RADIOLOGICAL

Millions of packages of radioactive materials are transported in Texas annually. Most shipments consist of medical and industrial products. Other shipments include nuclear power plant fuel, nuclear weapons and weapons material, and radioactive waste generated by hospitals, laboratories, nuclear reactors, and military' facilities.

Because of the sheer number of radioactive material shipments, transportation accidents are the most common type of incident involving radioactive materials. Despite their frequency, there have been no known serious nuclear radiation exposures resulting from transportation accidents. This is due largely to the nature of the radioactive materials transported and the use of protective packaging commensurate with the degree of potential hazard of the radioactive material contained.

The transport of radioactive materials makes Polk County susceptible to accidents involving radioactive materials. Radiography sources are used to x‑ray pressure pipe welds, well loggings and many other uses. These materials could be transported over all highway and rail systems within the county. Additionally, hospitals and medical facilities use a wide range of radioactive sources within their nuclear medicine and research and development programs. Because of the extensive oil, gas, pipeline, refining, and petrochemical operations in the state, Texas has a large number of users of industrial radiography. Polk County has extensive oil and gas production that involves industrial use of radiography, however to date there has not been a recorded incident in Polk County.

Radioactive material shipments require special packaging, special marking, and detailed shipping papers; they may require vehicle placards or use of specialized transportation vehicles. In general, the greater the radiological hazard a shipment poses to public health and safety, the more rigorous are packaging and shipping requirements. Packaging and shipping requirements are established by the US Department of Transportation.

1 Limited quantities of slightly radioactive materials, such as smoke detectors, may be shipped by common carrier and, in very limited quantities, by US mail in normal industrial packaging mixed with other shipments. The potential radiation hazard from a limited quantity package shipment is very low. However, if packages involved in such shipments were destroyed in an accident, measurable amounts of radioactivity might be found in the debris.

2 Moderately radioactive materials, such as radiopharmaceuticals and uranium ore, must be shipped in sturdier Type A packaging designed to withstand rough handling in transit under non-accident conditions. Shipments are generally made by truck by specialized carriers or the producers of such materials. Low level radioactive waste is generally shipped in 55-gallon drums to licensed disposal facilities or firms which Consolidate small shipments into larger shipments to licensed disposal facilities. Even though Type A packaging is not designed to prevent the loss of the contents under accident conditions, there have been many accidents involving Type A packaging in which there was no loss. In those accidents where there was loss of contents, no adverse health or environmental effects resulted due to the limited amount of radioactivity allowed in the packaging.

3 Highly radioactive materials must be shipped in Type B packaging; containers that must withstand drop, puncture, fire, and immersion tests. Shipments may be by licensed common carrier or specialized carrier. Advance notice of certain types of shipments must be provided to affected states. Nuclear weapons and special nuclear material are shipped in secure containers in specially equipped trucks operated by DOE couriers. Transuranic waste and spent nuclear fuel will be shipped by DOE contract haulers. Shipments of nuclear weapons and material, transuranic waste and spent nuclear fuel are monitored by a DOE electronic tracking system. Radiology sources may be shipped by common carrier, specialized carriers, or producer transport. Although highly radioactive material shipments were involved in transportation accidents, no radiological releases occurred.

In summary, packaging requirements reflect the degree of hazard associated with the type, quantity and other characteristics of the radioactive materials shipped. Most shipments present minimal potential hazard, even if there is some release. For shipments with significant potential hazards (Type B), the packaging is designed to prevent the release of the contents. To date, no releases have occurred from these packaging under accident conditions.

Should a radiological emergency occur, a combination of trained radiological personnel and operational equipment has been positioned throughout Polk County to detect, measure, report, analyze, evaluate, and conduct countermeasure operations. Fourteen members of the county emergency personnel have been trained in the use and operation of radiological detection equipment.

This Homepage was prepared by Kenneth F. Hambrick, Polk County Coordinator. Contact at E-Mail address: webmaster@pcoem.org for additional information about our program. The information contained in this Homepage is considered public domain and the Office of Emergency Management encourages interested persons to utilize any portions of it that might be of educational benefit or enhance their local programs.