Section 8 radioactive material

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Section 10
Radioactive Material
Instructor : TAYFOUR

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Section 10 – Radioactive Material
• By the end of this section, you will be able to:
• Verify that the activity limits of all packages received are
within the specified limits
• Check that the Shipper’s Declaration for Dangerous Goods
has been completed accurately
• Identify that all competent authority certificates are attached
to the Shipper’s Declaration and are valid
• Check that the package presented conforms to the
description on the Shipper’s Declaration and that it bears all
the required markings
• Verify that the information found on the Radioactive label
conforms to the DGD and that it is of correct category, and
that all required labels are attached.

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Radioactive Material Definition
Radioactive materials are articles or
substances which spontaneously and
continuously emit certain types of radiation
(ionizing radiation) which can be harmful to
health – but which nevertheless, cannot be
detected by any of human senses (sight,
hearing, smelling, touch); these radioactive
materials can also affect other materials and
they can be detected and measured with an
appropriate instruments.

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Radioactive Isotopes
• In nature we have two types of atoms, the
stable and unstable ones. These
unstable atoms are called radioactive
isotopes as they undergo transactions
every second in order to become more
stable. It’s in this process that they emit a
certain amount of radiation.

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Half Life
The activity of radioactive material however
decays in time. It means that after a certain
amount of time, the activity diminishes and the
time necessary to reduce the radioactivity to
half is called half-life. This half-life is different
for every isotope and can vary a few minutes
up to years. For example:

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Activity
The average number of atomic transformations
occurring per second” is called the activity which is
measured in Becquerel. Since the Becquerel is such
a very small unit, we will mainly use:
Kilobecquerel (KBq) 1KBq = 1000 Bq
Megabecquerel (MBq) 1MBq = 1000 KBq
Gigabecquerel (GBq) 1GBq = 1000 MBq
Terabecquerel (TBq) 1TBq = 1000 GBq

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TBq GBq MBq KBq Bq
0. 0 0 9. 2 5
0. 0 0 2. 6
How to Convert Becquerel
Example :
Convert 600 GBq into TBq =
Convert 50 GBq into KBq =
Convert 35 MBq into TBq =
60.
0.
5 0000000
0000 53
0.6 TBq
50000000 KBq
0.000035 TBq

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Risks of Radiation
There are two primary risks which apply to
radioactive material, they are:
• Contamination – that is coming in direct
contact with radioactive material either
externally or internally
• Radiation – that is being exposed to
Alpha, Beta or Gamma radiation, which is
emitted by radioactive material.

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• The doses absorbed by the body will be
monitored and are also subject to
governmental control. A maximum dose
limit of 5 mSv/year will be allowed for
exposure on workers.
• The public is only allowed to have a
maximum dose limit of 1mSv/year.
• Radiation could be harmful for our health if
it exceeds a certain dose. This effect on
our health can be measured by the
radiation level, which is expressed in:

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Millisievert (mSv) 1mSv = 0.001 Sv
Micro Sievert (µSv) 1µSv = 0.000001 Sv
Radiation = Dangerous
Sievert = Sv
(The old unit is Rem whereas 1Sv = 100 Rem)
The Sievert is a rather larger unit, therefore we
mostly use:

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Forbidden
Some radioactive materials are forbidden for
carriage by air as with certain articles and
substance in other classes, unless some form of
government exemption is issued.
Fissile Materials
Fissile material can create a chain reaction and the
package requires special design approval and
shipment approval. This implies that the product is
very dangerous and the limitations and packing
requirements are very severe as they can cause a
criticality during transport

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Forms of Radioactive Material

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Package of Radioactive Material
• Excepted Package
• Industrial Package
• Type A Package
• Type B (U), B (M)
• Type C

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Design
• Packaging used for radioactive material are
designed and tested to prevent leakage (avoid
contamination) and to reduce to handling, storage
and loading requirements, which are in DGR
Section 9.

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Excepted Package
Package of Excepted Packages must be
marked with:
•UN Number preceded by letters “UN”
•Full name and address of Shipper and
Consignee.
•Permissible gross weight if exceeds 50Kg.

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Industrial Package

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Each package of which conforms to Type B
packaging design must be marked as
follows:
“TYPE B(U) or “TYPE B(M)” as appropriate;
• Identification mark allocated to the design by
competent authority
• Serial number to uniquely identify each
package
• Trefoil symbol must be plainly mark by
embossing, stamping or by other means
resistant to effects or fire and water.

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Type B Package
UNILATERAL APPROVAL
An approval of a design which is required to be
given by the competent authority of the state of
origin of the design only
MULTILATERAL APPROVAL
The approval of a design by the competent
authority of the state of origin of the each state
through or into which the consignment is to be
transported

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• In the Non - radioactive shipment, in
order to identify which package to use, we
have to know the proper shipping name
first, and the maximum quantity limits
before we select the appropriate package.
• In the Radioactive shipment, we need to
know first, which package is appropriate
according to the activity limits before
identifying the proper shipping name.

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A1 and A2 Values for Common Radionuclide
• DGR Table 10.3.A provides the maximum activity
limits for Type A packages. This Table lists the:
A1-(Special Form) and A2-(Other Form) values in
Terabecquerels (TBq), the SI unit:
•Example #1:
The maximum activity limit in Type A packaging for
Ac-225 in Special Form is 0.8TBq.
•Example #2:
The maximum activity limit in Type A packaging for
Ag-105 in Other Form is 2TBq.

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Exercise
Are the following radionuclides acceptable in a
TYPE A packages?
Radionuclide Form Activity
1) Ac-225 A1 600 GBq Yes No
2) Ag-105 A2 650 GBq Yes No
3) Ar-41 Other Form 500 GBq Yes No




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Determining the Proper Shipping Name
from the above exercise:
1) Ac-225 (Special Form – A1) is allowed in
Type A package , The proper shipping name
and UN Number will be:
UN3332 , Radioactive Material, Type A
package, Special Form

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2) Ag-105 (Other Form - A2) is allowed in Type
A package , The proper shipping name and UN
Number will be:
UN2915, Radioactive Material, Type A
package

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3) Ar-41 (Other Form - A2) is not allowed in
Type A package Therefore, must need
stronger package Type B(U)
The proper shipping name and UN Number will
be:
UN2916, Radioactive Material, Type B(U)
package

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Before using the table, the following must be established:
a) Whether you have a radioactive material on its own or in an
instruments/manufactured article containing radioactive material;
b) The physical state of the radioactive material, i.e. solid, liquid or gas;
c) For solids or gas, the “Form” i.e. “Special Form” or “Other Form”
Example 1: (Radioactive Material not in an Instrument or article)
Symbol of radionuclide Ag-105
Physical State Solid
Form Special Form
Activity of the material 150MBq

Therefore: Solid (Special Form) = 10-3 A1
The value of A1 can be found from Table 10.3.A; A1 = 2 TBq for Ag-105
Using the formula:
10-3 A1
0.001 x 2 TBq = 0.002 TBq (maximum activity for Excepted package)
Comparing the actual activity of Ag-105 which is 150 MBq
It can be accepted in Excepted Package!!!

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Determining the Proper Shipping Name for Excepted
Package
Since it falls into Excepted Quantity package limits, we can
therefore get the proper shipping name from Table 10.4.A

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Example 2: (Radioactive Material, Excepted Package in Instruments)
An Instrument contains the radionuclide Hg-197
Physical State Liquid
Activity of item (instrument) 0.002 TBq
Activity of package 0.002 TBq

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From Table 10.3.D, the formula Other Form = 10-3 A2
From Table 10.3.A Hg-197 is A2 = 10TBq
(for Item Limits)
10-3 A2 = 0.001 x 10 TBq = 0.01 TBq (maximum activity for an item)
Therefore, the item activity of 0.002 TBq is within the item limit also.
(for Package Limits)
10-1 A2 = 0.1 x 10 TBq = 1 TBq (maximum activity for a package) Therefore,
the package activity of 0.002 TBq is also within package limit.
The package is therefore acceptable in Excepted Quantity package!!!
UN2911
Radioactive Material, Excepted Package – Instruments

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Exercise
1. Convert following units:
a) 2000 MBq =
b) 140 GBq =
c) 305000 Bq =
d) 1 x 103 Bq =
e) 1 x 10-4
GBq =
0.002 TBq
0.14 TBq
0.000000305 TBq
0.000000001 TBq
0.0000001 TBq

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2. Indicate when below shipment (Isotopes) are classified as
non-dangerous goods
Isotope Activity per gram Activity per consignment
Cm-248
Ba-140
1 x 100 = 1 Bq
1 x 101 = 10 Bq
1000 Bq
1 x 105 = 100,000 Bq

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3. What is the maximum activity of material we can put in an excepted
package:
Product details Maximum activity allowed in a package
Ir-189, solid, special form
Au-198, solid, other form
Dy-159, liquid, other form
10-3 A1 = 0.001 x 10 = 0.01 TBq
10-3 A2 = 0.001 x 0.6 = 0.0006 TBq
10-4 A2 = 0.0001 x 20 = 0.002 TBq

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Transport Index (TI)
The Transport Index (TI) is a number expressing
the radiation level emitted from a package
measured at a 1 meter distance expressed in
1mRem or 0.01mSv/h and is the basis on which
carrier will decide the segregation of radioactive
consignments from persons, live animals,
undeveloped films and other radioactive
consignments. Segregation and distance will ensure
safety and limit the levels of radiation to a safe
level for public and transport workers during
storage and transport

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Package or Overpack Category Determination:
In order to determine which category for a
Radioactive Material, IATA DGR Table 10.5.C must
be consulted.

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Exercise
Tick the appropriate category for the package:
a) TI 0, surface radiation; 0.005mSv/h
b) TI 0, surface radiation; 0.5mSv/h
c) TI 0.2, surface radiation; 0.6mSv/h
d) TI 10, surface radiation; 1mSv/h
e) TI 11, surface radiation; 2mSv/h

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Exercise
Choose the correct category and complete the marking
label:
Au – 194
Activity : 0.05 TBq
Surface radiation : 0.4mSv/h
Transport Index (TI) : 2
Au – 194
0.05 TBq
2.0

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Orientation Labels
Orientation labels are not required on packages
containing liquid radioactive materials.

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Step 1 – UN Number preceded by the prefix UN
UN 2915
Step 2 – Proper shipping name
Radioactive material, Type A Package
Step 3 – Class Number – 7
Step 4 – Any assigned sub-risk class or division numbers in
brackets
Step 5 – The assigned packing group, if applicable.
no packing group
Shipper’s Declaration for Dangerous Goods
FIRST SEQUENCE – IDENTIFICATION

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SECOND SEQUENCE – Quantity and Type of Packing
Step 6 – Name or symbol of the radionuclide
Fe-55 (Symbol of radionuclide)
 Physical and Chemical form. The physical and chemical form only when
the radionuclide is in “Other Form”
 If the radionuclide is in “Special Form” and “Special Form” is not included in
the proper shipping name, the words “Special Form” must be shown.
Solid, Metal

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THIRD SEQUENCE – Packing Instruction
Step 9 – Category of package(s) overpack or freight container (I-White,
II-Yellow or III-Yellow)
II-Yellow
Transport Index for Category II-Yellow and III-Yellow only.
TI 0.3
•Dimensions and dimensional units (L)ength x (W)idth x (H)eight
(L) 30 x (W) 30 x (H) 30 cm

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FOURTH SEQUENCE – Authorizations
Step 10 – if relevant, identification marks of approval certificates attached
and issued by competent authority for shipment
Not applicable, therefore nothing declared
 State that approval certificates are attached. Not applicable, therefore
nothing declared.
Step 11 – Where a consignment required to be shipped under exclusive use, the
statement “Exclusive Use Shipment”.
Not applicable

Question 1
• The completed Shipper’s Declaration for
Dangerous Goods issued for this shipment
may contain errors and/or omissions.
Correct all errors and add missing
information :
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Question 2
information :
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Question 4
information.
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Summary & Key Learning Points
• Identify the different types of Radioactive
Material, forbidden, items and types of
packaging required
• Locate and identify information shown on
the DGD and the Air Waybill
• Identify minimum, additional and specific
package marks together with the correct
hazard and handling labels

Section 8 radioactive material

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