UMB ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND SAFETY PROCEDURES

PAGE 1 OF 1 PAGE(S)

The purpose of this procedure is to establish standards and provide instructions for the disposal of radioactive waste. All Authorized Users (AU)/Generators of radioactive waste shall comply with these instructions when disposing of radioactive waste.

With the exception of approved ASharps@ containers, the equipment, materials, and supplies required by this procedure are supplied by the Environmental Management Division of EHS. Sharps containers must be procured by the AU/Generator.

The following definitions apply to this procedure:

"Radioactive Waste" - any waste that contains, or is contaminated with any radioactive material. This includes liquids, solids, animal carcasses and excreta, used scintillation vials/cocktails, etc. A radioactive waste must not be disposed of as municipal waste. Non-Radioactive waste should not be disposed of as radioactive waste.

"Mixed Waste" - Radioactive waste that also has the characteristics of a hazardous waste as defined by the State of Maryland or the EPA. There are several chemicals which are specifically regulated by the State and the EPA as hazardous waste, and many more which possess the characteristics of a hazardous waste because they are corrosive, reactive, toxic, or otherwise potentially harmful to the environment. Mixed Wastes include contaminated lead pigs or other lead shielding and radioactively contaminated organic liquid waste that contains a regulated chemical. One common example is liquid scintillation media containing toluene or xylene.

There are currently no permitted disposal options for most mixed waste, therefore care must be taken to avoid the generation of these waste. Plans for the proper management of these materials should be reviewed with the Radiation Safety Office and the Environmental Management Division in the early stages of an experiment.

"Dry Solid Waste" - Gloves, paper, plastic, glass, metal or other solids that contains radioactive material or is contaminated with radioactive material.

"Liquid Waste" - Organic and aqueous liquids containing radioactive. Liquid waste must be segregated from solid waste. Organic and aqueous liquids must be stored separately in appropriate containers.

"Liquid Scintillation Vial Waste" - Capped scintillation vials containing either organic or biodegradable scintillation fluid contaminated with radioactive material.

"Sharps" - Syringe, needle, surgical instrument or other article which has the potential to cut or puncture human skin.

1. Review waste disposal procedures with the Radiation Safety Office and the Environmental Management Division in the planning stages of all experiments. Information on the generation of radioactive waste must be explained in Section 2.8 of the Application for Use of Radioactive Material.

2. All radioactive waste must be stored in containers provided and/or approved by EHS. Prior to generating radioactive waste, request waste containers by calling ext. 6-7207 or supplying the Environmental Management Division with a Radioactive Waste Removal Request form that requests necessary/required containers.

3. Segregate wastes according to nuclide and waste form (i.e. dry solid waste, sharps, organic scintillation fluid and its associated liquid scintillation vials, biodegradable scintillation vials and it associated liquid scintillation vials, aqueous solutions, organic solutions, and animal/pathological waste)

4. Each waste container should be accompanied by a "Caution - Radioactive Material" label and a "Radioactive Waste Disposal Log Sheet". If a waste container is missing either the label or log sheet they can be obtained from the Environmental Management Division by calling 6-7207.

5. An entry on the ARadioactive Waste Disposal Log Sheet noting the nuclide, activity, chemical identification, and date shall be annotated each and every time radioactive waste is placed into any container. When any radioactive waste container is full transfer the nuclide, cumulative activity, chemical identification, and date onto the ACaution - Radioactive Material" label.

1. Prior to requesting a waste pick-up, the following procedures shall be followed for each waste forms:

a. Dry or Solid Radioactive Waste:

Place the dry, solid radioactive waste in a 2 ft³ fiberboard box lined with a clear trash bag provided by EMD/EHS. The radioactive waste box will be supplied with a ACaution - Radioactive Material label, a ARadioactive Material Log Sheet, and a plastic liner. Fill the box with only dry, solid radioactive waste, no liquids inside the box. Do not place any lead inside dry radioactive waste boxes. Make sure that all source vial containers or pigs do not contain lead and are placed open inside of the box. Annotate the nuclide, activity, and date of every addition of solid radioactive waste into the container on the ARadioactive Material Log Sheet. When the container is full, transfer the nuclide, total activity and date onto the ACaution - Radioactive Material label and, twist and tape the bag closed, close and tape the box shut. Fill out the Radioactive Waste Removal Request Form. Submit the request form to the EMD.

b. Liquid Radioactive Waste

Collect the liquid portion of the waste in the one or five gallon container supplied by EMD/EHS. Ensure that the ACaution - Radioactive Material@ label is affixed to the outside of the container. Place the jar in a leak proof container for secondary containment with a ARadioactive Material Log Sheet nearby. Do not fill the container more than 90% full and do not mix solid material with liquid material inside the jar. Make sure to identify the type of liquid(chemical identification) inside of the jar and constituent percentages. (Example: Water 100%, Biosafe II 100%, or Chloroform 30%/ Phenol 70%, etc.) If the type of liquid (chemical identification) is also a hazardous waste as defined by the Environmental Protection Agency label the container with the words AHazardous Waste. Annotate the nuclide, activity, chemical identification and date of every addition of liquid radioactive waste into the container on the ARadioactive Material Log Sheet. When the container is full, transfer the nuclide, total activity, chemical identification, and date onto the ACaution - Radioactive Material label and tightly screw the lid closed on the container. Fill out the Radioactive Waste Removal Request Form. Submit the request form to the EMD.

c. Liquid Scintillation Vials (LSVs)

Place the capped vials into either a five gallon pail or a 30 gallon drum supplied by EMD/EHS with a ACaution - Radioactive Material label, a ARadioactive Material Log Sheet, and a plastic liner. Fill the container only with liquid scintillation vials no other waste is acceptable in these containers. Make sure to identify the type of liquid(chemical identification) inside of the liquid scintillation vials and constituent percentages. (Example: Water 100%, Biosafe II 100%, or Chloroform 30%/ Phenol 70%, etc.) If the type of liquid (chemical identification) is also a hazardous waste as defined by the Environmental Protection Agency label the container with the words AHazardous Waste. Annotate the nuclide, activity, chemical identification and date of every addition of LSVs radioactive waste into the container on the ARadioactive Material Log Sheet. When the container is full, transfer the nuclide, total activity, chemical identification, and date onto the ACaution - Radioactive Material@ label and close the container by either placing the retaining ring around the upper lip of the drum or twist the lid of the pail shut. Fill out the Radioactive Waste Removal Request Form. Submit the request form to the EMD.

d. Radioactively Contaminated "Sharps" (needles, syringes, scalpel blades, etc.)

Affix a "Caution - Radioactive Material" label to a designated "sharps" container. To request a "Caution - Radioactive Material" label or "Radioactive Waste Disposal Log Sheet" call the Environmental Management Division at 6-7207. Place the "sharps" in the designated "sharps" container. Do not recap, bend, remove, or clip needles. Fill the container until 3/4 full. There can be no free flowing liquids inside the sharps container, all liquids must be absorbed with absorbent material. Close the container cap securely. Now either dispose of the sharps container inside of a Dry Solid Radioactive Waste container and fill out the nuclide, activity, and date on the boxes ARadioactive Material Log Sheet or fill out the nuclide, total activity and date on the sharps container ACaution - Radioactive Material label and dispose of as a separate container. Fill out the Radioactive Waste Removal Request Form. Submit the request form to the EMD.

e. Small Animal Carcasses and Tissues

Place the animals/tissues in a plastic bag. Twist the bag at the top, bend the twisted portion to form a loop and seal the loop with filament tape. Place the bag into a second bag and twist the second bag at the top, bend the twisted portion to form a loop and seal the loop with filament tape. Affix a "Caution - Radioactive Material" label to the outer container. Make sure the ACaution Radioactive Material label is filled out properly with the nuclide, total activity, and date. To request a "Caution - Radioactive Material" label call the Environmental Management Division at 6-7207. Freeze the container until it is picked up. Fill out the Radioactive Waste Removal Request Form. Submit the request form to the EMD.

f. Animal Bedding and Waste

Place the bedding/waste into a plastic bag. Twist the bag at the top, bend the twisted portion to form a loop and seal the loop with filament tape. Place the bag into a second bag and twist the second bag at the top, bend the twisted portion to form a loop and seal the loop with filament tape. Affix a "Caution - Radioactive Material" label to the outer container. Make sure the ACaution Radioactive Material@ label is filled out properly with the nuclide, total activity, and date. To request a "Caution - Radioactive Material" label call the Environmental Management Division at 6-7207. Fill out the Radioactive Waste Removal Request Form. Submit the request form to the EMD.

2. Special Instructions.

1. Never place radioactive waste containers in the corridors.
2. Never place lead shielding inside of waste containers.
3. Never place sharps in any container other than a designated sharps container.
4. The generator of the waste must fill out the Radioactive Waste Removal Request in order to have the waste picked up by EHS/EMD. Instructions for filling out the form are given on the back of the form. Send the completed form to the Environmental Management Division at EHS, 714 W. Lombard St. or fax the form to EHS at 6-8212.