Welcome to the University of Missouri-Columbia’s Radiation Safety Manual.  The Radiation Safety Manual contains the Radiation Safety Program procedures that have been approved by the Radiation Safety Committee to meet our regulatory obligations. 

This manual provides information on what the individual responsibilities are with respect to the Radiation Safety Program, what must be done to meet these responsibilities, and the associated procedures.  The manual divides this information into the different types of individuals and their roles (assignments) within the program.  These different roles are: Authorized Users; Radiation Workers; Administrators (responsible for Authorized Users); Students, Faculty and Staff having access to radioactive materials (Ancillary Personnel); the Radiation Safety Committee; and the Radiation Safety Officer and Staff themselves.

Note:  The forms in this manual are informational only, as they are subject to change.  All current forms are available on the EHS Webpage. http://ehs.missouri.edu/

If you have any questions or suggestions for improvement, please contact us at 573-882-7018 or mail your comments to MU EHS Radiation Safety, 180 General Services Building.

Absorbed Dose - The amount of ionizing radiation energy absorbed in matter, including human tissue. The units of absorbed dose are the Rad (R) and the Gray (Gy).

Access - The privilege to enter or use a restricted area without the presence of other Authorized Personnel.

Activity - The rate of transformation or disintegration or decay of radioactive material.  The units of activity are disintegrations per minute (dpm), Curie (Ci), or Becquerel (Bq).

Administrator(s) Responsible for AU - Individual who directly supervises the AU's use of facilities plus the Administrative organization above leading to the Chancellor.

Air Sampling Survey - A measurement of radioactive material dispersed in air in the form of dusts, fume, particulates, mists, vapors, or gases.  Measurements are typically taken in an individual's breathing zone or at a stack release point.

ALARA (As Low As Reasonably Achievable) - Each individual makes every reasonable effort to maintain occupational and public exposure to radiation as low as practical.

ALARA Dose Levels - Levels of personnel dose above which require a review of radioactive material use and procedures to determine if doses may reasonably be reduced (see ALARA Statement for levels).

Alpha Particle - A positively charged particle ejected spontaneously from the nuclei of some radioactive elements.  It is identical to a helium nucleus that has a mass number of four and an electrostatic charge of positive two.

Ancillary Worker – A non radiation worker whose duties require them to work in or frequent radiation work areas and who have been trained, corresponding with their work responsibilities, in the basics of radiation safety awareness training, and have been granted access to restricted areas for the performance of their duties.

Animal Waste - Any related waste, resulting from animals that have been dosed with radioactive material, such as bedding, urine, feces, other fluids, tissue, or carcass.  All waste from a dosed animal shall be handled as radioactive material until proven otherwise by the RSS.

Assigned Health Physicist (assigned HP) - Each AU is assigned a HP who acts as the primary point of contact with the RS Office, and who is the primary radiation safety evaluator for the authorization.

Atom - The smallest particle of an element that cannot be divided or broken up by chemical means.  It consists of a central core called the nucleus, which contains protons and neutrons.  Electrons revolve in orbits in the region surrounding the nucleus.

Atomic Number - The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom.  The number of protons determines what an atom is chemically, and, hence, identifies it as belonging to a certain chemical element.

Atomic Mass Number - The number of protons plus neutrons in the nucleus of an atom.  Also known as the atomic weight of an atom.

Attenuation - The process by which a beam of radiation is reduced in intensity when passing through some material.  It is the combination of absorption and scattering processes and leads to a decrease in intensity of the beam.

Audit - A thorough examination of an entire program.  An audit may include a survey and an inspection.

Authorization - The privilege to receive, possess, use, and transfer radioactive material under MU’s NRC License, or under a Missouri State Registration.

Authorization Application - Information provided by the prospective AU to the RSC in support of receiving the privilege of authorization.  Information must include: personal data; isotopes, form, and amounts requested; type of use; special radiation safety procedures required; waste generation; restricted area(s), modifications, and facilities; instrumentation; training; experience; and administration support.

Authorization Specific Procedures - Radiation safety procedures established for the authorization.  At a minimum, the authorization must adopt MU’s RSP procedures, but these procedures may be modified with approval of the RSC.

Authorized Personnel - Personnel who have been trained, corresponding with their duties, in the basics of radiation safety and have been granted access to restricted area(s), e.g., AU’s, RW’s, and Ancillary Workers.

Authorized User (AU) - Individuals who are granted the privilege and responsibilities of receiving, possessing, using, and transferring radioactive material.  The AU is also considered to be a RW.

Background Radiation - Radiation from cosmic sources; naturally occurring radioactive materials, including radon (except as a decay product of source or special nuclear material) and global fallout as it exists in the environment from the testing of nuclear explosive devices.

Becquerel (Bq) - The SI unit of measurement of radioactivity equal to one disintegration per second.  One Becquerel is equal to 2.7 x 10-11 Ci.

Beta Particle - A negatively charged particle that is emitted by certain radioactive atoms.  A beta particle is identical to an electron.

Bioassay - The determination of kinds, quantities or concentrations, and, in some cases, the locations of radioactive materials in the human body, whether by direct measurement (in vivo counting) or by analysis and evaluation of materials excreted or removed from the human body.

"Biodegradable" or "Environmentally Friendly" Scintillation Cocktail - A liquid scintillation fluid that has a flash point greater than 300 °F or 150 °C.

Bremsstrahlung Radiation - Secondary electromagnetic radiation (x-rays) produced by deceleration of charged particles through matter.

Byproduct Material - Any radioactive material (except special nuclear material) made radioactive within or by the use of a nuclear reactor or special nuclear material.

Calibration – To adjust the reading of an instrument within acceptable tolerances using a known standard as a reference.

Calibration Check - Comparison of instrument readings relative to a radioactive material standard to confirm proper operation of the instrument or to determine counting efficiency.

Co-Authorization - An authorization approved for more than one AU.  One AU must be designated as the “Primary” AU, who is the AU of record for receipt, use disposal, inspections and all other authorization records.  The “Primary” AU is also the principal contact for the authorization.  All other Co-AU’s are designated as “Secondary” AU’s.

Collective Dose - The sum of the individual doses received in a given period of time by a specified population from exposure to a specified radiation procedure or source of radiation.  The usual units of collective dose are person-rem or person-sievert.

Committed Dose Equivalent (CDE or HT, 50) - The dose equivalent to organs or tissues of reference (T) that will be received from an intake of radioactive material by an individual during the 50-year period following the intake.  The units of the committed dose equivalent are the REM and the sievert (Sv).

Committed Effective Dose Equivalent (CEDE or HE,50) - The sum of the products of the weighting factors applicable to each of the body organs or tissues that are irradiated and the committed dose equivalent to these organs or tissues (HE,50 = S WTHT, 50).

Compliance - To act in accordance with and meet the responsibilities of regulatory requirements and  MU’s Radiation Safety Program procedures.

Contamination - Radioactive material present in places where it is undesirable and particularly in any location where its presence may be harmful.

Contained Form - Radioactive material that is confined such that the material is not readily available to be spread as contamination.  This includes liquid radioactive material which is accessed via a needle through a septum vial (material removed from the septum vial via a syringe and not immediately transferred into another septum vial is considered to be uncontained).

Controlled Area - An area, outside of a restricted area but inside the MU campus (site boundary), to which access can be limited by MU for any reason.  All MU property is considered to be within a controlled area.

Corrective Action - Actions taken to correct a situation of non-compliance or a situation which could lead to non-compliance. 

Counting Instrument - A radiation detection instrument used to analyze swipes or other types of samples.  Typical counting instruments are liquid scintillation, beta, or gamma counters.

Curie (Ci) - The basic unit of activity.  A quantity of any radionuclide that undergoes an average decay rate of 37 billion disintegrations per second.  One curie is the approximate activity of 1 gram of radium.  Named for Marie and Pierre Curie, who discovered radium in 1898.

Declared Pregnant Woman - A woman who has voluntarily informed her employer, in writing, of her pregnancy and the estimated date of conception.

Decontamination - Removal of contamination. 

Deep-Dose Equivalent (DDE) - As defined by the NRC, the dose equivalent estimated for a tissue depth of 1 cm.  The deep-dose equivalent applies to external whole-body exposure and is intended to represent the upper limit to the dose received by the major organs and tissues of the body other than the skin and lens of the eye.

Deficiency Level - When a situation of non-compliance is identified, a deficiency level is assigned to define the required extent and timing for corrective actions.

Department of Transportation (DOT) - U.S. Federal department responsible for establishment of regulations relating to the transportation of radioactive and other hazardous materials.                                             

Direct Supervision - Supervision within direct line of sight and communication provided by an AU or RW to individual(s) handling radioactive materials.  The supervisor is responsible to see that all radiation safety procedures are followed.

Document - Printed or written evidence supporting compliance with regulatory requirements, MU’s Radiation Safety Program procedures, and authorization specific procedures.  The following must be documented: authorization; training; RW’s; periodic surveys; radioactive materials inventory including receipt, transfer, waste disposal, and periodic decay corrections; and instrument calibrations.

Documented Survey -  A survey which is performed and recorded to meet regulatory or policy requirements.

Dose (radiation exposure) - A generic term that means absorbed dose, dose equivalent, effective dose, committed equivalent dose, committed effective dose, or total effective dose, as defined elsewhere in this glossary.

Dose Equivalent - The product of the absorbed dose in tissue, quality factor, and all other necessary modifying factors at the location of interest.  The units of dose equivalent are the REM and the sievert (Sv).

Dose Limits - The limits of personnel dose set by the NRC which cannot be exceeded in a calendar year.

Dose Rate - In radiation safety, a measurement of radiation absorbed by various parts of the human body over a period of time.  Dose rate must be documented in millirem per hour (mrem/hr).

Dosimetry (Personnel) - A radiation measuring devices worn by personnel to measure dose to various parts of the body.

Effective Dose Equivalent (EDE or HE) - The sum of the products of the dose equivalent to the organ or tissue (HT) and the weighting factors (WT) applicable to each of the body organs or tissues that are irradiated (HE = S WTHT).

Efficiency - For radiation detecting equipment, it is the ratio of radiation detected to radiation emitted and is specific for each isotope and geometry.

Electromagnetic Radiation - Energy being propagated by a traveling wave motion resulting from changing electric or magnetic fields.  Familiar electromagnetic radiations range from x-rays and gamma rays of short wavelength, through the ultraviolet, visible and infrared regions, to radar, and radio waves of relatively long wavelength.  The ionizing electromagnetic radiations are gamma rays and x-rays.

Electron - A subatomic particle with a negative charge.  The electron circles the nucleus of an atom.

Electron Volt (eV) - Customary unit for expressing the energy of ionizing radiation.  One eV is equal to the energy of one electron moving through a potential difference of one volt.

Element - One of the 118 known chemical substances that cannot be broken down further without changing its chemical properties.

Embryo/Fetus - The developing human organism from conception until the time of birth.  More accurately; first 2 weeks-embryo (when implantation occurs), after 8 weeks- fetus.

Emergency - A sudden, generally unexpected occurrence or set of circumstances demanding immediate action.

Emergency Procedures - Procedures established to define the types of immediate actions to take in case of emergency to regain control of radioactive materials and prevent any additional spread of contamination.

Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) - MU department which includes the RS Office and is additionally responsible for establishing compliance criteria and monitoring for Environmental Management Section, Material Management, Industrial Hygiene, and General Safety.

Exempt Quantity - A quantity of radioactive material not requiring a specific or general license for possession and use, such as smoke detectors and small sources of radioactivity as those used in liquid scintillation counters or as check sources for instrument function tests. Exempt quantities are exempt for licensure but not from regulatory compliance.

Extremity Dose - Absorbed dose to hand, elbow, and arm below the elbow, foot, knee, or leg below the knee.

Eye Dose Equivalent (LDE) - Applies to the external exposure of the lens of the eye and is taken as the dose equivalent at a tissue depth of 0.3 cm.

Fixed Contamination - Contamination, generally on a surface, which cannot be removed by usual decontamination cleaning methods.

Formal Training - Classroom type training conducted by a radiation safety training program or a college credit course on radiation related topics.  Documentation is needed for radiation safety training received from a program other than the MU’s Radiation Safety Training Program or for college credit courses.

Fume Hood - A hood designed to exhaust fumes or particulates away from the individual and out of the building.

Gamma Radiation or Gamma Ray - High-energy, short-wavelength electromagnetic radiation emitted from the nucleus.  A gamma ray is a discrete packet of electromagnetic energy.  Gamma radiation frequently accompanies alpha and beta emissions.  Gamma rays are very penetrating and are best stopped or shielded against by dense materials, such as lead or uranium.  Gamma rays are identical to x-rays, but have a nuclear origin, rather than an atomic origin.

Gray (Gy) - The SI unit of absorbed dose.  One gray is equal to an absorbed dose of 1 J/kg or 100 rad.

Half Life (T1/2) - The time taken for the activity of a radionuclide to lose half its activity value by radioactive decay.

Hazardous Materials - A substance or material, including a hazardous substance, which by quantity, concentration, physical, and or chemical characteristics has the potential of becoming hazardous waste or regulated by RCRA (Resource Conservation and Recovery Act).

Hazardous Waste - A hazardous waste as defined in 40 CFR 261.3 and applicable State regulations.

High Energy Beta - A beta emitted with maximum energy greater than 1 MeV.

High Radiation Area - An area, accessible to individuals, in which radiation levels could result in an individual receiving a dose equivalent in excess of 100 mrem in 1 hour at 30 cm from the radiation source or from any surface that the radiation penetrates.

Imminent Danger to Health and Safety - Although reaching dose limits results in a minimal health risk, “Imminent Danger to Health and Safety” means any circumstance or set of circumstances that could result in dose limits being exceeded.

Inactive Status - An inactive AU remains authorized but either has no radioactive material at all, or the radioactive material is secured, such as in a locked cabinet or refrigerator/freezer. Other than the storage unit, the authorization is closed out. To reactivate the authorization, the AU must, along with their assigned HP, conduct a review of the authorization, review any changes in MU’s RSP procedures, and reactivate approved radioactive material use areas.  The authorization must be reactivated prior to receipt of radioactive material.

Incident - An occurrence that either results in an item of non-compliance or could have led to an item of non-compliance if the occurrence had not been identified.

Informal Training - On-the-job-type training; typically on authorization-specific procedures.

Inspection - An examination of procedures, records, safety issues, and personnel performance, including comparison of AU and RS Office data and records.  An inspection generally includes a survey and is typically conducted by EHS or the NRC.

Inspection or Survey Class - Level of radiation safety inspection frequency designated for the authorization.  Class I is monthly, Class II is quarterly, Class III is semi-annually, Class IV is for sealed source only authorization, Class V is inactive status, and Class VI is Co-Authorization Secondary AU.

Intake - Quantity of material entering the body, the principal routes being by inhalation, by ingestion, or through intact or wounded skin.

Interim Authorization - Authorization issued by the RSO prior to final review and approval of the authorization applications by the RSC.

Internal Contamination - Contamination which is on internal components of equipment.

Internal Dose - Dose received from radioactive material which is taken into the body.  See Dose and External Dose.

Inventory - A documented list recording the receipt, use, transfer, decay and disposal of radioactive material so that the amount, location and disposition of the radioactive material received under the authorization may be determined at any point in time.

Isotope - One of two or more atoms with the same number of protons, but different numbers of neutrons, in their nuclei.  Thus, carbon-12, carbon-13 and carbon-14 are isotopes of the element carbon, the numbers denoting the atomic mass number.  Isotopes have very nearly the same chemical properties, but often different physical properties (for example, carbon-12 and -13 are stable, carbon-14 is radioactive).

Labeled Equipment, Apparatus, or Appliances - Centrifuges, refrigerators, hoods, vials  or other equipment that contains radioactive material or is contaminated must be labeled with the appropriate radioactive material label. Equipment, such as centrifuges and water baths’ that can be internally contaminated, must be labeled with the appropriate radioactive material label and a warning of contamination inside the unit. Lab personnel must be cognizant of the contamination and prevention methods to be avoid spread of contamination. Affixing appropriate radioactive/radiation labels to equipment, doors and  storage units (refrigerator, freezer) to demarcate restricted areas.

Laboratory Apparel - The type of clothing and other protective gear worn by individuals when working in and around radioactive materials.

Leak Test - A check of sealed source integrity by physically wiping a specified area with a cotton swab or other medium. The test is then counted for the presence of radioactive material in an appropriate detection system. The detection system must be able to detect 5 nCi of activity. Any level greater than that indicates the source is leaking and must be removed from service, secured and the NRC notified of the breach.

License - The document issued by the NRC permitting MU to receive, possess, utilize, transfer, or dispose of specific byproduct, source, or special nuclear materials.  Currently MU is licensed under Broad Scope License No. 24-00513-32.

License Condition - A requirement established specific to MU licenses which can only be changed through a license amendment issued by the NRC.  Failure to meet a license condition, like failure to meet Federal Regulations, will most likely result in an NRC violation, possible civil penalty (monetary fine), and possible criminal prosecution.

Liquid Waste - Radioactive waste in liquid form.  This waste may be unwanted radioactive stock solutions, liquid waste from radioactive procedures, or used liquid scintillation cocktail.

Low Energy Beta - A beta emitted with maximum energy less than or equal to 300 keV.

Medical Use Quorum (MQ) - A specific subset of the RSC established by the license condition to oversee the medical use of radioactive materials.

Medium Energy Beta - A beta emitted with maximum energy greater than 300 keV and less than or equal to 1 MeV.

Member of the Public - Any non-radiation worker.  These individuals may not be exposed to any environment where there is the potential to exceed 2 mrem in any one hour or receive 100 mrem in one year.

Minor - An individual less than 18 years of age.

Mixed Waste - A radioactive waste that is also a hazardous waste.  Mixed waste must be handled as both radioactive waste and hazardous waste.

Modified Restricted Area - A restricted area that has been modified, where part of the room remains a restricted area and part of the room is designated as a non-restricted area.  The RSC must approve any modification of an existing restricted area.

Monitoring - An assessment of current radiological conditions performed during the work period.  This includes the periodic checks for contamination or radiation levels on the hands, clothing, floor and immediate work area.

MU Radiation Safety Program - The program established by the MU Broad Scope License, administered by the RSC and MU Administration, and implemented by the RS Office.

MU Radiation Safety Program Procedures - General overall procedures established and monitored by the RS Office to meet compliance with regulatory requirements, license conditions and policies established by the Radiation Safety Committee.

Must - Same as Shall.

Neutron  - An uncharged particle with a mass comparable to (only slightly greater than) that of the proton, and found in the nucleus of every atom heavier than hydrogen.

Non-Stochastic Effects (or Deterministic Effects) - Health effects, the severity of which varies with the dose and for which a threshold is believed to exist.  Radiation induced cataract formation is an example of a non-stochastic effect.

Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) - The government agency responsible for establishing regulations and issuing licenses for byproduct, source, or special nuclear material.

Occupational Dose - Dose received by an individual in the course of employment in which the individual's assigned duties involve exposure to radiation or  radioactive material from licensed and unlicensed sources of radiation, whether in the possession of the licensee or other person.  Occupational dose does not include dose received from background radiation, from any medical administration the individual has received, from exposure to individuals administered radioactive material and released in accordance with 10 CFR 35.75, from voluntary participation in medical research programs, or as a member of the public.

Open Bench Quantities - The amount of radioactive material which may be handled in uncontained form on an open bench.  Quantities greater than this must be kept contained, handled only in a fume hood or glove box, or a specific evaluation of the chemical process done to show what specific activity limit assures little likelihood for airborne activity.

Packaging - The assembly  of components necessary to ensure compliance with the packaging requirements of NRC and DOT.  It may consist of one or more receptacles, absorbent materials, spacing structures, thermal insulation, radiation shielding, and/or devices for cooling or absorbing mechanical shock.

Performance-Based Evaluation - Observation of an individual's ability to properly execute and accomplish the necessary actions basic to the completion of a task; thus demonstrating the adequacy of training, proper knowledge and ability to perform a procedure to assure regulatory compliance.

Performance-Based Training - Training of an individual in the "hands on" aspects of procedures, by practicing and perfecting under supervision the necessary actions basic to the completion of a task.

Personnel Monitoring - Measurement of personnel dose through the use of personnel dosimetry, air samples, bioassays, radiation surveys or any combination of the above with related calculations.

Personnel Protective Equipment (PPE) - Equipment designed to maximize the control of radioactive material or to minimize dose or contamination.  This includes but is not limited to safety glasses, lab coats, gloves, fume hoods, shields, security cabinets or areas, spill trays, etc.  

Photon - A quantum (or packet) of energy emitted in the form of electromagnetic radiation.  Gamma rays and x-rays are examples of photons.

Positron - Particle equal in mass, but opposite in charge, to the electron; a positive electron.

Posting - The conspicuous placing of signs, notices, announcements, procedures, etc. in and around restricted areas that inform individuals of the types of precautions they must take.

Proton - An elementary nuclear particle with a positive electric charge located in the nucleus of an atom.

Prudent Practice - The attitude towards dealing with hazards in the laboratory characterized by a determination to make every effort to be informed about risks and reduce them to a minimum.  This "safety first" attitude is accomplished through an increased emphasis on experiment planning, including habitual attention to risk assessment and consideration of hazards for oneself, one's fellow workers, and the public.

Public Dose - Dose received by a member of the public from exposure to radiation or radioactive material released by the licensee, or to any other source of radiation under the control of a licensee.  Public dose does not include dose received from background radiation, from any medical administration the individual has received, from exposure to individuals administered radioactive material and released in accordance with 10 CFR 35.75, from the voluntary participation in medical research programs, or as a member of the public.

Quality Factor (Q) - A numerical factor assigned to describe the average effectiveness of a particular kind (and sometimes energy) of radiation in producing biological effects in the human.  The factor used to derive equivalent dose from absorbed dose.

Rad - The special unit of absorbed dose.  One rad is equal to an absorbed dose of 100 ergs/g or 0.01 J/kg or 0.01 gray.  This unit applies to any type of ionizing radiation absorbed in any material.  If material is not specifically stated, then tissue is assumed.

Radiation - In this manual, radiation refers to ionizing radiation, such as x-ray, gamma, alpha, beta and neutron.

Radiation Area - An area, accessible to individuals, in which radiation levels could result in an individual receiving a dose equivalent in excess of  5 mrem  in 1 hour at 30 cm from the radiation source or from any surface that the radiation penetrates.

Radiation Levels - Measurement of dose or dose rates.

Radiation Safety Committee (RSC) - The group established by regulation and license condition responsible for overseeing the MU RSP and controlling the use of radioactive materials under the MU license.

Radiation Safety Committee Representative (RSCR) - A member of the RSC who is an AU, or has the training and experience to become an AU, and is assigned a group of AU's to represent.

Radiation Safety Manual (RSM) - This document describes the MU Radiation Safety Program responsibilities, duties, and procedures which need to be understood and followed by the RSS, Ancillary Workers, RW's, AU's or Administrators Responsible for AU's.

Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) - As required by regulations, this individual is responsible for the implementation of the MU RSP.  This individual ensures that radiation safety activities are being performed in accordance with RSC policy, approved procedures, and regulatory requirements in the daily operation of the MU RSP.

Radiation Safety Program (RSP) – MU’s RSP is a commitment to the following criteria;  Applicants for Type A, Type B, and Type C broad scope licenses are required by 10 CFR 33.13(c), 33.14(b), and 33.15(c) respectively, to establish administrative controls and provisions relating to management review necessary to ensure safe operations.  Licensees are required by 10 CFR 20.2102 to maintain records of the radiation protection program, including: (1) the provisions of the program; and (2) audits and other reviews of the program contents and implementation.

Radiation Safety Staff (RSS) - Individuals assigned to the RS Office to assist in the implementation of the MU RSP.  This includes but not limited to the RSO, Deputy RSO, HP’s, and EHT’s.

Radiation Worker (RW) - Individual trained in radiation safety that is approved to work, under the authorization of an AU with radioactive material without direct supervision.  The AU is responsible for each RW, and their acts of commission or omission who are approved to work under the authorization.  A RW may work under more than one authorization at a time, but must be approved by each AU.

Radioactive Materials - Materials that decay by emitting ionizing radiation.  For MU these are radioactive materials approved in the MU license and radioactive materials registered with the State of Missouri.

Radioactivity - The process of undergoing spontaneous transformation of the nucleus, generally with the emission of alpha or beta particles, often accompanied by gamma rays.  The term is also used to designate radioactive materials.

Radioisotope Work Area - An area (within a restricted area) designated specifically for working with radioactive materials, where the appropriate protective measures have been taken to minimize excessive radiation levels or the spread of radioactive contamination outside the work area.

RCRA - Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 as amended.

Recovery Operation - Procedures established following the completion of emergency procedures, which are designed to return the areas, facilities, and personnel contamination levels back to normal operating conditions.

Reference Man - A hypothetical aggregation of human physical and physiological characteristics arrived at by international consensus.  These characteristics may be used by researchers and public health workers to standardize results of experiments and to relate biological insult to a common base.

Registered User - Individual who holds the primary authority to direct the activities of a laboratory or facility that may at any time use or store hazardous materials or generate potentially hazardous waste (including radioactive mixed waste).

Regulations - Rules and requirements established by regulatory agencies.

Regulatory Agencies - The regulatory agencies which directly impact the MU Radiation Safety Program including the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), Department of Transportation (DOT), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (MO DHSS), Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MO DNR), and the City of Columbia.

Rem - The special unit of any of the quantities expressed as dose equivalent.  The dose equivalent in REM is equal to the absorbed dose in rad multiplied by the quality factor.  One REM equals 0.01 sievert.

Removable Contamination - Contamination which can be removed or spread by something coming in contact with the contaminated surface.

Restricted Area - Any area to which access is restricted for the purpose of radiological protection.  At MU, the restricted area shall include the entire laboratory area (including rooms to which access can only be made through the laboratory) bound by walls and a lockable door, unless a restricted area modification is granted.

Review - A radiation safety examination of an AU or prospective AU to assess their ability to begin or continue working with radioactive materials.

Roentgen (R) - A unit of exposure to ionizing radiation.  It is that amount of gammas or x-rays required to produce ions carrying one electrostatic unit of electrical charge in one cubic centimeter of dry air under standard conditions.  Named after Wilhelm Roentgen, German scientist who discovered x-rays in 1895.

Sealed Source - Radioactive material that is permanently bonded or fixed in a capsule or matrix designed to prevent release and dispersal of the radioactive material under the most severe conditions likely to be encountered in normal use and handling.  Sealed sources are registered by the manufacturer through the NRC.

Security - Protection of radioactive material from unauthorized removal or access.

Self-Assessment - Continual critical evaluation of personnel, procedures, facilities, and areas to identify incidents or weaknesses which could lead to non-compliance.  This evaluation includes doing root cause analysis, establishing corrective action, providing additional training or awareness as necessary, and reassessing resulting compliance.

Shall - Denotes a requirement.

Shallow-Dose Equivalent (SDE) - Applies to the external exposure of the skin or an extremity, and is taken as the dose equivalent at a tissue depth of 0.007 cm averaged over an area of 1 cm2.

Should - Denotes a recommendation.

Sievert (Sv) - The SI unit of any of the quantities expressed as dose equivalent.  The dose equivalent in sieverts is equal to the absorbed dose in gray multiplied by the quality factor.  (1 Sv = 100 REM).

Site Boundary - That line beyond which the land or property is not owned, leased or otherwise controlled by the licensee.

SI Units - Units defined by the International System of Units.

Solid Waste - Primarily paper, plastic, glass, or gloves which are potentially contaminated with radioactive material.

Source Material - Means: (1) Uranium or Thorium or any combination of Uranium and Thorium in any physical or chemical form; or (2) Ores that contain, by weight, 0.05 percent or more, of Uranium, Thorium or any combination of each.  Source material does not include special nuclear material.

Special Nuclear Material - Means Plutonium, Uranium-233, enriched Uranium in the isotope 233 or the isotope 235, or any other material that the NRC determines to be special nuclear material, but does not include source material.   

Special Quorum (SQ) - A subset of the Radiation Safety Committee, generally established to review and approve authorized use of radioactive materials and to administer radiation safety as it applies to various specialized fields.

Specific License - A license issued by the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to possess and use radioactive materials. For MU, this constitutes the Broad scope License, administered by the Radiation Safety Committee (RSC) and the Radiation Safety Staff. This license is considered to be an “umbrella” over all General Licensed quantities as well as radioactive materials needing a specific license for possession. See Exempt Quantities

Stock - Radioactive material remaining in the container originally supplied by the vendor.

Stochastic Effects - Health effects that occur randomly and for which the probability of the effect occurring, rather than its severity, is assumed to be a linear function of dose without threshold.  Hereditary effects and cancer incidence are examples of stochastic effects.

Surface Contamination Survey - Radiation level readings taken at one cm from the surface with open detector window.

Survey - An evaluation of the radiological conditions and potential hazards incident to the production, use, transfer, release, disposal, or presence of radioactive material or other sources of radiation.  When appropriate, such an evaluation includes a physical survey of the location of radioactive material and measurements or calculations of levels of radiation, or concentrations or quantities of radioactive material present.

Survey Meter - Radiation detecting instrument capable of detecting dose rates, and most surface contamination.

Temporary Transfer of Authorization - When an AU will be gone for more than 30 days at one time, the authorization must be temporarily transferred to another approved AU.

Termination of Authorization - Means that no radioactive materials are possessed (including any contaminated supplies or equipment). All approved areas are closed out and all RW approvals under the authorization are terminated.

Total Effective Dose Equivalent (TEDE) - The sum of the deep dose equivalent (for external exposures) and the committed effective dose equivalent (for internal exposures).

Transfer - Change in possession of any radioactive material from one authorization to another or from an authorization to another licensee.

Transient Radioactive Work Area - The area where radioactive materials are used for infrequent short periods of time (generally <8 hours), where constant line-of-sight control and/or lockable security is maintained, and where the area will have a documented survey confirming that no radioactive material remains in quantities greater than those allowed for unrestricted areas, at the conclusion of the use.  These transient work areas do not require posting. 

Transportation - For MU, transportation means movement of any radioactive material by means of a person, or a commercial or university vehicle.

Unauthorized personnel - Any personnel or visitor who is not trained for access to restricted areas.

Uncontained Form - Radioactive material in an open form, capable of spreading contamination; particularly if overturned.

Unrestricted Area – Any area where access is not controlled for radiation protection. (See Controlled Areas)

Use - Physical manipulation of radioactive material in the uncontained form.

Weighting Factor (WT) - A factor that indicates the ratio of the risk of stochastic effects attributable to irradiation of a given organ or tissue (T) to the total risk when the whole body is uniformly irradiated.

X-rays - Penetrating electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength that is much shorter than that of visible light.  Rays produced by excitation of the electron field around certain nuclei are called characteristic x-rays.  Electromagnetic rays that are produced as the result of deceleration of charged particles as they pass near the nucleus are called continuous x-rays (or Bremsstrahlung).  X-rays are identical to gamma rays, but originate outside the nucleus.