Radioactive Waste Management Flashcards
6 cards from real RSO practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Radioactive Waste Management flashcards as text
What does 'characterization' of radioactive waste mean in the context of waste management?
Answer: Determining the physical, chemical, and radiological properties of the waste to support proper handling and disposal
Waste characterization involves determining the waste's physical form, chemical composition, radionuclides present, activity concentrations, and half-lives to ensure proper classification, packaging, and disposal.
Under NRC regulations, which entity is ultimately responsible for ensuring that radioactive waste generated at a licensed facility is properly managed?
Answer: The licensed facility (the licensee)
The NRC licensee retains cradle-to-grave responsibility for radioactive waste generated under its license, even after transferring it to a licensed disposal contractor.
A hospital's pathology waste is found to contain a patient's tissue with measurable I-131 activity. This waste should be:
Answer: Managed as radioactive waste with decay-in-storage if activity allows, then disposed per license conditions
Tissue containing I-131 is radioactive waste; given I-131's 8-day half-life, decay-in-storage is practical, and disposal must comply with the license and applicable state/NRC regulations.
The term 'free release' or 'clearance' of materials from radiological control means:
Answer: The material can be used without restriction because it is no longer radioactive above background levels
Free release means measured radioactivity is at or below background levels (or specified clearance criteria), allowing the material to exit radiological controls and be treated as non-radioactive.
Radioactive waste from a medical facility using only H-3 and C-14 at low levels may qualify for 'below regulatory concern' (BRC) disposal because:
Answer: NRC regulations allow sanitary sewer and solid waste disposal of these isotopes below specified concentration limits
NRC regulations in 10 CFR 20.2003 and 20.2005 permit sewer and solid waste disposal of H-3 and C-14 at specified low concentrations because their low-energy beta emissions present minimal hazard at these levels.
Radioactive waste containers must be labeled with all of the following EXCEPT:
Answer: The name of the worker who generated the waste
Waste container labels must identify the contents (radionuclides, activity, form) to ensure safe handling and proper disposal routing, but individual generator names are not a required label element.