Radioactive Waste Management in Nuclear Medicine Facilities

1. Types of Radioactive Waste

Radioactive waste in a nuclear medicine facility may come in various forms and activity levels. It can be classified based on:

• High activity waste, such as a technetium generator.
• Low activity waste, such as biomedical procedure or research waste.
• Short or long half-life materials.
• Solid, liquid, or gaseous waste forms.

Proper management is essential due to the potential hazards to human health and the environment. Waste reduction should be considered, but it cannot be completely eliminated.

2. Responsibilities and Regulations

It is the responsibility of the licensee to ensure safe radioactive waste management, adhering to all relevant regulations. The following points are crucial:

• The Radiation Protection Officer (RPO) should supervise the process.
• Local rules and procedures for waste handling must be available.
• Safe management planning should begin early in projects involving radioactive materials.

3. Waste Segregation and Storage

To ensure safe management, different types of radioactive waste should be segregated and stored properly:

• Containers: Available to segregate waste types, suited for the purpose (volume, shielding, leakproof, etc.).
• Labeling: Each container must be properly labeled with information about the radionuclide, physical form, activity, and external dose rate.
• Storage Room: A locked, marked room for interim storage should be available and, if necessary, ventilated.
• Special Waste: Flammable waste should be stored separately.
• Biological Waste: Should be refrigerated or stored in a freezer.
• Records: All waste should be documented, tracing its origin.

4. Final Disposal Options

The final disposal of radioactive waste produced in the nuclear medicine facility includes various methods:

• Storage for Decay: Used for short half-life radionuclides, with possible waste treatment to ensure safe storage.
• Incineration: For solid waste.
• Transfer to Landfills: For certain solid waste types.
• Disposal via Sewage System: Applicable for aqueous waste, typically after decay.
• Special Waste Facilities: For materials with long half-lives or hazardous radionuclides.

For many wastes, storage for decay within the hospital is a viable option, as radionuclides often have short half-lives. For longer-lived radionuclides, transfer to an external waste disposal facility is necessary. One attractive option is returning sources to the vendor, which can apply to radionuclide generators or sealed sources used in quality control programs.