Rajoo Kumar Scientific Officer,

Radiological Safety Division

Atomic Energy Regulatory Board

rajookr@aerb.gov.in

Prevention and Control of

Radioactive Contamination

in

Metal Recycling Industries

Prevention and Control of Radioactive Contamination

in

Metal Recycling Industries

Rajoo Kumar rajookr@aerb.gov.in

www.aerb.gov.in

Outline

About AERB

Introduction to radioactive contamination in metals

Detection and response of radioactive contaminated

metal

Prevention

Initiatives by AERB

MRAI 3rd International Indian Metals Recycling Conference, Jan 22-23, Delhi

Atomic Energy

Regulatory Board

was constituted on

November 15, 1983

by the President of

India by exercising

the powers

conferred by the

Atomic Energy Act

to carry out certain

regulatory and

safety functions

under the Act.

Anushakti Nagar,

Mumbai

About AERB

Mission of AERB

The mission of the Board is to ensure that use of ionizing

radiation and the nuclear energy does not cause any

undue risk to the worker, members of the public and

the environment.

The UNs Nine Classes of Dangerous Goods

1. Explosive Substances

2. Gases

3. Flammable liquids

4. Flammable solids

5. Oxidizing substances

6. Toxic substances

7. Radioactive material (RAM) 8. Corrosive substances

9. Miscellaneous dangerous substances and articles

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Source of Radioactive contamination in metal

The source of radioactive contamination in finished goods originates

from inadvertent entry of radiaoctive material (RAM) in scrap used in

smelters producing recycled steel or other non-ferrous metals.

National/International concern: it has economical, social, radiological,

political and environmental impact.

MRAI 3rd International Indian Metals Recycling Conference, Jan 22-23, Delhi

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Introduction (1 /2)

In the recent years there were some reported cases

of detection of low level radioactive contamination in

steel/brass products in India and in other countries

as well.

Most of the cases were because of inadvertent

melting of orphan sources along with the scrap.

MRAI 3rd International Indian Metals Recycling Conference, Jan 22-23, Delhi 8

Introduction (2/2)

Radioactive sources are widely used in industry, medicine,

agriculture and research purposes.

In majority cases, the reason behind radioactive sources

reaching scrap stream are:

- Generally management (at higher levels) of an industry

is not aware of presence of radioactive source.

- Theft for scrap value of lead containers containing

radioactive source.

MRAI 3rd International Indian Metals Recycling Conference, Jan 22-23, Delhi

Potential Consequences

Consequences can be broadly classified into two categories:

Health

- negligible in majority of cases

Other than health

-Anxiety amongst workers and the general public about the health

consequences

-Great economic loss to the affected industries

-Bad name to the company & to the country

- Panic in the society and misconception of radiation health effects

MRAI 3rd International Indian Metals Recycling Conference, Jan 22-23, Delhi 10

What should be our objective?

Prevention of RAM entering in to scrap stream

Detection of RAM in scrap and finished products

Response , in case RAM found either in scrap or in finished

products

MRAI 3rd International Indian Metals Recycling Conference, Jan 22-23, Delhi 11

Prevention (1/2)

Majority of the contamination problem occurs because of orphan

sources

Orphan sources: Radioactive sources that are not neither under

regulatory control nor under its owner

About 400 sources are lost in USA in a year

About 70 sources are lost in EU in a year

Illicit trafficking of RAM

MRAI 3rd International Indian Metals Recycling Conference, Jan 22-23, Delhi 12

Prevention(2/2)

Can be prevented by:

Better awareness amongst the users on how to deal with

radioactively contaminated metal.

Better regulatory control over RAM

MRAI 3rd International Indian Metals Recycling Conference, Jan 22-23, Delhi 13

Detection

RAM can be detected in the metal scrap stream by monitoring the

metal scrap in the following way.

Administrative Monitoring

Visual Monitoring

Radiation Monitoring

MRAI 3rd International Indian Metals Recycling Conference, Jan 22-23, Delhi 14

Administrative Monitoring

The following administrative procedures can provide a first

indication of whether there is a significant potential for radioactive

scrap metal to be present in consignments

Knowledge of the origin of the scrap metal

Knowledge of the scrap metal supplier

The history of previous transactions

MRAI 3rd International Indian Metals Recycling Conference, Jan 22-23, Delhi 15

Visual Monitoring

• Metal scrap should be visually monitored during its handling

at scrap yards, melting plants and institutions involved with value

addition

• Persons handling scrap should be trained to recognize the

different types of radiation sources, source housings and radioactivity

warning signs.

MRAI 3rd International Indian Metals Recycling Conference, Jan 22-23, Delhi 16

SOURCE

SHIELDED

CONTAINER

OUTER

CONTAINER

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Radiation Labels on Packages

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Radiography Device

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Source Containers

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Marking

Class 7 Dangerous Good

Excepted Package

Type A Package

Type B(U) Package

Type (M) Package

CAID (Competent Authority Identification Mark); format e.g.

IND/16/B(U)-96

MRAI 3rd International Indian Metals Recycling Conference, Jan 22-23, Delhi 21

Radiation Monitoring

Possible presence of radioactive material in scrap metal and

finished products should be checked for radiation using fixed

and/or portable radiation monitors.

MRAI 3rd International Indian Metals Recycling Conference, Jan 22-23, Delhi 22

Location of Radiation Monitoring

• Monitoring outside of a container as a whole while entering the

industry

• At the time of unloading the scrap

• At the time of filling the charge bucket

• After manufacturing of products like metal sheets, billets, ingots

• In the laboratory while performing the composition analysis

• Monitoring of slag and off-gas dust

• At the time of containers leaving the industry with finished products

MRAI 3rd International Indian Metals Recycling Conference, Jan 22-23, Delhi 23

Monitoring of Scrap (1/2)

Fixed Monitors

Location: weigh bridge/entrance of the institute

Speed of truck carrying the scrap container preferably be less

than 8 km./h

MRAI 3rd International Indian Metals Recycling Conference, Jan 22-23, Delhi 24

Monitoring of Scrap (2/2)

Portable Monitors

Location: any accessible place

Speed of the monitor should be less than 0.2 m/sec.

Weight should be less and handly.

Should start reading from background levels i.e. from about 0.03

µSv/h and resolution should be at least 1 µSv/h

Low response time (about 3-4 seconds)

MRAI 3rd International Indian Metals Recycling Conference, Jan 22-23, Delhi 25

Response to the alarms (1/2)

Once an alarm is confirmed as genuine alarm, cordon off the area

around the container

At the cordoned off area, it is required to display radiation caution

symbol and a placard mentioning “RADIATION AREA-KEEP AWAY”

at a prominent location

MRAI 3rd International Indian Metals Recycling Conference, Jan 22-23, Delhi 26

Response to the alarms (2/2)

• Contact-

Head, Radiological Safety Division

Atomic Energy Regulatory Board

Niyamak Bhavan

Mumbai-400 094

Phone: 022-25990655, 25574287

Fax: 022-25990650

MRAI 3rd International Indian Metals Recycling Conference, Jan 22-23, Delhi 27

Present Provision for Import of Metal Scrap

As per Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT):

All the imported metal scrap shall be accompanied by

radiation monitoring certificates issued by accredited Pre-

Shipment Inspection Agencies (PSIAs); currently about 40

agencies accredited by DGFT ; Public Notice no. 18/2004-

09 dated October 21, 2004 (re-issued in Nov, 2009).

There should be a contract between importer and exporter

that the consignment does not contain any radioactive

material (para. 2.32 of Handbook of Procedures Volume-1)

PSIC system is further strengthen in 2015

MRAI 3rd International Indian Metals Recycling Conference, Jan 22-23, Delhi 28

Initiatives for preventive actions by AERB

Portal monitors at major sea ports are installed and at most of the

ports it is commissioned

Inter-Ministerial Committee meetings to address the issue

Co-ordination with DGFT (for recognisation of PSIAs), EEPC and

NISST

Co-ordination with various associations like AIIFA, MRAI,

JFOA(Jamnagar) etc.

Development of guidance material for the metal recycling industry

Inputs to the IAEA document on the subject matter

Conduction of 19 no. of awareness porgrammes

In addition, AERB had also conducted radiation protection surveys

and provided guidance to the affected industries

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National / International Trade

Before selling the metal products, the sellers should ascertain

that up to what contamination level it is acceptable to the buyer

and to the country.

Note: The buyer’s acceptable levels should never exceed the

country’s acceptable level.

MRAI 3rd International Indian Metals Recycling Conference, Jan 22-23, Delhi 30

Photos of contaminated material

Some more photographs

Management Mantra

Learning of lessons:

i. From own mistakes- may cost crores of rupees to the affected

party because of radioactive contamination

ii. From other’s mistakes- free of cost

Start monitoring of metal scrap/raw material to avoid financial loss at

large scale and also protect workers, public at large and the

environment.

MRAI 3rd International Indian Metals Recycling Conference, Jan 22-23, Delhi 33

Thanks for your attention !!!

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