Lessons Learned in Change Management for CLS’s Medical Isotope Production Facility
The Canadian Light Source (CLS) holds a CNSC Class II Licence for a 40kW, 35MeV linear accelerator used to produce medical isotopes. CLS maintains the radiation protection program associated with the licence and oversees operation of the facility by a contractor. This presentation will discuss the change management, safety challenges and recent events relating to […]
Implementation of an economical waste monitor for quantification of gamma emitting radionuclides in university research waste streams
In recent years, the nature of the radioactive waste at the University of Saskatchewan (USask) has changed to include more novel accelerator produced isotopes, longer lived contaminants, and isotopes with very restrictive disposal limits such as Ac-227. Existing methods of conservative estimation and generous decay times had become impractical, as overestimating the concentrations could lead […]
Characterization of neutron fields around refurbishment waste at Bruce Power and OPG using neutron spectrometry and Monte Carlo modelling
Using neutron spectrometry, we characterized the neutron energy spectra coming from irradiated components of a refurbished CANDU reactor. The measured neutron energy spectra were from refurbishment waste from calandria tubes (CTs) and pressure tubes (PTs). The measurements were conducted using a Nested Neutron Spectrometer (NNS), manufactured by Canadian company DETEC Inc. They were performed at […]
Decommissioning Techniques – 200 Series, Chalk River Labs
Canadian Nuclear Laboratories’ (CNL) Chalk River Campus is home to a cluster of connected facilities, commonly known as the 200 series buildings, comprised of B200A/B, B204, and B220. These facilities are currently undergoing active decommissioning by the Facilities Decommissioning group. The 200 series buildings housed and processed spent fuel rods from the National Research Experimental […]
Decommissioning of Complex Nuclear Sites
A complex nuclear site is one that houses several nuclear facilities on a single site. Often these include different types of facilities (e.g. reactors, heavy water processing & storage and waste management) in several lifecycle stages (construction, operations, refurbishment and decommissioning). Interferences between them are possible and decommissioning often suffers from a lower priority. CSA […]
Optimizing Radiation Protection in ¹⁷⁷Lu-Based Radiopharmaceutical Therapy: The Need for Standardized Internal Dosimetry
Radiopharmaceutical therapy (RPT) with Lutetium-177 (¹⁷⁷Lu) has revolutionized targeted cancer treatment, offering theranostic capabilities that integrate diagnosis and therapy. However, ensuring radiation safety for patients, healthcare workers, and the environment remains a critical challenge. This study examines radiation protection measures and regulatory requirements for ¹⁷⁷Lu-based RPT in Canada, focusing on Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) […]
The Trials and Tribulations of Implementing Safe Radiopharmaceutical Therapy at BC Cancer – Vancouver
Radiopharmaceutical therapies (RPT) using Lutetium-177 and Actinium-225 are promising treatments whose use is rapidly expanding around the world. Clinical trials using these RPT radioisotopes to treat prostate and neuroendocrine disease have shown impressive patient response. In early 2019, BC Cancer-Vancouver administered the first Lu-177 patient treatment in British Columbia. Accomplishing this milestone required a substantial […]
A systematic review on thyroid cancer and diseases from radiation exposure in adulthood
The thyroid regulates many vital functions in the body, including growth, metabolism, reproduction, heart rate, blood pressure and body temperature. The thyroid gland is vulnerable to ionizing radiation, with cancer being the primary health effect of concern following low to moderate exposures. A linear dose-response relationship between childhood radiation exposure and thyroid cancer has been […]
UNSCEAR Evaluation on Second Primary Cancer after Radiotherapy
The United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR) was established in 1955 by the United Nations General Assembly, with the mandate to evaluate the latest scientific data on levels, effects and risks of exposure to ionizing radiation on humans and the environment; and to provide independent, objective and up-to-date scientific basis […]
Performance Evaluation of the Radiacode 103 Portable Radiation Detector
In recent years, there has been wider availability of radiation survey meters from direct sellers on the Internet, combined with a greater interest in surveying objects and areas for radioactive contamination. With this, we have seen a growth in radiation detector ownership among the general public. These survey meters are often limited to Geiger counters […]