriately managed so as to protect the public from exposure to radiation from
radioactive materials; protect the environment; and protect workers, including following the
requirements of 10 CFR Part 835.
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10.1.4.2 DOE Order 430.1C Chg 2, Real Property Asset Management (2020b)
DOE Order 430.C, Real Property Asset Management (2016b), and associated guides establish
an integrated corporate, holistic, and performance based approach to the life‐cycle
management of real property assets. It directs that acquisition, sustainment, recapitalization,
and disposal is balanced to ensure real property assets are available, utilized, and in suitable
condition to accomplish DOE missions. DOE O 430.1C further directs that industry standards, a
balanced approach, and performance objectives are to be used in managing an asset
throughout its life‐cycle, including disposition. Disposition are activities that include
preparation for reuse, surveillance, maintenance, deactivation, decommissioning, and long‐
term stewardship. DOE G 430.1‐4, Decommissioning Implementation Guide (1999) was
developed to aid in the planning and implementation of decommissioning activities in support
of DOE O430.1C.
10.1.4.3 DOE Order 458.1 Chg 4, Radiation Protection of the Public and the Environment (2020a)
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DOE Order 458.1 Chg 4 (2020a), provides radiological protection requirements and guidelines
for release and clearance of property and management, storage, and disposal of the wastes at
DOE sites. This DOE Order establishes a basic public dose limit for exposure to residual
radioactive material (in addition to naturally occurring background radiation exposures) not to
exceed a total effective dose (TED) of 100‐mrem (1‐mSv) in a year. A more detailed discussion
on authorized limits is presented in section 10.2.3.
10.2 Residual Radioactivity Levels
A primary concern in the decommissioning of any nuclear facility is the level of residual
radioactivity that may be permitted for unrestricted use. Before a property that has the
potential to contain residual radioactive material can be released from control, it must meet
dose limits under any plausible use of the property and ALARA process requirements.
10.2.1 Public Dose Limits
DOE Order 458.1 requires radiological activities to be conducted so that exposure to members
of the public to ionizing radiation will not cause a TED of greater than 100 mrem in a year, an
equivalent dose to the lens of the eye not greater than 1500 mrem in a year, or an equivalent
dose to the skin or extremities exceeding 5000 mrem in a year.
10.2.2 ALARA process requirements
In addition to public dose limits, a documented ALARA process must be implemented for
decommissioning activities in a manner that ensures that dose to members of the public and
releases to the environment are kept as low as reasonably achievable. This process must
consider DOE sources, modes of exposure, and all pathways which could result in the release
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of radioactive materials into the environment or exposure to the public. Though the ALARA
process is not applicable to non‐routine events (i.e., accidental or inadvertent releases or
exposures), it is applicable during recovery and remediation associated with non‐routine
events. DOE‐HDBK‐1215‐2014 Chg Notice 1 (Reaffirmed 2022) (2014a), Optimizing Radiation
Protection of the Public and the Environment For Use With DOE O 458.1, ALARA Requirements,
provides detailed information to assist in understanding what is necessary and acceptable for
implementing the ALARA provision of the Order.
10.2.3 Dose Constraints
To ensure that public dose limits from exposure to residual radioactive material from all DOE
sources are met, DOE O 458.1 applies dose constraints to each specific clearance of property
for any actual or likely future use of the property. For real property, the dose constraint is set
at a total effective dose of 25 mrem above background in any calendar year. For personal
property, the dose constraint is set at 1 mrem above background in any calendar year.
10.2.4 Authorized Limits
Authorized limits must be established and approved for clearance of any property containing
or potentially containing residual radioactive material. Authorized limits must
• Be developed in accordance with DOE O 458.1 Chg 4 (2020a), ALARA requirements;
• Be based on the applicable dose constraint, supported by a complete exposure pathway
analysis using appropriate methodologies, techniques, parameters, and models that
meet DOE quality assurance requirements under DOE O 414.1D Chg 2, Quality
Assurance (2020d);
• Be expressed in terms of concentration of radioactivity per unit surface area (e.g., dpm
Section 151
per 100 cm2), radioactivity per unit mass (e.g., pCi per gram) or volume (e.g., pCi per ml),
total radioactivity, or DOE controls and restrictions, if applicable;
• Explicitly state any restrictions or conditions on future use of the property necessary to
ensure the basic dose limit and applicable dose constraint are not exceeded;
• Include written notification of applicable Federal, State, or local regulatory agencies or
Tribal governments; and
• Be approved in accordance with DOE O 458.1 Chg 4 (2020a), DOE Approval of
Authorized Limits.
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10.2.4.1 Pre‐approved authorized Limits
In accordance with DOE O 458.1 Chg (2020a), pre‐approved authorized limits may be used
instead of developing specific authorized limits once the specific application of the Authorized
Limits is approved by the responsible Field Element Manager. For uranium facilities, the
preapproved Surface Contamination Guidelines are listed in Table 10‐1.
Table 10‐1. Surface Contamination Guidelines
Radionuclides Averaged
(dpm/100 cm2)
Maximum
(dpm/100 cm2)
Removable
(dpm/100 cm2)
U232 1,000 3,000 200
U‐Nat, U235, U238 and
associated decay products
5,000 15,000 1,000
10.2.5 Survey and Monitoring
Survey and monitoring to support decommissioning activities must:
• Use methodologies such as MARSSIM, MARSAME, or other DOE‐approved
methodologies;
• Meet measurement or data quality objectives;
• Use DOE‐approved sampling and analysis techniques;
• Include an evaluation of non‐uniformly distributed residual radioactive material, if
applicable.
Survey and monitoring instrumentation must be capable of detecting and quantifying residual
radioactive material, consistent with applicable authorized limits. In addition to MARSSIM and
MARSAME, DOE‐HDBK‐1216‐2015 Chg Notice 1 (2015), Environmental Radiological Effluent
Monitoring and Environmental Surveillance, identifies procedures, systems, methods,
instruments, and practices that may be used to plan and implement radiological monitoring
and environmental surveillance.
10.3 Design Features for New Facilities
Design of the facility should allow easy decommissioning of equipment and materials. Details
on designing facilities for ease of decommissioning are discussed in the following sections.
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10.3.1 Building Materials
In general, the design features that aid in contamination control during operation also
facilitate decommissioning. The inclusion of all the building materials suggested in this section
may be cost‐prohibitive, but they should be considered if the budget allows. Maintenance
procedures that are used during operation are also important in controlling the spread of
contamination to clean areas and, therefore, facilitate decommissioning, too.
Less permeable building materials are more easily decontaminated. Any concrete with
uncoated surfaces that comes in contact with uranium solutions or uranium‐contaminated air
will require surface removal and disposal as radioactive waste at the end of its life. If there are
cracks through which contaminated solutions have penetrated, the entire structure may need
to be disposed of as radioactive waste.
Section 152
Metal surfaces may also require decontamination. In general, the more highly polished the
surface, the easier it will be to decontaminate. If feasible, all stainless steel that will come into
contact with uranium should be electro‐polished before being placed into service. If high‐
efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filtration has failed at any time during facility operation, roofs
may require decontamination. Metal roofs are easiest to decontaminate, but even these may
contribute to the volume of radioactive waste unless unusual measures are taken to clean
them. Built‐up and composition roofs will be difficult to clean to unrestricted release levels.
Interior surfaces are most easily cleaned if they were completely primed and painted before
the introduction of radioactive materials into the facility. If interior surfaces are repainted
during operation, their disposal as clean waste is likely to require removal of the paint.
However, if the paint has deteriorated, cleaning for unrestricted use may be as difficult as if
the material had never been painted. Wood will almost certainly become contaminated, as
will plasterboard and other such materials.
Floor surfaces are likely to be a problem. Concrete should be well sealed and covered with a
protective surface. Single sheet, vinyl flooring with heat‐sealed seams is preferable to asphalt
or vinyl tile because it is more easily cleaned. If the floor needs resurfacing, it is preferable to
overlay new flooring material rather than remove the old material and expose the underlying
floor.
Carpets are not recommended because they are difficult to clean and survey and bulky to
dispose of and they do not adequately protect the underlying surface. In some areas, such as
control rooms, their use may be justified by noise control requirements; however, their
contamination control limitations should be considered. If used, carpets should be surveyed
frequently and disposed of as radioactive waste when they become contaminated.
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10.4 Ventilation Systems
In addition to decommissioning considerations, the design of the ventilation system will
depend on the operations conducted in the facility. Adequate air flow for all operations and
good design practices will help keep the facility clean during operations and will facilitate
decommissioning. Fiberglass duct work may present a fire hazard and may be more difficult to
decontaminate than stainless steel, especially stainless steel that has been electro‐polished.
Welded joints are less likely to collect contamination than bolted ones; however, bolted joints
are easier to remove and the most contaminated areas are readily accessible for cleaning.
Filters should be positioned in ventilation systems to minimize contamination of ductwork
(e.g., filtration of glove‐box exhaust air before it enters a duct leading to a plenum).
10.4.1 Piping Systems
Potentially contaminated piping systems imbedded in concrete are a common and relatively
expensive decommissioning problem. Most often, they must be sealed and removed last, after
all other radioactive material has been removed and the building is being demolished by
conventional methods. Often, they provide the major impetus for demolishing a building
rather than converting it to some non‐nuclear use. For this reason, it is best to run pipes in
chases or tunnels that have been lined (usually with stainless steel) to prevent contamination
from penetrating building surfaces. To minimize hand jackhammer work required during
decommissioning, floor drains should not be enclosed in concrete.
Section 153
10.4.2 Soil‐Contamination Considerations
Depending on the activity levels found, locations where contaminated effluents have
penetrated the ground may require excavation during decommissioning. The facility design
should minimize such areas. Particular attention should be paid to storm runoff from roofs,
storage areas, contaminated equipment storage, and liquid waste treatment impoundments
(including sanitary sewage systems if they may receive some small amount of contamination
during the life of the facility).
10.4.3 Other Features
Installed decontamination and materials‐handling equipment that facilitates operation and
maintenance also generally facilitates decommissioning in two ways. First, it can be used for
its intended purposes of cleaning and moving equipment during the decommissioning phase.
Even more important, it usually contributes to a cleaner, better‐maintained facility, where
nonfunctional equipment is moved out when it is no longer needed and work surfaces are
kept free of spreadable contamination.
Other features include the following:
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• minimizing service piping, conduits, and ductwork,
• caulking or sealing all cracks, crevices, and joints,
• using modular, separable confinements for radioactive or other hazardous materials
to preclude contamination of fixed portions of the structure,
• using localized liquid transfer systems that avoid long runs of buried contaminated
piping,
• using equipment that precludes the accumulation of radioactive or other hazardous
materials in relatively inaccessible areas, including curves and turns in piping and
ductwork,
• using designs that ease cut‐up, dismantling, removal, and packaging of contaminated
equipment from the facility,
• using modular radiation shielding, in lieu of or in addition to monolithic shielding
walls,
• using lifting lugs on large tanks and equipment, and
• using fully drainable piping systems that carry contaminated or potentially
contaminated liquids.
10.5 DECOMMISSIONING PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
Planning for facility decommissioning should be initiated during the design phase for new
facilities and before termination of operations for existing operational facilities. To assist in
decommissioning activity planning the Office of Environmental Management distributed the
“Decommissioning Resource Manual.” Refer to that document for guidance.
DOE Order 430.1C Chg 2, Real Property Asset Management (DOE, 2020b), contains the
requirements by which all applicable DOE projects must be managed. This technical standard
sets for the requirements for real property asset life‐cycle management including: planning
and budgeting, acquisition, sustainment, disposition, performance measurement, and
reporting systems.
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10.5.1 Pre‐Operational and Operational Activities
Determination of the natural background levels of radiation and of the background and fallout
radionuclides is a critical step in decommissioning. These levels are best determined before
the facility becomes operational. These levels need to be determined so the incremental dose
occurring from material left onsite at the termination of operations can be assessed.
Section 154
The contamination control practices and records maintained during facility operation will also
be important. If paint is used in contamination fixation (seldom an optimum, but sometimes a
necessary, practice), it should be of a distinctive color and the location should be permanently
recorded. Other records are also helpful in planning and executing final decontamination for
dismantling. Spills, pipe and tank leaks, ventilation failures, burial of low‐level radioactive or
potentially radioactive materials onsite, or other actions that might affect decommissioning
shall become part of the permanent record of the facility and be considered in
decommissioning planning. Insights from workers who worked at the facility during the
operational phase can also provide useful information on past incidents.
10.5.2 Post‐Operational Activities
DOE program organizations shall identify contaminated facilities under their jurisdiction,
document the potential for reuse and recovery of materials and equipment, and develop
decommissioning schedules. Before decommissioning activities begin, adequate surveillance
and maintenance should be performed for inactive facilities that allow them to: 1) meet
applicable radiation protection, hazardous chemical, and safety standards, 2) maintain
physical safety and security standards, and 3) reduce potential public and environmental
hazards. Deactivation operations, such as removing all high‐level waste and stored hazardous
materials, should be performed by the facility operator as part of the last operational activities
before entering into the decommissioning phase.
10.5.3 Decommissioning Activities
The following discussion of decommissioning activities is divided into four phases: site
characterization, environmental review process, general decommissioning planning,
decommissioning project plan, and decommissioning operations.
10.5.3.1 Site Characterization
Characterization data shall be collected to support a thorough physical, chemical, and
radiological characterization to fulfill the requirements of NEPA reviews, and the
RCRA/CERCLA preliminary assessment/site investigations and detailed engineering studies.
The facility characterization shall include the following:
• drawings, photographs, or other records reflecting the as‐built and as‐modified
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condition of the facility and grounds,
• the condition of all structures, existing protective barriers, and systems installed to
ensure public, occupational, and environmental safety,
• the type, form, quantity, and location of hazardous chemical and radioactive material
from past operations at the site, and
• information on factors that could influence the selection of decommissioning
alternatives (safe storage, entombment, dismantling), such as potential future use, long‐
range site plans, facility condition, and potential health, safety, and environmental
hazards.
One portion of the site‐characterization process is a composite of several different types of
surveys: background, scoping (or preliminary site characterization), and detailed
characterization, as defined by Berger (1992). Guidance for conducting site characterizations
as part of the remedial investigations/feasibility studies (RI/FS) under CERCLA can be found in
EPA/540/G‐89/004, Guidance for Conducting Remedial Investigations and Feasibility Studies
Under CERCLA (1988).
Section 155
The background survey information (i.e., direct radiation levels and concentrations of
potential radionuclide contaminants in construction materials and soils) may be performed as
part of the environmental baseline studies during pre‐operational activities. Otherwise,
background levels should be determined at onsite or immediately offsite locations that are
unaffected by operations.
The scoping or preliminary site characterization study should be performed to identify the
potential radionuclide contaminants at the site, the relative ratios of these nuclides, and the
general extent of contamination. The survey provides the basis for initial estimates of the
required decommissioning effort and a framework for planning the more detailed
characterization study. A limited number of measurements will be made at locations that are
most likely to have contamination. Scoping or preliminary site characterization surveys may be
conducted during the post‐operational phase.
The detailed characterization survey will more precisely define the extent and magnitude of
contamination. The resulting data will be used to assist in planning for the decontamination
effort, including decontamination techniques and health and safety considerations during
decommissioning.
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10.5.3.2 Environmental Review Process
Candidate decommissioning alternatives should be identified, assessed, and evaluated, and
preferred decommissioning alternatives should be selected based on the results of the
environmental review. The review should be performed according to the requirements of
NEPA, RCRA, and CERCLA. Depending on the operation, the environmental review may consist
of an EA or an EIS (see Section 10.2.1).
10.5.3.3 Decommissioning Planning
The first step in decommissioning planning is the development of a series of absolute criteria.
These will necessarily include such items as compliance with DOE regulations and Orders, EPA
regulations, interagency agreements, and other statutes. They may also include commitments
to states, landowners, or others, or provisions of a Record of Decision.
As these criteria are developed, other high‐value criteria may also be established. These are
likely to include such considerations as maximizing the aesthetic and recreational value of the
site, performing decommissioning within allocated funds, lowest worker dose, lowest
population dose, lowest cost, lowest future surveillance commitment, and least effect in case
of probable accidents. Depending on the viability of the decommissioning action, the decision‐
making process that has been established, and the level of public concern, notice of a scoping
meeting may be published in the Federal Register and scoping meetings may be held. Similar
actions may be taken to determine the applicable decommissioning criteria and the
alternatives to be considered.
Whether or not a formal scoping meeting and EIS are used, it will be necessary to define the
decommissioning options to be considered. Most of the analysis effort should be expended on
those options that fulfill the absolute criteria so they can be ranked relative to the other high‐
value criteria. General options would typically include the following, which are taken from
NUREG‐0586, Final Generic Environmental Impact Statement (GEIS) on Decommissioning of
Nuclear Facilities (NRC, 2002):
a. Decontamination (DECON) ‐ Decontamination is the alternative in which contaminated
Section 156
equipment, structures, and portions of a facility are physically removed from the site or
their radioactive contaminants are removed by chemical or abrasive means. This
alternative is the preferred approach to decommissioning uranium‐contaminated
facilities.
b. Safe Storage (SAFSTOR) ‐ SAFSTOR is sometimes referred to as "deferred
decommissioning," the alternative in which nuclear facilities are placed and maintained
in such a condition that the structure and contents can be safely stored and eventually
decommissioned. In preparing a facility for SAFSTOR, the structure is left intact, but all
nuclear fuels, radioactive fluids, and wastes are removed from the site. This alternative
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
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is generally considered when the following conditions occur:
1. Low‐level waste disposal capacity is inadequate to implement DECON.
2. An adjacent operating nuclear facility would be adversely affected if the DECON
alternative were implemented.
3. A positive benefit would be derived through a limited period of radioactive decay. A
cost‐benefit analysis should be performed, comparing total cost and radiation
exposure resulting from DECON versus SAFSTOR. Then, a decision should be made
whether any additional costs incurred for the SAFSTOR alternative are justified by
the dose savings. Due to the long half‐lives of uranium isotopes, radioactive decay is
not a viable reason for using the SAFSTOR Deactivation and Decontamination
option.
c. Entombment (ENTOMB) ‐ The entombment alternative involves removing all nuclear
fuels, radioactive fluids, and wastes from the site and encasing all structural and
mechanical materials and components not decontaminated to acceptable levels in a
structurally long‐lived material, such as concrete. The entombed structure is maintained
under appropriate continued surveillance until the radioactivity decays to a level
permitting unrestricted release of the facility. The maximum allowable time in
entombment should be less than 100 years. Due to the long half‐lives of uranium
isotopes, entombment is not a viable option for decommissioning of uranium‐
contaminated facilities.
d. The no‐action alternative, as required by NEPA ‐ In decommissioning, this is normally
considered the "walk away" option.
Conversion of a facility for alternate nuclear or other controlled use has sometimes been
considered a decommissioning mode; however, it is not truly decommissioned unless
conversion involves removal of all radioactive material. Final disposition, when it occurs at the
end of the new use, should consider the residual radioactivity onsite.
10.5.3.4 Decommissioning Project Plan
A decommissioning project plan should be prepared and should include the following:
a. physical, chemical, and radiological characterization data or references to such data;
b. a summary evaluation of decommissioning alternatives for the facility, including the
preferred alternatives;
c. plans for meeting requirements from the environmental review process (NEPA, RCRA;
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
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and CERCLA),
d. radiological criteria to be used;
e. development of a health and safety plan for decommissioning;
f. projections of occupational exposure;
g. estimated quantities of radioactive waste to be generated; and
h. detailed administrative, cost‐schedule, and management information.
If a contractor will be used to perform the decommissioning operations, the plan should
include detailed technical specifications for selecting a contractor.
Section 157
The site characterization survey should provide the necessary information on the type of
facility or land area to be decommissioned and the type and amount of residual radioactive
material that must be cleaned up. Other information to be considered in deciding the
appropriate decommissioning alternative includes the following:
a. the availability of a final disposal facility for the radioactive waste, hazardous waste, or
mixed waste;
b. the intended use of the site and components (e.g., Will the site be released for
unrestricted or restricted use?);
c. the site characteristics (e.g., demography, accessibility, meteorology);
d. the cost‐benefit analysis (CBA) results; and
e. the resource considerations.
10.5.3.5 Decommissioning Operations
Decommissioning operations shall be conducted according to the approved decommissioning
project plan. Significant deviations from the decommissioning project plan should be
approved by the responsible field organization in consultation with the appropriate program
office.
During decommissioning operations, remediation control surveys (Berger 1992) should be
conducted to guide the cleanup in the real‐time mode. This will ensure that the
decommissioning workers, the public, and the environment are all adequately protected
against exposures to radiation and radioactive materials arising from the decommissioning
activities.
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The volume of waste and the associated cost of decommissioning the waste will be greatly
reduced if equipment can be cleaned up and disposed of as either non‐radioactive waste or as
non‐TRU waste. Numerous techniques have been developed for decontamination of
equipment and materials. Established techniques and the latest technology should be
considered in minimizing the quantity of contaminated equipment that requires disposal and
the waste generated from the decontamination processes. These techniques are described in
Section 10.4.2.
In establishing a radiological control program for decommissioning operations, the scope of
the decommissioning effort should be identified. Factors to be considered in program
development include:
a. the type of facility or land area to be cleaned up;
b. the type and amount of radioactive contaminated material, hazardous waste, and
mixed waste;
c. the radiological and hazardous material cleanup levels; and
d. the decommissioning methods being used.
The extent of the radiological control program will depend on the selected decommissioning
alternative. For the SAFSTOR alternative, the radiological control program would be minimal
following deactivation (i.e., surveillance activities) until the decontamination phase is initiated,
at which time a full radiological control program would be necessary. For the DECON
alternative, a fully staffed radiological control program would be needed from the start of
decontamination. Typically, this program would be similar to the program conducted during
normal operations. Entombment is not a viable alternative for decommissioning of uranium‐
contaminated facilities.
Also, the hazardous and radioactive contaminants present and the specific decontamination
techniques (e.g., mechanical methods, high‐pressure water, abrasive cleaning, vibratory
finishing, ultrasonics, electro‐polishing, decontamination foams, strippable decontamination
coatings, and dry ice blasting) used by each alternative will affect the extent of the radiological
control program. For example, if an abrasive mechanical technique for decontaminating
equipment (where airborne concentrations may be a concern) is chosen over just scrapping
the equipment as waste, obviously the radiological control program will need to be more
sophisticated.
Section 158
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
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10.5.4 Post‐Decommissioning Activities
A final radiological and chemical survey report (or an independent verification survey report)
and a project final report should be prepared. The final report should include a description of
the project, the final status of the property, and the lessons learned from the project.
As defined in Berger (1992), confirmatory surveys may be performed by the regulatory agency
to confirm the adequacy of the contractor’s final radiological and chemical survey report. A
confirmatory survey typically addresses from 1% to 10% of the site.
The responsible program organization should ensure any necessary long‐term maintenance
and surveillance or other safety controls are provided for the decommissioned property. The
decommissioned property may be released from DOE ownership if the responsible program
organization, in consultation with the Office of the Environment, Health, Safety and Security
(EHSS‐1) certifies that the property meets applicable release criteria for residual radioactivity
and hazardous chemicals. If appropriate release criteria are not met, the property may be
reused for other program activities that may or may not involve radioactive or hazardous
materials, provided a conversion method leading to reuse is described (DOE M 435.1‐1).
10.5.5 Quality Assurance
Decommissioning activities shall be conducted according to the applicable requirements of
the ANSI/ASME NQA‐1, Quality Assurance Requirements for Nuclear Facility Applications
(2022b) and other appropriate national consensus standards (e.g., EPA guidance documents in
the EPA QA/R and EPA QA/G series should be used in the design of environmental monitoring
programs). The quality assurance program for decommissioning activities should follow the
guidelines in DOE Order 414.1D Chg 2, Quality Assurance (2020d).
10.6 Decontamination and Decommissioning Experience
Discussions of decommissioning activities at several uranium facilities can be found in
Adkisson (1987) and Wynveen et al. (1982). Decommissioning activities took place in several
types of uranium facilities including an enriched uranium fuel fabrication plant, a mixed oxide
(Pu/U) fuel fabrication and development plant, a research and development laboratory, and a
depleted uranium manufacturing plant. Equipment decontaminated, dismantled, or removed
included glove boxes, fume hoods, laboratory equipment, piping, ventilation ducts, uranium
and thorium sediments from a settling lagoon, and soil from a small shallow burial area.
Decontamination techniques included wiping with a damp cloth, strippable paint, acid wash,
and removal of soil and sediments. Some lessons learned from these decommissioning
operations included the following:
a. Waste management planning should begin early in the decommissioning planning
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
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stages and account for the possibility there may be more stringent regulations for
shipping hazardous or radioactive wastes than disposing of it. Any waste package
designs need to be reviewed to ensure compliance with all applicable waste
management requirements.
b. Temporary contamination enclosures are effective in controlling contamination during
size reduction of large equipment such as glove boxes. Any loose contamination on the
equipment should be fixed prior to placing it in the enclosure.
1. Criticality safety issues should be considered regarding the geometry of any waste
material containing fissile material.
Section 159
2. Decommissioning operations must be prepared for changes in regulatory criteria
and implementation of these new criteria.
3. During decommissioning operations, personnel need to recognize the possibility of
encountering elevated levels of contamination in unexpected locations such as the
excavations for concrete structures or under existing roofing or flooring.
4. It is necessary to establish and document criteria for implementing regulations in
accordance with 10 CFR § 835.101. For example, in meeting surface contamination
guidelines, it is important to establish the acceptable detection efficiency of the
detector and areas for averaging measurements.
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Section 167
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
B ‐ 1
12 APPENDIX B ‐ GLOSSARY
Terms used consistent with their regulatory definitions.
abnormal situation: Unplanned event or condition that adversely affects, potentially affects, or
indicates degradation in the safety, security, environmental or health protection performance or
operation of a facility.
air sampling: A form of air monitoring in which an air sample is collected and analyzed at a later time,
sometimes referred to as retrospective air monitoring.
air monitoring: Actions to detect and quantify airborne radiological conditions by the collection of an air
sample and the subsequent analysis either in real‐time or in off‐line laboratory analysis of the amount
and type of radioactive material present in the workplace atmosphere.
airborne radioactive material: Radioactive material in any chemical or physical form that is dissolved,
mixed, suspended, or otherwise entrained in air.
alarm set point: The count rate at which a continuous air monitor will alarm, usually set to correspond
to a specific airborne radioactive material concentration by calculating the sample medium buildup rate.
ambient air: The general air in the area of interest (e.g., the general room atmosphere) as distinct from
a specific stream or volume of air that may have different properties.
breathing zone air monitoring: A form of air monitoring that is used to detect and quantify the
radiological conditions of air from the general volume of air breathed by the individual, usually at a
height of 1 to 2 meters. See personal air monitoring. (Air Monitoring Chapter of DOE G 441.1‐1C)
continuous air monitor (CAM): An instrument that continuously samples and measures the levels of
airborne radioactive materials on a "real‐time" basis and has alarm capabilities at preset alarm set
points. (Air Monitoring Chapter of DOE G 441.1‐1C)
decontamination: The process of removing radioactive contamination and materials from personnel,
equipment, or areas.
Department of Energy operations: Those activities for which DOE has authority over environmental,
safety, and health protection requirements.
Department of Energy site: Either a tract owned by DOE or a tract leased or otherwise made available
to the Federal Government under terms that afford to the Department of Energy rights of access and
control substantially equal to those that the Department of Energy would possess if it were the holder of
the fee (or pertinent interest therein) as agent of and on behalf of the Government. One or more DOE
operations/program activities are carried out within the boundaries of the described tract.
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
B ‐ 2
detector: A device or component designed to produce a quantifiable response to ionizing radiation,
normally measured electronically. (Portable Monitoring Instrument Calibration Chapter of DOE G 441.1‐
1C)
DOELAP: The Department of Energy Laboratory Accreditation Program defines a set of reference
performance tests and provides a description of the minimum levels of acceptable performance for
personnel dosimetry systems and radiobioassay programs under DOE‐STD‐1111‐2018 (2018a). (External
Dosimetry Program Chapter of DOE G 441.1‐1C)
exposure: The general condition of being subjected to ionizing radiation, such as by exposure to ionizing
radiation from external sources or to ionizing radiation sources inside the body. In this document,
exposure does not refer to the radiological physics concept of charge liberated per unit mass of air.
(Internal Dosimetry Chapter of DOE G 441.1‐1C)
Section 168
fixed contamination: Radioactive material that has been deposited onto a surface and cannot be readily
removed by nondestructive means, such as casual contact, wiping, brushing, or laundering. Fixed
contamination does not include radioactive material that is present in a matrix, such as soil or cement,
or radioactive material that has been induced in a material through activation processes. (DOE‐STD‐
1098)
fixed‐location sampler: An air sampler located at a fixed location in the workplace.
grab sampling: A single sample removed from the workplace air over a short time interval, typically less
than 1 hour.
high‐efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter: Throwaway extended pleated medium dry‐type filter with
1) a rigid casing enclosing the full depth of the pleats, 2) a minimum particle removal efficiency of
99.97% for thermally generated monodisperse di‐octyl phlalate smoke particles with a diameter of 0.3
µm, and 3) a maximum pressure drop of 1.0‐in. w.g. when clean and operated at its rated airflow
capacity. (DOE‐STD‐1098).
intake: The amount of radionuclide taken into the body by inhalation, absorption through intact skin,
injection, ingestion, or through wounds. Depending on the radionuclide involved, intakes may be
reported in units of mass (e.g., µg, mg), activity (e.g., µCi, Bq), or potential alpha energy (e.g., MeV, J)
units. (Internal Dosimetry Program Chapter of DOE G 441.1‐1C)
minimum detectable amount/activity (MDA): The smallest amount (activity or mass) of an analyte in a
sample that will be detected with a probability, B, of non‐detection (Type II error) while accepting a
probability, α, of erroneously deciding that a positive(non‐zero) quantity of analyte is present in an
appropriate blank (Type I error). The MDA is computed using the same value of α as used for the
decision level (DL). The MDA depends on both α and β. Measurement results are compared to the DL,
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
B ‐ 3
not the MDA; the MDA is used to determine whether a program has adequate detection capability. The
MDA will be greater than or equal to the DL. (Internal Dosimetry Program Chapter of DOE G 441.1‐1C)
personal air monitoring: A form of breathing zone air monitoring that involves the sampling of air in the
immediate vicinity (typically within one foot) of an individual’s nose and mouth, usually by a portable
sampling pump and collection tube (e.g., a lapel sampler) worn on the body. (Air Monitoring Chapter of
DOE G 441.1‐1C)
portable air sampler: An air sampler designed to be moved from area to area.
radiation‐generating device (RDG): The collective term for devices which produce ionizing radiation,
including certain sealed radioactive sources, small particle accelerators used for single purpose
applications which produce ionizing radiation (e.g., radiography), and electron‐generating devices that
produce x‐rays incidentally. (Radiation‐Generating Devices Chapter of DOE G 441.1‐1C)
radioactive material: Any material that spontaneously emits ionizing radiation (e.g., X‐ or gamma rays,
alpha or beta particles, neutrons). The term “radioactive material” also includes materials onto which
radioactive material is deposited or into which it is incorporated. For purposes of practicality, both 10
CFR Part 835 and this Standard establish certain threshold levels below which specified actions, such as
posting, labeling, or individual monitoring, are not required. These threshold levels are usually
expressed in terms of total activity or concentration, contamination levels, individual doses, or exposure
rates. (DOE‐STD‐1098)
Section 169
radiological work permit (RWP): The permit that identifies radiological conditions, establishes worker
protection and monitoring requirements, and contains specific approvals for radiological work activities.
The Radiological Work Permit serves as an administrative process for planning and controlling
radiological work and informing the worker of the radiological conditions. (DOE‐STD‐1098)
radiological control organization: An organization responsible for radiation protection. (Sealed
Radioactive Source Accountability and Control Chapter of DOE G 441.1‐1C)
real‐time air monitoring: Collection and real‐time analysis of the workplace atmosphere using
continuous air monitors (CAMs).
refresher training: The training scheduled on the alternate year when full retraining is not completed for
Radiological Worker I and Radiological Worker II personnel. (DOE‐STD‐1098)
removable contamination: Radioactive material that can be removed from surfaces by nondestructive
means, such as casual contact, wiping, brushing, or washing. (DOE‐STD‐1098)
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
B ‐ 4
representative air sampling: The sampling of airborne radioactive material in a manner such that the
sample collected closely approximates both the amount of activity and the physical and chemical
properties (e.g., particle size and solubility) of the aerosol to which the workers may be exposed.
source‐specific air sampling: Collection of an air sample near an actual or likely release point in a work
area using fixed‐location samplers or portable air samplers.
survey: An evaluation of the radiological conditions and potential hazards incident to the production,
use, transfer, release, disposal, or presence of radioactive material or other sources of radiation. When
appropriate, such an evaluation includes a physical survey of the location of radioactive material and
measurements or calculations of levels of radiation, or concentrations or quantities of radioactive
material present. (DOE‐STD‐1098)
workplace monitoring: The measurement of radioactive material and/or direct radiation levels in areas
that could be routinely occupied by workers.
DOE‐STD‐1136‐2017
FOREWORD
Table of Contents
1 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Purpose and Applicability
1.2 Definitions
1.3 Discussion
2 PROPERTIES AND RELATIVE HAZARDS
2.1 Nuclear Properties of Uranium
2.1.1 Isotopic Characterization
2.1.2 Decay Chains
2.1.3 Enrichment
2.1.4 Contaminants from Recycled Uranium and Associated Hazards
2.2 Physical and Chemical Properties
2.2.1 Uranium Fuel Processing
2.2.2 Uranium Metal
2.3 Radiological Characteristics and Effects
2.3.1 Alpha‐Neutron External Hazard
2.3.2 Mode of Uranium Entry into the Body
2.4 Chemical Toxicity
2.4.1 Human Response Indicators
2.4.2 Transfer to the Fetus
2.5 Chemical versus Radiological Hazards
Example 3a ‐ General Solution, Chronic Exposure
2.6 Natural Uranium Balance in Man
2.7 Industrial Hazards
2.7.1 Hydrogen Fluoride
2.7.2 Nitric Compounds
2.7.3 Hydrogen Gas
2.7.4 Fire
Section 170
3 RADIATION PROTECTION
3.1 Regulations and Standards
3.2 Radiation Protection Programs
3.2.1 Organization and Administration
Radiation Protection Procedures
Management Commitment
Radiological Control Organization
Radiological Control Organization Independence and Reporting Level
Adequacy of Personnel and Equipment
Staffing and Staff Qualifications
Radiological Control Technician Training
Professional Staffing and Qualifications
Technician Staffing and Qualifications
Training Staff Qualifications
Health Physicist Training Involvement
Staffing Levels
3.2.2 ALARA Program
3.2.3 External Dosimetry Program
3.2.4 Internal Dosimetry Program
3.2.5 Area Monitoring and Control
General Performance Criteria for Instruments
Portable Monitoring Instruments
Performance Criteria for Fixed Monitoring Instruments
Performance Criteria for Emergency Instrumentation
Instrument Calibrations and Testing
3.2.6 Radiological Controls
3.2.7 Emergency Exposure Situations
3.2.8 Nuclear Accident Dosimetry
3.2.9 Records
3.2.10 Radiation Safety Training
3.3 Related Programs
3.3.1 Onsite Packaging and Transportation
3.3.2 Approval for Editorial Changes
3.3.3 Conduct of Operations
3.3.4 Integrated Safety Management
4 CONTAMINATION CONTROL
4.1 Air Monitoring
4.1.1 Internal Versus External Dose Philosophy
4.1.2 Purpose of Air Monitoring
4.1.3 Regulations and Limits
4.1.4 Theoretical Considerations and Uncertainties
4.1.5 Samplers and Instrumentation
4.1.6 Sample Activity Measurement
4.1.7 Continuous Air Monitors (CAM)
4.1.8 Monitoring Strategies and Protocols
4.2 Surface Contamination Control
4.2.1 Reporting and Documenting Contamination Levels
4.2.2 Monitoring
Surveys for Removable Contamination
Scan Survey for Fixed Contamination
4.2.3 Release Criteria
4.2.4 ALARA Guidelines
4.3 Personnel Contamination Control
4.3.1 Monitoring Philosophy
4.3.2 Monitoring Program
4.3.3 Protective Clothing
4.3.4 Respiratory Protection
4.3.5 ALARA Guidelines
4.3.6 Release Criteria
4.4 Decontamination and Decommissioning Techniques
4.4.1 Personnel Decontamination
4.4.2 Equipment and Surface Decontamination
5 INTERNAL DOSIMETRY
5.1 Internal Dose Evaluation Program
5.1.1 Performance Capabilities for Internal Exposure Monitoring
5.1.2 Protection of the Embryo/Fetus, Minors, and Members of the Public
5.2 Characterization of Internal Hazards
5.3 Scope of Bioassay Program
5.3.1 Classification of Bioassay Measurements
5.3.2 Monitoring Requirements and Selection of Employees
5.3.3 Selection of Bioassay Monitoring Techniques
5.4 Establishing Bioassay Frequency
5.4.1 Frequency Based on Program Sensitivity
5.4.2 Frequency Based on Potential Risk of Intake
5.4.3 Special Bioassay as Supplements to Routine Bioassay Programs
5.4.4 Long‐term Follow‐up Bioassay Programs
5.4.5 Other Frequency Situations
5.5 Administration of a Bioassay Program
5.5.1 In Vivo Monitoring
5.5.2 Urine Sampling
5.5.3 Fecal Sampling
5.5.4 Conditions for Adjustments of Action Levels
5.6 Interpretation of Bioassay Results
5.6.1 In Vivo Count Results
5.6.2 Urine Sample Results
5.6.3 Fecal Sample Results
5.6.4 Use of Air Sample Data in Internal Dosimetry
5.7 Dose Assessment
5.7.1 Methods of Estimating Intake
5.7.2 Alternate Methods of Intake Assessment
5.7.3 Estimating Effective Dose from Intakes of Uranium
5.8 Reference and Action Levels
5.9 Response to Suspected Intakes
5.9.1 Emergency Action Planning
5.9.2 Medical Emergency Response Plan
5.9.3 Responsibilities for Management of Internal Contamination
5.9.4 Immediate Medical Care
5.9.5 Contaminated Wounds
Section 171
6 EXTERNAL DOSIMETRY
6.1 DOSE LIMITS
6.1.1 Limiting Quantities
6.1.2 Operational Quantities
6.2 RADIATIONS IN URANIUM FACILITIES
6.2.1 Alpha and Beta Doses
6.2.2 Gamma Doses
6.2.3 Neutron Dose Equivalents
6.3 RADIATION DETECTION AND EVALUATION
6.3.1 Portable Survey Instruments‐‐Beta Radiation Response
6.3.2 Portable Survey Instruments‐‐Gamma Radiation Response
6.3.3 Portable Survey Instruments‐‐Neutron Response
6.4 PERSONNEL DOSIMETRY
6.4.1 Energy Dependence
6.4.2 Angular Dependence
6.4.3 Dosimetry Practices
6.4.4 Extremity Dosimetry
6.4.5 Dose to Lens of Eye
6.5 External Dose Control
6.5.1 Time
6.5.2 Distance
6.5.3 Shielding
6.5.4 Geometry
6.6 Recordkeeping
7 NUCLEAR CRITICALITY SAFETY
7.1 REGULATIONS AND STANDARDS
7.2 Criticality Control Factors
7.2.1 Controllable Factors
7.2.2 Administrative Practices
7.3 CRITICALITY ACCIDENT EXPERIENCE
7.3.1 Types of Criticality Accidents
7.3.2 Summary of Past Criticality Accidents
7.4 CRITICALITY ALARMS AND NUCLEAR ACCIDENT DOSIMETRY
7.4.1 Criticality Accident Alarm System (CAAS)
7.4.2 Nuclear Accident Dosimetry
7.5 RESPONSIBILITIES OF RADIOLOGICAL CONTROL STAFF
7.5.1 Routine Operations
7.5.2 Emergency Response Actions
7.5.3 Special Considerations during Decommissioning Activities
8 WASTE MANAGEMENT
8.1 POTENTIALLY CONTAMINATED WASTES
8.1.1 Solid Waste
8.1.2 Liquid Waste
8.2 DESIGN OF WASTE PROCESSING SYSTEMS
8.2.1 Objectives
8.2.2 Effluents
8.3 Treatment
8.3.1 Airborne Wastes
8.3.2 Liquid Waste
8.3.3 Solid Waste
8.4 Monitoring
8.4.1 Air and Gaseous Effluents
8.4.2 Liquid Effluents
8.4.3 Water Collection System
8.5 Waste Minimization
9 EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
9.1 Emergency Management in DOE
9.1.1 Basis for DOE Emergency Management Policy
9.1.2 Requirements Pertaining to All DOE Operations
9.2 Specific Guidance on Emergency Management for Uranium Facilities
9.2.1 Technical Planning Basis
9.2.2 Program Elements
10 DECOMISSIONING
10.1 REGULATORY FRAMEWORK
10.1.1 Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 (RCRA)
10.1.2 Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA)
10.1.3 National Environmental Policy Act
10.1.4 DOE Directives and Standards
10.2 Residual Radioactivity Levels
10.2.1 Public Dose Limits
10.2.2 ALARA process requirements
10.2.3 Dose Constraints
10.2.4 Authorized Limits
10.2.5 Survey and Monitoring
10.3 Design Features for New Facilities
10.3.1 Building Materials
10.4 Ventilation Systems
10.4.1 Piping Systems
10.4.2 Soil‐Contamination Considerations
10.4.3 Other Features
10.5 DECOMMISSIONING PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
10.5.1 Pre‐Operational and Operational Activities
10.5.2 Post‐Operational Activities
10.5.3 Decommissioning Activities
10.5.4 Post‐Decommissioning Activities
10.5.5 Quality Assurance
10.6 Decontamination and Decommissioning Experience
11 APPENDIX A ‐ REFERENCES
12 APPENDIX B ‐ GLOSSARY
Terms used consistent with their regulatory definitions.