own
                                              USA
"Orphan"  Radioactive  Sources


in  Scrap  Metal

Did you know that sometimes radioactive material accidentally ends up in metal products, like chairs,
countertops and even in architectural beams? Sometimes radiation sources are not disposed of properly and
end up in scrap metal yards. Luckily, with the help of advanced technology, we are finding ways to locate
misplaced radiation sources before they get into scrap metal yards and enter consumer products.

Some sources of radioactive materials lack adequate control, sufficient accountability, and proper disposal
processes. Found or abandoned sources are described as "orphan" when their identifying marks have been
removed or damaged.  The government has become more concerned with this issue as increased radiation
monitoring has uncovered a growing number of these "orphan" sources.

Some industrial devices contain a small quantity of safely enclosed radioactive material called a "sealed"
source.  On the other hand, if this equipment is disposed of improperly or sent for recycling as scrap
metal, the sealed source accidentally may be placed in the possession of someone who is not licensed to
handle it.  For instance, if a steel mill melts a sealed source containing radioactive material, it contaminates
the metal, the processing equipment, and the facility.  More importantly, the mill workers might be exposed
to the radiation.

Officials at scrap metal yards and disposal sites use sensitive radiation scanners on incoming shipments to
uncover unwanted radioactive materials before these materials can cause widespread contamination.
Unfortunately, the protective housings around radioactive sources, in addition to making the sources safe,
make detection difficult.


Who is  protecting you

The States
Each State in the United States has one or more programs to address radiation protection and to respond to
and investigate alarms at scrap metal facilities.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
EPA operates a monitoring program that ensures imported scrap metal coming into the U.S. does not
contain radioactive material. EPA also operates programs in conjunction with state governments to ensure
radioactive material does not get into scrap metal being recycled.
EPA develops training programs for the metal processing and demolition industries.

EPA is working with the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe to develop an international
protocol for the radiation monitoring of scrap metal.

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and Agreement States
The primary mission of the NRC is to protect public health and safety and the environment from the effects of
radiation from licensed nuclear reactors, sealed sources containing radioactive material, and waste facilities.
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.
 United States Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Radiation and Indoor Air (6608J)  |   EPA 402-F-06-042
April 2006
                                                                www.epa.gov/radtown/orphan-sources.html

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 RadTown  USA
U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)
The DOE operates the National Recycle Program to control radioactive scrap metal from decommissioned
nuclear facilities.

U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT)
DOT protects people, property and the environment by regulating transport of hazardous materials including
radioactive contaminated scrap metal by highway, rail, air, and vessel.
What can you do to protect yourself
Coming into contact with something believed to be an orphan source or contaminated scrap metal is highly
unlikely. However, if you think you have found an orphan source, immediately contact your state radiation
authority, and avoid touching the item.

Three basic ways to limit unnecessary exposure include:
    •  Time: Limit the time spent around the  radiation source.
    •  Distance: Increase the distance between you and the radiation source.
    •  Shielding: Increase the shielding from a radiation source with protective barriers such as walls and
       buildings.  Alpha radiation can be effectively shielded with something as thin as a piece of paper or a
       plastic bag, while gamma radiation requires barriers as thick as lead-lined walls.


Resources

You can explore this radiation source further through the resources at the following URL:
http://www.epa.gov/radtown/orphan-sources.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)
     EPA402-F-06-042   |  April 2006
www.epa.gov/radtown/orphan-sources.html

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