Security of Radioactive Materials

Find out what trigger levels require special storage, and the exceptions that apply.

Requirement

Federal regulations mandate that all radioactive material must be “secured against unauthorized removal.” This means it must be within the direct sight of an authorized user or stored in a locked container, refrigerator, or lab.

Trigger levels

Using a risk-based approach, UC San Diego has set trigger levels for isotopes requiring particular attention to security. Trigger levels for reporting losses of material to the State are set at low levels (see table below).

These trigger level values are based on radiotoxicity of the isotope; the greater the radiotoxicity, the lower the reportable quantity. As radioactive shipments are received in the EH&S Services Lab, stock vials are now labeled if they exceed the trigger level.

Trigger levels for the 6 most commonly used isotopes are:

Notice: Refer to the Radiation Safety Manual (PDF) (Word file) for a detailed description of UCSD's radiation safety program.

Safety

Radiation

• Resources
• Calibrate or Repair Survey Meters
• Cleaning Up Minor Contamination
• Contamination Survey Overview
• Exposure Monitoring
• Forms
• Health Physicist Contacts
• Loaner Survey Meters
• Performing Contamination Surveys
• Radioisotope Package Delivery Service
• Registering Radiation Producing Machines
• Radioisotope Use Authorization
• Security
• Transferring Radioactive Materials
• Radiation Exposure Risk Statements