• PPE
• Volatile Radionuclides
• Eating and Drinking
• Labeling Equipment
• Using Radioactive Materials Safely

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

A lab coat and protective gloves (vinyl or latex) must be worn at all times when working with radioactive material or potentially contaminated items.

Gloves should be monitored and changed frequently. Used gloves should be disposed of as radioactive waste.

Eye protection (safety glasses, goggles, face shield) is recommended when working with radioactive materials and other hazardous substances.

Pants and closed-toed shoes should be worn when working with radioactive materials.

Work with volatile forms of radioactive material (especially tritium and iodine) must be done within a certified chemical fume hood or approved iodination facility to prevent accidental uptakes. Two options are available, using the "Hot Lab" facilities in Building 21 or establishing an iodination facility in the research lab using a Radiation Safety Protocol.

Examples of Volatile Radioactive Materials/Compounds

Recommendations for handling S-35 volatile forms consists of venting the source vial in a chemical fume hood for 10-15 minutes and then using the material on the open bench. Be especially aware of source vials that have been thawed from very cold temperatures to room temperature as the potential exists for build-up within the vial.

Large quantities of tritiated water should be handled in the Building 21 "Hot Lab" facilities.

Eating and Drinking

Eating and drinking are prohibited in posted radioactive material labs. Eating and drinking allowed in corridors, offices, and designated break areas provided that they are separated floor-to-ceiling from radioactive posted areas. In open bay areas, if any of the bays are posted for radioactivity, eating and drinking is prohibited in the non-posted bay. Note that the NIH Policy strictly prohibits eating and drinking in ANY laboratory for general safety reasons.

Be sure to wash and survey hands before eating, drinking or smoking, especially after using radioactive materials.

Storage of food or drink in posted radioactive material labs is prohibited. The prohibition extends to cold rooms and refrigerators that are designated for radioactive material storage.

Labeling Equipment and Other Items

All rooms where radioactive materials are used or stored must be appropriately posted with a completed "Caution Radioactive Material" sign.

• Exceptions include rooms housing patients containing diagnostic levels or radionuclides, and rooms containing sealed sources with radiation levels less than 5 mrem/hr at 30 cm.

Containers of radioactive material must be labeled with yellow "Caution Radioactive Material" tape or labels. Labels should include:

• Radionuclide
• Original activity
• Date the activity was measured
• Radiation level (if appropriate)

Equipment and tools used with radioactive materials (which may be potentially contaminated) should be labeled with yellow "Caution Radioactive Material" tape or labels, to ensure that all lab personnel are aware of the potential for contamination. Some examples are:

• Biosafety cabinets
• Chemical fume hoods
• Refrigerators
• Freezers
• Centrifuges and microfuges
• Incubators
• Vortexers
• Water baths
• Pipetters
• Tube racks
• Tongs and forceps
• Shielding

Contaminated items and lab areas should be clearly labeled with yellow "Caution Radioactive Material" tape or labels, to warn lab personnel of the potential for contamination.

Using Radioactive Materials

Absorbent paper is required in radioactive material work areas to contain potential spills and splatter.

• Used absorbent paper is always assumed to be contaminated, and should be changed frequently.
• Used absorbent paper should be disposed of as dry radioactive waste, unless proven to be free of radioactive contamination

Proper planning and staging is encouraged for procedures involving radioactive materials.

• Ensuring that all materials, reagents, and tools are available before starting a procedure will save time and reduce the potential for accidents.

Be mindful of radioactive aerosol production.

• Certain lab equipment (centrifuge, vortexer, shaker, etc.) is capable of producing radioactive aerosol from liquid samples.
• Use this equipment in an appropriate manner to minimize the production of aerosols.

Properly dispose of sharps.

• Use an approved sharps box for the disposal of needles, syringes, and glass pipettes.
• Do not attempt to re-cap needles before disposal.

Mouth pipetting is strictly prohibited.

Do not rush when working with radioactive material!

• Adequate time should be allotted for procedures involving radioactive materials.
• Most radioactive spills occur due to time restrictions, hasty work, and failure to monitor.

Monitor yourself frequently.

• As a minimum, monitor gloves and/or hands before touching non-contaminated items.
• Used gloves are always assumed to be contaminated (perhaps with agents other than radioactive materials!), and should be changed on a frequent basis.
• Remove gloves, monitor yourself and work areas, and wash hands before taking a break or otherwise leaving the lab (to answer the phone, use the restroom, eat lunch, smoke a cigarette, etc.).

Use a type and amount of shielding that is appropriate for your application.

• Lead should not be used as primary shielding for beta emitters due to the production of bremsstrahlung radiation! Lead may be used outside of Plexiglas/lucite to shield bremsstrahlung.
• Consult with your Area Health Physicist for shielding questions.