EPA is funding the first national program
to systematically address the problem of 'orphan radioactive
sources.' The Orphan Sources Initiative is a cooperative
effort with the Conference of Radiation Control Program
Directors (CRCPD) that is designed to assist states in retrieving
and disposing of radioactive sources that find their way
into non-nuclear facilities, particularly scrap yards, steel
mills, and municipal waste disposal facilities. The program
will also help people at these facilities recognize and
safely secure radioactive sources.
One goal of the program is to establish a nationwide disposition
system that provides quick and effective identification, removal
and disposition of orphan sources, which if undetected, can
present a health hazard and cost facilities millions of dollars
in lost production and decontamination expenses. Disposition
may include recycling, reuse, or disposal. Another goal for
the program is to provide tot hose who may dissolve unwanted
radioactive sorces at their facilities.
Radioactive 'sources' are found in some types of specialized
industrial devices such as those used for measuring the
moisture content of soil and for measuring density or thickness
of materials. Usually, a small quantity of the radioactive
material is 'sealed' in a metal casing and enclosed in a
housing that prevents the escape of the radiation. As long
as the sources remain sealed and the housing remains intact
and the devices are handled and used properly, the devices
present no health risk from the radioactive source within.
In fact, manufacturers of these devices must demonstrate
protectiveness in order to receive a license to manufacture
and sell them. Purchasers of the devices must be licensed
to use the device in the intended manner, and are required
to safely and legally dispose of the sources.
If equipment containing a sealed source is disposed of
improperly or sent for recycling as scrap metal, the sealed
source may be 'lost' and end up in a metal recycling facility
or in the possession of someone who is not licensed to handle
the source. Specially licensed sources bear identifying
markings that can be used to trace these sources to their
original owners. However, some sources do not have these
markings or the markings become obliterated. In these cases,
the sources are referred to as 'orphan sources' because
no known owner can be identified. They are one of the most
frequently reported radioactive contaminants in shipments
received by scrap metal facilities.
If a steel mill melts a source, it contaminates the entire
batch of metal, the processing equipment, and the facility.
More importantly, it can result in the exposure of workers
to radiation.
Have sources actually
contaminated metal that was recycled?
Yes. According to a recent study in Journal of the Health
Physics Society, there have been at least 26 recorded accidental
meltings of radioactive material in the United States since
1983. Contamination of the recycled metal produced by the
steel mill and subsequently used in consumer products could
also potentially occur. Decontaminating a steel mill once
this has happened is extremely expensive, averaging $12-15
million, and causes additional unnecessary human health
risks. One such case happened in Texas in 1996 when a Cobalt-60
source was stolen from a storage facility and sold as scrap
metal. Workers and customers of the scrap yard and law enforcement
officers who conducted investigations at the scrap yard
were exposed to the source and may have received dangerous
doses of radiation. [Lubenau, J.O.; Yusko, J.G.; Radioactive
Materials in Recycled Metals-An Update. Health Phys. 74:
293-299; March 1998]
Can't they find the sources
with a radiation detector and just collect them?
Scrap yards and disposal sites attempt to detect orphan
sources and other contaminated metals by screening incoming
materials with sensitive radiation detectors before they
can enter the processing stream and cause contamination.
Unfortunately, the protective housings that make the sources
safe, also make detection extremely difficult. Further,
if the source is buried in a load of steel, the steel acts
as further shielding, making detection nearly impossible
by today's radiation detection methods. Consequently, there
is always a potential for sources to become mixed with and
contaminate scrap metal. EPA is following closely research
into improved detection capabilities that can help scrap
recyclers detect sources before they cause harm.
How will the Orphan Sources
Initiative solve this problem?
The Orphan Sources Initiative, in which EPA enlists the
participation of states and sister agencies with radiation
protection responsibilities (NRC and DOE), will focus on
developing a nation-wide program for controlling for orphan
sources. This initiative will address both locating and
properly dispositioning current orphan sources and preventing
future losses of radioactive sources.
How will the Orphan
Sources Initiative address current orphan sources?
EPA is providing initial funding for a program in which
the CRCPD will assist state regulatory agencies in taking
control and disposing of orphan radioactive sources. As
a first step, CRCPD has contacted state radiation control
boards to determine the number and kinds of sources awaiting
disposition. The CRCPD committee has also developed a risk-based
ranking system to determine which of these sources to dispose
of first.
CRCPD used the inventory of orphan sources and the ranking
system to develop procedures to assist states with the disposition
of orphan sources. Based on this analysis, the state of
Colorado was chosen for the pilot project. The pilot project
is designed to determine the feasibility of a nationwide
orphan source disposition program. This pilot program was
completed in April 2001, with 30 orphan sources, totaling
3.16 cunis of Cesium-137, retruned tot he manufacturer for
reuse /disposal.
EPA and CRCPD have expanded this program to include members
of the scrap metal recycling and steel manufacturing industry.
We will develop informational materials to tell industry
about the program; help them to effectively detect, identify,
and handle sources that turn up at their facilities; and
help them identify the proper regulatory agency to contact
for disposal of orphan sources in their possession. An interactive
CD-ROM training program is currently being developed to
train on-site metal industry personnel about alarm response
procedures.
How will the Orphan Sources
Initiative improve the control of radioactive sources?
Better training in identification and response to orphan
radioactive sources will result in a reduction of radiation
exposure to individuals. Making information on disposal
and reuse options available to as wide an audience as possible
will increase the likelihood that surplus sources will be
captured before falling out of regulatory control. NRC is
planning to expand its existing database, to include radioactive
sources nationwide. It will contain information that will
facilitate the reuse of sources by companies who need them
as well as combining several sources for more cost-effective
disposal. The collection and disposition of orphan sources
will prevent individuals from inadvertently being exposed
to radiation.
Is there any way to stop
future losses of radioactive sources?
EPA is very concerned with finding and securing lost
"orphaned" sources. However in order to address
this problem completely, it is necessary to prevent radioactive
sources from falling out of regulatory control in the
first place. EPA is investigating the feasibility of tracking
large activity stationary sources contained in various
equipment to prevent inadvertent or intentional loss.
EPA is also promoting prevention of future losses by identifying
legal and economical methods for disposal of unwanted
radioactive sources. As more devices involving non-radioactive
technologies become available as alternatives to the radioactive
source devices, there will be a need for these disposal
options.
How can I find out more?
For more information please contact the Clean Materials
Program by writing to:
Clean Materials Program
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Radiation and Indoor Air
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, MC 6608J
Washington, DC 20640
