own
USA
Radioisotopes
in Research Laboratories
Research facilities use radioactive materials in the development of new products and in scientific research
studies. Radionuclides may be contained in small vials or be part of large devices with sealed radioactive
sources, such as an x-ray machine.
Several examples of how radioactive materials are used in research include:
• Medical researchers use radioactive materials in the development of new cancer treatments.
• Agricultural researchers use radioactive materials for the advancement of insect control, development
of disease-resistant plants, and the production of fertilizers.
• Environmental scientists use small amounts of radioactive materials to trace the movement of
chemical contaminants through water and soil.
• Geologists use the naturally-occurring radioactive materials in the earth, such as uranium, to
determine the age of rock formations and to study continental drift.
• Archaeologists determine the age of artifacts using carbon dating, a process that uses the naturally-
occurring radioactive element Carbon-14.
When using radioactive materials in research, a number of issues have to be addressed, including:
• Safety — Strict requirements must be followed before a research facility can order, store or use
radioactive materials. Safety requirements include documenting that all personnel using radioactive
materials are qualified to do so, that the research facility is prepared to handle the materials safely,
and that the proposed use is safe to workers and the public. To inform emergency responders during
a natural disaster or terrorist incident, facilities are required to keep records on the amount and kind
of radionuclides, radioactive elements, in their possession.
• Air Emissions — Research with radioactive materials may involve the release of radionuclides to the
surrounding air from the laboratory. In most cases, air emissions from these facilities must be
calculated and publicly reported on an annual basis.
• Waste Disposal — The use of radioactive materials in research laboratories has the potential to
create radioactive waste. All radioactive waste produced by these facilities must be disposed of
according to applicable state and federal requirements.
Who is protecting you
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)
NRC regulates medical, industrial, and academic uses of nuclear materials through a combination of
regulatory requirements; licensing; safety oversight, including inspections and enforcement; operational
experience evaluations; and regulatory support activities.
The States
Thirty-three states have signed formal agreements with the NRC providing the states regulatory responsibility
over small quantities of special nuclear material and its source and byproducts. These states are known as
NRC agreement states.
United States Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Radiation and Indoor Air (6608J) | EPA 402-F-06-016
April 2006
www.epa.gov/radtown/research-lab.html
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RadTown USA
What can you do to protect yourself
Citizens
• Learn about the activities of research laboratories in your community.
• Stay informed by contacting local research laboratories and requesting their latest air emissions
report.
Employees
• Follow health, safety and environmental management procedures established for your facility.
Resources
You can explore this radiation source further through the resources at the following URL:
http://www.epa.gov/radtown/research-lab.htmltfresources
We provide these resources on-line rather than here so we can keep the links up-to-date.
United States Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Radiation and Indoor Air (6608J) | EPA 402-F-06-016
April 2006
www.epa.gov/radtown/research-lab.html
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