Decontamination Issues Related to Museum Operations
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Abstract
Museums in Canada have been found to possess radioactive items. The origin of the radiation can be broadly categorized as either natural (generally radioactive ores) and anthropogenic (generally luminous gauges).
Radioactive ores, bearing naturally occurring uranium and thorium, can generate radiation fields many times greater than the ambient background levels. In addition, they will increase the ambient radon level and potentially generate loose contamination. Radioluminescent gauges, especially bearing radium (Ra-226), can also generate significant radiation fields. This is especially true if many gauges are located in close proximity. In addition, the radon may outgas from these gauges, and generate a loose contamination problem in enclosed spaces (such as display cases).
In this paper, we discuss the specific results of radiological decontamination investigations at three museums, namely The Canadian Museum of Nature (in Aylmer) and the RCAF Memorial Museum (in Trenton) and the Quebec Air and Space Museum (in Montreal).
The primary conclusion is that museums holding radioactive materials will have the requirement to be surveyed for loose contamination periodically with the potential for periodic decontamination caused by radon out-gassing, public access to displays bearing radioactive material must be restricted, and comprehensive radiation safety programs at museum facilities must be developed.
Radioactive ores, bearing naturally occurring uranium and thorium, can generate radiation fields many times greater than the ambient background levels. In addition, they will increase the ambient radon level and potentially generate loose contamination. Radioluminescent gauges, especially bearing radium (Ra-226), can also generate significant radiation fields. This is especially true if many gauges are located in close proximity. In addition, the radon may outgas from these gauges, and generate a loose contamination problem in enclosed spaces (such as display cases).
In this paper, we discuss the specific results of radiological decontamination investigations at three museums, namely The Canadian Museum of Nature (in Aylmer) and the RCAF Memorial Museum (in Trenton) and the Quebec Air and Space Museum (in Montreal).
The primary conclusion is that museums holding radioactive materials will have the requirement to be surveyed for loose contamination periodically with the potential for periodic decontamination caused by radon out-gassing, public access to displays bearing radioactive material must be restricted, and comprehensive radiation safety programs at museum facilities must be developed.
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