Assessment of Radioactive Waste in Nuclear Medicine Services in the State of Sergipe

Abstract

In nuclear medicine the radioactive tailings that cannot be played in the system of urban waste, according to the standard CNEN-NN-6.05, shall be segregated and packaged to be stored on a temporary basis until they can be eliminated or transferred to a suitable location. This study assessed the management of solid and liquid radioactive tailings produced by two nuclear medicine services of the State of Sergipe, Brazil, with emphasis on the quantities generated, types of waste, storage and disposal conditions. This evaluation aimed to verify whether the treatment of tailings was in accordance with the standard CNENNE-6.05 "Management of Radioactive Tailings in Radioactive Installations" in 1985. It used a Geiger Muller meter for the completion of survey of radiation levels of these tailings (syringes, needles, bottles and papers of bench). We analyzed only the tailings of radionuclides of 99mTc and 131I. By all measures taken to background radiation was considered. Were measured approximately 295 pounds of radioactive tailings separated by radionuclides for 48 months and noted that the professionals are in compliance with the limits for release of tailings, up to 7.5 x 10^4 Bq/kg (2  μCi/kg). For liquid tailings released in the sewage network was analyzed its way to the station for treatment.