INDUSTRIAL (NON-

MEDICAL) USES of
RADIOACTIVITY
The Team:
Saeed Nazari, Anand Bankar, Eli Michel Masudi &
Usman Dawood Barry

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Flow of the Presentation

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 Introduction

• Controlled applications of radiations is part of many finished products

in our daily lives
• Ceramics
• Fluorescent lights
• Clocks and watches
• Food & drinks

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 Introduction

• These processes involve use of radioactive sources and tracers, and

are a vital step in the quality control of numerous industrial
techniques
• Radioactive tracers are substances that contain a radioactive atom to allow
easier detection and measurement
• Common tracers include technetium-99m (medical), cobalt-60
(steel/metallurgy)

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Types of Radiations & their Applications

Type of Radiation Uses

X-Rays Sterilization/disinfection of foods, medical equipment, and
other substances without making them radioactive
Ultraviolet (UV) rays Used to disinfect water in some water filtration systems
Electron-beam radiation Used to help remove toxic pollutants, such as exhaust
gases from coal-fired power stations and industry. For e.g.
removal of dangerous sulphur dioxides and nitrogen oxides
from our environment
Gamma radiation Nonstick cookware is treated with gamma rays to keep
food from sticking to the metal surface

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 Radiation Application in Industrial
Sectors
Sector Application
Agriculture Gauging the thickness of of eggshells to screen
out thin, breakable eggs before they are
packaged in egg cartons
Safety Glow-in-the-dark safety signs
Ionizing Smoke detectors
Metallurgy Use of X-rays to find otherwise imperceptible
defects in metallic castings and welds
Non-destructive Testing (NDT) Test materials, products, structures or buildings
without altering their properties or affecting their
usefulness
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 Gammadensimetry of a pile of wooden beams
This graph of comparative density, made using gamma ray imaging (a technique known as gammadensimetry), shows
the areas of weakness (knots in the wood, beginnings of branches) in a plank. 7
©CEA
Uses of Radioisotope in Industry 8
Monitoring Content of Food
Uses of Radioisotope in Industry
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Detecting Underground Leakage
 Smoke Detectors

https://mentordragon.com/wp- https://4.imimg.com/data4/YT/QW/MY- 10
content/uploads/2016/01/smoke-detector.jpg 8398342/ionization-smoke-detector-500x500.jpg
 Smoke Detectors - Introduction

• There are two types of smoke detectors

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 Smoke Detectors - Introduction

• ICSDs use very small amounts (one microcurie or less) of radioactive

material and are safe to use in homes
• Smoke detector's ability to save lives far outweighs any health risk from the
radiation
• The radioactive material is americium (Am-241)
• Emits alpha (α) particles and gamma (γ) rays
• Half-life of 432.2 years

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ICSD – How they Work?

The smoke alarm

triggers when
smoke particles
disrupt the
constant flow of
ions.

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https://www3.epa.gov/radtown/americium-smoke-detectors.html
 ICSD - Health Risks

• Ionizing smoke detectors pose no health risks as long as they are not
tampered with and used as directed
• Exposure to Am-241 is possible following a nuclear reactor meltdown
or nuclear test.
• Potential of significant health risks if inhaled or swallowed
• Targets bone, liver, and muscle

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ICSD - Regulations (European Union)

• Radioactive smoke detectors containing americium-241 are banned

in Germany and France although they are permitted in other EU
Member States, such as the Netherlands
• Domestic users can return the ICSD free of charge to the retailer and
the latter can deposit at the local civic amenity site, or can arrange
collection through the WEEE compliance schemes
• Commercial end users should return the ICSD to original supplier,
who will transport or arrange the transport to the designated
licensed waste management facilities by the EPA

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ICSD – Radiation Exposure Assessment

Dosage exposure scenario Annual radiation exposure

for ICSD mSv | mrem
Operator disposing by incineration 0.01 1
Waste collectors at disposal landfill 0.002 0.2
sites
User using at home 2×10-5 0.002
Accidental or misuse exceed 1 100
Lethal full-body dose 5Sv 500rem

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 Food Irradiation

Cobalt 60 Gamma rays After Bacteri

MILK a free
MILK

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 What’s food irradiation ?

• Irradiation is the process of

exposing food and food
packaging to ionizing radiation.
• Ionizing radiation, such as from
gamma rays, x-rays or electron
beams, is energy that can be
transmitted without direct
contact to the source of the
energy capable of freeing
electrons from their atomic
bonds in the targeted food

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 Uses and Impact

• Irradiation is used to reduce or

eliminate the risk of food-
borne illnesses, prevent or
slow down spoilage, arrest
maturation or sprouting and as
a treatment against pests
• Irradiation doesn’t make food
Radioactive

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 What’s used for irradiation

• Derived from Co-59

Co-60 • It’s the most common source of gamma radiation

• High energy electrons

Electron • Accelerated electrons to 99% the speed of light
Beam
• Bombardment of high energy accelerated
electrons
• Tungsten, Tantalum
X-ray

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 Approved Dosage as per Application

Application Dosage
Insect control 150-700 Gy
Reduce numbers of Salmonella, Campylobacter and other food 3 kGy (fresh) and up to 7 kGy
poisoning bacteria in Poultry-related products (frozen)
Reduce numbers of E.coli O157:H7 and other food poisoning 4.5 kGy (fresh) and up to 7
bacteria in red meat kGy (frozen)
Reduce levels of contaminating microorganisms generally and to up to 10 kGy
reduce or eliminate food poisoning bacteria
Reduce the numbers of microorganisms, particularly those that up to 2 kGy
cause spoilage in certain fruits and vegetables
Bulbs and tubers, such as potatoes and onions less than 1 kGy
kill insects in Cereals, grains and certain fruits 1 kGy

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 Regulations in the Food Industry

• Directive 1999/2/EC establishes a framework for controlling

irradiated foods, their labelling and importation
• Directive 1999/3/EC establishes an initial positive list of foods which
may be irradiated and traded freely between Member States

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 NDT (???)
The use of noninvasive techniques to determine the integrity of
a material, component or structure or quantitatively measure
some characteristic of an object.

i.e. Inspect or measure without doing harm.

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 Why NDT (???)

• Components are not destroyed

• Can test for internal flaws

• Useful for valuable components

• Can test components that are in use

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 Five Most Common NDT Methods
Detection of surface flaws
• Visual
• Liquid Penetrant
• Magnetic
Detection of internal flaws
• Ultrasonic
• Radiography

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 UT

• High-speed Ultrasonic (UT) Systems enable a full volumetric examination of materials

and are designed to detect surface, subsurface, internal and dimensional flaws. 26
 RT

Film

Film

• Radiographic definition is the abruptness of change in going from one density to

another. 27
 Safety considerations before RT operation

RT Team.

RT Devices.

RT Certificates.

Select best RT operation method.

Source decay table and safe distances.

Secure safety signs and flashing lights.

Issue a Permit to work (PTW).

RT Operation Communication.
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Prepare Emergency Response Plan (ERP).
Safety considerations during RT operation

ALARA
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 Related Standards for NDT
E1495 / E1495M – 17 Standard Guide for Acousto-Ultrasonic Assessment of
Composites, Laminates, and Bonded Joints (ASTM)
E1736 - 15 Standard Practice for Acousto-Ultrasonic Assessment of Filament-Wound
Pressure Vessels (ASTM)
E94 / E94M - 17 Standard Guide for Radiographic Examination Using Industrial
Radiographic Film (ASTM)
E999 - 15 Standard Guide for Controlling the Quality of Industrial Radiographic Film
Processing (ASTM)
E1390 - 12(2016) Standard Specification for Illuminators Used for Viewing Industrial
Radiographs (ASTM)
The Pressure Systems Safety Regulations 2000 (UK HSE).
Decay Table
• http://www.bestndt.net/decay-tables.html
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 References

• US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)

• https://www.nrc.gov/about-nrc/radiation/around-us/uses-radiation.html#industrial
• https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/fact-sheets/smoke-detectors.html
• https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/nuregs/staff/sr1717/nureg-1717.pdf
• https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/nuregs/brochures/br0322/r1/br0322r1.pdf
• US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
• https://www.epa.gov/radiation/radionuclide-basics-americium-241
• Smoke Alarm in Homes – CFPA-European Guideline No 10:2008
• https://www.apsei.org.pt/media/recursos/documentos-de-outras-entidades/CFPA-
guidelines-incendio/CFPA_E_Guideline_No_10_2008.pdf

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 References

• Office Journal of the European Committees C 113 E/34, dated 18.4.2001

• https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:92000E001649&from=EN
• Management of Waste Ionisation Chamber Smoke Detectors (ICSDs) – EPA
February 2016
• https://www.epa.ie/pubs/advice/waste/weee/Guidance_Note_ICSDs.pdf
• Americium Smoke Detectors – Stanford University |Eric Eason, February 16, 2011
• http://large.stanford.edu/courses/2011/ph241/eason1/
• Center of Nuclear Science & Technology Information
• http://www.nuclearconnect.org/know-nuclear/applications/industrial-applications
• ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials)
• https://www.astm.org/Standards/nondestructive-testing-standards.html
•The Pressure Systems Safety Regulations 2000
• http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2000/128/contents/made 32