University of California, Irvine
RADIONUCLIDE
HAZARDS
INFORMATION
For 3H, 14C, 22Na, 32P, 33P, 35S
36
Cl, 45Ca, 51Cr, 99mTc, 125I & 131I
February 2004
3
H -- HAZARDS INFORMATION
PHYSICAL DATA
z
RADIATION:
Beta, 18 keV (max)
6 keV (ave)
z
HALF LIFE:
12.3 years
z
RANGE IN AIR:
4.5 mm
z
RANGE IN TISSUE:
0.006 mm
DOSE RATES
z
No external exposure hazard--radiation from this radionuclide will not penetrate the dead
layer of skin
INTERNAL EXPOSURES
z
ALI (based on 5 rems CEDE):
z
SPECIAL COMMENTS
80 mCi--inhalation
80 mCi--oral ingestion
„
3
„
3
„
Most 3H compounds are distributed in body water with ~10 day Effective T1/2
„
3
H-water is volatile and may release tritiated water vapor
H-borohydrides are reactive and may generate tritium gas
H-nucleotides/nucleosides may become incorporated into the cellular DNA,
resulting in a higher dose to the DNA than to all other organs and tissues
INDIVIDUAL MONITORING
Urine bioassays may be needed for the use of very large quantities of 3H, such as labeling
procedures with 3H-water or 3H-borohydrides. Individual monitoring procedures for 3H will be
specified when necessary in the Precautions Section of the Radiation Use Authorization.
3
H DECAY TABLE: Half-life = 12.3 years
# of Days
Decay Correction
# of Days
Decay Correction
0
1.00
90
0.99
180
0.97
270
0.96
360
0.95
2
14
C -- HAZARDS INFORMATION
PHYSICAL DATA
z
RADIATION:
Beta, 156 keV (max)
49 keV (ave)
z
HALF LIFE:
5,730 years
z
RANGE IN AIR:
22 cm
z
RANGE IN TISSUE:
0.28 mm
EXTERNAL EXPOSURES
z
No external exposure hazard--radiation from this radionuclide will barely penetrate the
dead layer of skin
INTERNAL EXPOSURES
z
ALI (based on 5 rems CEDE):
z
SPECIAL COMMENTS
2 mCi--inhalation
2 mCi--oral ingestion
„
Most 14C compounds are rapidly metabolized to 14CO2 and are then exhaled with
the very short Effective T1/2 of a few days
„
14
C-nucleotides/nucleosides may become incorporated into the cellular DNA,
resulting in a higher dose to the DNA than to all other organs and tissues
3
22
Na -- HAZARDS INFORMATION
PHYSICAL DATA
z
RADIATION:
Gamma, 1.27 Mev, 511 keV
Positron, 545 kev, 1.82 MeV (max)
215 kev, 834 kev (ave)
z
HALF LIFE:
2.6 years
z
HALF VALUE LAYERS
„
In air:
90 m
„
In tissue:
10 cm
„
In lead:
9 mm
EXTERNAL EXPOSURES
z
z
GAMMA DOSE RATES FROM 1 mCi POINT SOURCE
„
@ 5 centimeters:
540 mrem/h
„
@ 1 meter:
1.4 mrem/h
SPECIAL COMMENTS
„
Annihilation of positrons produces 511 keV gammas
„
2 inches or more of lead is needed to shield high energy gammas
INTERNAL EXPOSURES
z
ALI (based on 5 rems CEDE):
600 uCi--inhalation
400 uCi--oral ingestion
4
22
Na (CONTINUED)
INDIVIDUAL MONITORING
z
EXTERNAL EXPOSURE
For administrative purposes, a TLD RING BADGE and a TLD BODY BADGE will be
worn when handling the following quantities, or more, of 22Na at any one time:
„
FOR WELL SHIELDED OPERATIONS AND STORAGE,
„
22
*
Adults, except Declared Pregnant Women
1 mCi
*
Declared Pregnant Women and Minors
under Age 18
0.1 mCi
FOR UNSHIELDED OPERATIONS, STORAGE OR BOTH,
*
Adults, except Declared Pregnant Women
0.1 mCi
*
Declared Pregnant Women and Minors
under Age 18
0.01 mCi
Na DECAY TABLE: Half-life = 2.6 days
# of Days
Decay Correction
# of Days
Decay Correction
0
1.00
90
0.94
180
0.88
270
0.82
360
0.77
450
0.72
540
0.67
630
0.63
720
0.59
810
0.55
900
0.52
5
32
P -- HAZARDS INFORMATION
PHYSICAL DATA
z
RADIATION:
Beta, 1.71 MeV (max)
694 keV (ave)
z
HALF LIFE:
14.3 days
z
RANGE IN AIR:
610 cm
z
RANGE IN TISSUE:
0.8 cm
EXTERNAL EXPOSURES
z
z
BETA DOSE RATES FROM 1 mCi POINT SOURCE
„
@ 1 centimeter:
1.2 krem/h
„
@ 1 meter:
33 mrem/h
SPECIAL COMMENTS
„
Hazard to the lens of the eye and skin without general shielding
„
Hazard to the extremities (fingers) without vial shielding
„
Recommend 0.5 inch of Lucite for shielding to eliminate betas
„
Can have significant x-ray production in heavy shields (such as lead or steel)
INTERNAL EXPOSURES
z
ALI (based on 5 rems CEDE):
z
SPECIAL COMMENTS
„
„
900 uCi--inhalation
600 uCi--oral ingestion
30% of soluble 32P ingested will be deposited in bone
32
32
P-nucleotides/nucleosides are not considered to have a greater hazard than other
P compounds
6
32
P (CONTINUED)
INDIVIDUAL MONITORING
For administrative purposes, a TLD RING BADGE will be worn when handling the following
quantities, or more, of 32P at any one time:
z
z
32
FOR WELL SHIELDED OPERATIONS AND STORAGE,
„
Adults, including Declared Pregnant Women
10 mCi
„
Minors under Age 18
1 mCi
FOR UNSHIELDED OPERATIONS, STORAGE OR BOTH,
„
Adults, including Declared Pregnant Women
1 mCi
„
Minors under Age 18
0.1 mCi
P DECAY TABLE: Half-life = 14.3 days
Days
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
0
1.00
0.95
0.91
0.86
0.82
0.78
0.75
0.71
0.68
0.65
10
0.62
0.59
0.56
0.53
0.51
0.48
0.46
0.44
0.42
0.40
20
0.38
0.36
0.34
0.33
0.31
0.30
0.28
0.27
0.26
0.25
30
0.23
0.22
0.21
0.20
0.19
0.18
0.17
0.17
0.16
0.15
40
0.14
0.14
0.13
0.12
0.12
0.11
0.11
0.10
0.10
0.09
50
0.09
0.08
0.08
0.08
0.07
0.07
0.07
0.06
0.06
0.06
60
0.05
0.05
0.05
0.05
0.05
0.04
0.04
0.04
0.04
0.04
70
0.03
0.03
0.03
0.03
0.03
0.03
0.03
0.02
0.02
0.02
80
0.02
0.02
0.02
0.02
0.02
0.02
0.02
0.01
0.01
0.01
90
0.01
7
33
P -- HAZARDS INFORMATION
PHYSICAL DATA
z
RADIATION:
Beta, 249 keV (max)
80 kev (ave)
z
HALF LIFE:
25.4 days
z
RANGE IN AIR:
45 cm
z
RANGE IN TISSUE:
0.6 mm
EXTERNAL EXPOSURES
z
No external exposure hazard--radiation from this radionuclide will barely penetrate the
dead layer of skin
INTERNAL EXPOSURES
z
ALI (based on 5 rems CEDE):
z
SPECIAL COMMENTS
„
„
33
8 mCi--inhalation
6 mCi--oral ingestion
30% of soluble 33P ingested will be deposited in bone
33
33
P-nucleotides/nucleosides are not considered to have a greater hazard than other
P compounds
P DECAY TABLE: Half-life = 25.4 days
# of Days
0
2
4
6
8
0
1.00
0.95
0.90
0.85
0.80
10
0.76
0.72
0.68
0.65
0.61
20
0.58
0.55
0.52
0.49
0.47
30
0.44
0.42
0.40
0.37
0.36
40
0.34
0.32
0.30
0.29
0.27
50
0.26
0.24
0.23
0.22
0.21
60
0.20
0.18
0.17
0.17
0.16
70
0.15
0.14
0.13
0.13
0.12
80
0.11
0.11
0.10
0.10
0.09
90
0.09
8
35
S -- HAZARDS INFORMATION
PHYSICAL DATA
z
RADIATION:
Beta, 167 keV (max)
48 kev (ave)
z
HALF LIFE:
87.4 days
z
RANGE IN AIR:
24.5 cm
z
RANGE IN TISSUE:
0.3 mm
EXTERNAL EXPOSURES
z
No external exposure hazard--radiation from this radionuclide will barely penetrate the
dead layer of skin
INTERNAL EXPOSURES
z
ALI (based on 5 rems CEDE):
8 mCi--oral ingestion
z
ALI (based on 50 rems CDE):
20 mCi--inhalation
10 mCi--oral ingestion
z
SPECIAL COMMENTS
35
„
The ALI (based on 50 rems CDE to the organ or tissue receiving the highest
internal dose) applies to the lower large intestine wall
„
35
35
S-nucleotides/nucleosides are not considered to have a greater hazard than other
S compounds
S DECAY TABLE: Half-life = 87.4 days
# of Weeks
Decay Correction
# of Weeks
Decay Correction
0
1.00
1
0.95
2
0.89
3
0.85
4
0.80
5
0.76
6
0.72
7
0.68
8
0.64
9
0.61
10
0.57
11
0.54
12
0.51
13
0.49
9
36
Cl -- HAZARDS INFORMATION
PHYSICAL DATA
z
RADIATION:
Beta, 710 keV (max)
200 keV (ave)
z
HALF LIFE:
3 x 105 years
z
RANGE IN AIR:
200 cm
z
RANGE IN TISSUE:
0.3 cm
EXTERNAL EXPOSURES
z
z
BETA DOSE RATES FROM 1 mCi POINT SOURCE
„
@ 1 centimeter:
600 rem/h
„
@ 1 meter:
13 mrem/h
SPECIAL COMMENTS
„
Hazard to the lens of the eye and skin without general shielding
„
Hazard to the extremities (fingers) without vial shielding
„
Recommend 0.5 inch of Lucite for shielding to eliminate betas
„
Can have significant x-ray production in heavy shields (such as lead or steel)
INTERNAL EXPOSURES
z
FOR CHLORIDES OF H, Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, Fr
ALI (based on 5 rems CEDE):
z
2 mCi--inhalation
2 mCi--oral ingestion
FOR OTHER CHLORIDES
ALI (based on 5 rems CEDE):
200 uCi--inhalation
10
36
Cl (CONTINUED)
INDIVIDUAL MONITORING
For administrative purposes, a TLD RING BADGE will be worn when handling the following
quantities, or more, of 36Cl at any one time:
z
z
FOR WELL SHIELDED OPERATIONS AND STORAGE,
„
Adults, including Declared Pregnant Women
10 mCi
„
Minors under Age 18
1 mCi
FOR UNSHIELDED OPERATIONS, STORAGE OR BOTH,
„
Adults, including Declared Pregnant Women
1 mCi
„
Minors under Age 18
0.1 mCi
11
45
Ca -- HAZARDS INFORMATION
PHYSICAL DATA
z
RADIATION:
Beta, 257 keV (max)
86 (ave)
z
HALF LIFE:
163 days
z
RANGE IN AIR:
48 cm
z
RANGE IN TISSUE:
0.6 mm
EXTERNAL EXPOSURES
z
No external exposure hazard--radiation from this radionuclide will barely penetrate the
dead layer of skin
INTERNAL EXPOSURES
z
ALI (based on 5 rems CEDE):
z
Most of 45Ca intake is deposited in bone with a long Effective T1/2 approaching the
Physical T1/2
45
800 uCi--inhalation
2 mCi--oral ingestion
Ca DECAY TABLE: Half-life = 163 days
# of Weeks
Decay Correction
# of Weeks
Decay Correction
0
1.00
1
0.97
2
0.94
3
0.91
4
0.89
5
0.86
6
0.84
7
0.81
8
0.79
9
0.77
10
0.74
11
0.72
12
0.70
13
0.68
12
51
Cr -- HAZARDS INFORMATION
PHYSICAL DATA
z
RADIATION:
Gamma, 320 keV
z
HALF LIFE:
27.7 days
z
HALF VALUE LAYERS
„
In air:
54 m
„
In tissue:
6 cm
„
In lead:
2 mm
EXTERNAL EXPOSURES
z
z
DOSE RATES FROM 1 mCi POINT SOURCE
„
@ 5 centimeters:
6.4 mrem/h
„
@ 1 meter:
0.02 mrem/h
SPECIAL COMMENTS
„
1/2 inch of lead is adequate to shield medium energy gammas
INTERNAL EXPOSURES
z
ALI (based on 5 rems CEDE):
50 mCi--inhalation
40 mCi--oral ingestion
INDIVIDUAL MONITORING
z
EXTERNAL EXPOSURE
For administrative purposes, a RING BADGE will be worn when handling the following
quantities, or more, of 51Cr at any one time:
„
FOR WELL SHIELDED OPERATIONS AND STORAGE,
*
Adults, except Declared Pregnant Women
10 mCi
*
Declared Pregnant Women and Minors
under Age 18
1 mCi
13
51
„
51
Cr (CONTINUED)
FOR UNSHIELDED OPERATIONS, STORAGE OR BOTH,
*
Adults, except Declared Pregnant Women
1 mCi
*
Declared Pregnant Women and Minors
under Age 18
0.1 mCi
Cr DECAY TABLE: Half-life = 27.7 days
Days
0
2
4
6
8
0
1.00
0.95
0.90
0.86
0.82
10
0.78
0.74
0.70
0.67
0.64
20
0.61
0.58
0.55
0.52
0.50
30
0.47
0.45
0.43
0.41
0.39
40
0.37
0.35
0.33
0.32
0.30
50
0.29
0.27
0.26
0.25
0.23
60
0.22
0.21
0.20
0.19
0.18
70
0.17
0.17
0.16
0.15
0.14
80
0.14
0.13
0.12
0.12
0.11
90
0.11
14
99m
Tc -- HAZARDS INFORMATION
PHYSICAL DATA
z
RADIATION:
Gamma, 140 keV
z
HALF LIFE:
6 hours
z
HALF VALUE LAYERS
„
In air:
37.6 m
„
In tissue:
4.5 cm
„
In lead:
0.25 mm
EXTERNAL EXPOSURES
z
z
DOSE RATES FROM 1 mCi POINT SOURCE
„
@ 5 centimeters:
50 mrem/h
„
@ 1 meter:
0.12 mrem/h
SPECIAL COMMENTS
„
1/2 inch of lead is adequate to shield medium energy gammas
INTERNAL EXPOSURES
z
FOR OXIDES, HYDROXIDES, HALIDES AND NITRATES
„
z
ALI (based on 5 rems CEDE):
200 mCi--inhalation
FOR ALL OTHER COMPOUNDS
„
ALI (based on 5 rems CEDE):
200 mCi--inhalation
80 mCi--oral ingestion
15
99m
Tc (CONTINUED)
INDIVIDUAL MONITORING
z
EXTERNAL EXPOSURE
For administrative purposes, a TLD RING BADGE will be worn when handling the
following quantities, or more, of 99mTc at any one time:
„
„
FOR WELL SHIELDED OPERATIONS AND STORAGE,
*
Adults, except Declared Pregnant Women
10 mCi
*
Declared Pregnant Women and Minors
under Age 18
1 mCi
FOR UNSHIELDED OPERATIONS, STORAGE OR BOTH,
*
Adults, except Declared Pregnant Women
1 mCi
*
Declared Pregnant Women and Minors
under Age 18
0.1 mCi
99m
Tc DECAY TABLE: Half-life = 6.0 hours
# of Hours
0
2
4
6
8
0
1.00
0.79
0.63
0.50
0.40
10
0.32
0.25
0.20
0.16
0.13
20
0.10
0.08
0.06
0.05
0.04
30
0.03
0.02
0.02
0.02
0.01
40
0.01
16
125
I -- HAZARDS INFORMATION
PHYSICAL DATA
z
RADIATION:
Gamma & EC X-Ray, 35 keV
z
HALF LIFE:
60.2 days
z
HALF VALUE LAYERS
„
In air:
24 m
„
In tissue:
2.3 cm
„
In lead:
0.02 mm
EXTERNAL EXPOSURES
z
z
GAMMA DOSE RATES FROM 1 mCi POINT SOURCE
„
@ 5 centimeters:
30 mrem/h
„
@ 1 meter:
0.07 mrem/h
SPECIAL COMMENTS
„
Thin lead foil is adequate to shield low energy gammas and electron capture xrays
INTERNAL EXPOSURES
z
ALI (based on 5 rems CEDE):
200 uCi--inhalation
100 uCi--oral ingestion
z
ALI (based on 50 rems CDE):
60 uCi--inhalation
40 uCi--oral ingestion
z
SPECIAL COMMENTS
„
The ALI (based on 50 rems CDE to the organ or tissue receiving the highest
internal dose) applies to the thyroid gland
17
125
„
„
125
I (CONTINUED)
I-sodium iodide is very volatile
*
The process of opening a vial of this labeled compound outside of a fume
hood can result in significant airborne radioactive contamination
*
Reducing the pH of this labeled compound to less than 7 may result in a
much increased release of airborne radioactivity
125
I-sodium iodide or other volatile forms must be handled in an EH&S approved
fume hood with
*
An inner pair of shoulder-length impervious gloves, and
*
An outer pair of standard-length impervious gloves
125
„
I-nucleotides/nucleosides may become incorporated into the cellular DNA,
resulting in a higher dose to the DNA than to all other organs and tissues
„
125
I in RIA kits is not volatile and such kits only contain small quantities of
radioiodine
INDIVIDUAL MONITORING
z
EXTERNAL EXPOSURE
For administrative purposes, a RING BADGE will be worn when handling the following
quantities, or more, of 125I at any one time:
„
„
FOR WELL SHIELDED OPERATIONS AND STORAGE,
*
Adults, except Declared Pregnant Women
10 mCi
*
Declared Pregnant Women and Minors
under Age 18
1 mCi
FOR UNSHIELDED OPERATIONS, STORAGE OR BOTH,
*
Adults, except Declared Pregnant Women
1 mCi
*
Declared Pregnant Women and Minors
under Age 18
0.1 mCi
18
125
z
I (CONTINUED)
INTERNAL EXPOSURE
For administrative purposes, confirmatory THYROID COUNTS will be performed at the
indicated frequencies (given in parentheses below) for individuals performing
iodinations, labeling or experimental procedures with the following quantities, or more,
of 125I at any one time in an EH&S approved fume hood:
„
„
125
FOR SODIUM IODIDE OR OTHER VOLATILE FORMS
*
Adults, Except Declared Pregnant Women
(Quarterly)
10 mCi
*
Declared Pregnant Women and Minors
under Age 18 (Monthly)
1 mCi
FOR ALL NONVOLATILE FORMS
*
Adults, Except Declared Pregnant Women
(Every 2 Weeks)
100 mCi
*
Declared Pregnant Women and Minors
under Age 18 (Weekly)
10 mCi
I DECAY TABLE: Half-life = 60.2 days
Days
0
2
4
6
8
0
1.00
0.98
0.95
0.93
0.91
10
0.89
0.87
0.85
0.83
0.81
20
0.79
0.78
0.76
0.74
0.72
30
0.71
0.69
0.68
0.66
0.65
40
0.63
0.61
0.60
0.59
0.58
50
0.56
0.55
0.54
0.52
0.51
60
0.50
0.49
0.48
0.47
0.46
70
0.45
0.44
0.43
0.42
0.41
80
0.40
0.44
0.38
0.37
0.36
90
0.35
19
131
I -- HAZARDS INFORMATION
PHYSICAL DATA
z
RADIATION:
Gamma, 364 keV, 637 keV, 284 keV
Beta, 606 kev, 334 keV, 247 keV (max)
191 kev, 97 kev, 69 kev (ave)
z
HALF LIFE:
8.05 days
z
HALF VALUE LAYERS
„
In air:
55 m
„
In tissue:
6.2 cm
„
In lead:
2 mm
EXTERNAL EXPOSURES
z
z
GAMMA DOSE RATES FROM 1 mCi POINT SOURCE
„
@ 5 centimeters:
112 mrem/h
„
@ 1 meter:
0.28 mrem/h
SPECIAL COMMENTS
„
2 inches of lead is needed to shield high energy gammas
INTERNAL EXPOSURES
z
ALI (based on 5 rems CEDE):
200 uCi--inhalation
90 uCi--oral ingestion
z
ALI (based on 50 rems CDE):
50 uCi--inhalation
30 uCi--oral ingestion
z
SPECIAL COMMENTS
„
The ALI (based on 50 rems CDE to the organ or tissue receiving the highest
internal dose) applies to the thyroid gland
„
131
131
I-nucleotides/nucleosides are not considered to have a greater hazard than other
I compounds
20
131
„
„
131
I (CONTINUED)
I-sodium iodide is very volatile
*
The process of opening a vial of this labeled compound outside of a fume
hood can result in significant airborne radioactive contamination
*
Reducing the pH of this labeled compound to less than 7 may result in a
much increased release of airborne radioactivity
131
I-sodium iodide or other volatile forms must be handled in an EH&S approved
fume hood with
*
An inner pair of shoulder-length impervious gloves, and
*
An outer pair of standard-length impervious gloves
INDIVIDUAL MONITORING
z
EXTERNAL EXPOSURE
For administrative purposes, a TLD RING BADGE and a TLD BODY BADGE will be
worn for handling the following quantities, or more, of 131I at any one time:
„
„
FOR WELL SHIELDED OPERATIONS AND STORAGE,
*
Adults, except Declared Pregnant Women
1 mCi
*
Declared pregnant Women and Minors
under Age 18
0.1 mCi
FOR UNSHIELDED OPERATIONS, STORAGE OR BOTH,
*
Adults, except Declared Pregnant Women
0.1 mCi
*
Declared Pregnant Women and Minors
under Age 18
0.01 mCi
21
131
z
I (CONTINUED)
INTERNAL EXPOSURE
For administrative purposes, confirmatory THYROID COUNTS will be performed at the
indicated frequencies (given in the parentheses below) for individuals performing
iodinations, labeling or experimental procedures with the following quantities, or more,
of 131I at any one time in an EH&S approved fume hood:
„
FOR SODIUM IODIDE OR OTHER VOLATILE FORMS
„
131
*
Adults, Except Declared Pregnant Women
(Monthly)
10 mCi
*
Declared Pregnant Women and Minors
under Age 18 (Every 2 Weeks)
1 mCi
FOR ALL NONVOLATILE FORMS
*
Adults, Except Declared Pregnant Women
(Every 2 Weeks)
100 mCi
*
Declared Pregnant Women and Minors
under Age 18 (Weekly)
10 mCi
I DECAY TABLE: Half-life = 8.05 days
Days
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
0
1.00
0.92
0.84
0.77
0.71
0.65
0.60
0.55
0.50
0.46
10
0.42
0.39
0.36
0.33
0.30
0.27
0.25
0.23
0.21
0.19
20
0.18
0.16
0.15
0.14
0.13
0.12
0.11
0.10
0.09
0.08
30
0.08
0.07
0.06
0.06
0.05
0.05
0.05
0.04
0.04
0.03
40
0.03
0.03
0.03
0.02
0.02
0.02
0.02
0.02
0.02
0.01
50
0.01
22