Tagged: Radiation Safety

Mercury is a naturally occurring element that has often been used in laboratories, instruments, industrial and commercial equipment, and household items. Mercury can be released into the atmosphere by power plants through the combustion of coal. Mercury is toxic in all chemical forms. Once mercury is released into the environment, it can be transformed into methyl mercury, which allows it to bioaccumulate in the body.

Health Issues

Permits must be renewed annually

Once a faculty member or equivalent (Approved Supervisor) has submitted a RS-1 and has received final approval to use radioactive material from the University Radiation Safety Committee and Radiation Safety, the continued use of radioactive material will be allowed only if the Approved Supervisor completes and returns the required paper work sent out annually by the Radiation Safety Section of EHS.

Radionuclide Risk Categories

1. No Significant Risk

   1. Areas where only generally licensed materials or naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM) are used including small button check sources, Ni-63 electron capture detectors and compounds of uranium and thorium.

2. Low Risk

The University Radiation Safety Committee (URSC) is mandated by the Ohio Department of Health (ODH), and is comprised of faculty and staff from The Ohio State University. The URSC oversees the Radiation Safety Program and acts as a liaison between faculty/staff/management and the Radiation Safety Section (RSS) of Environmental Health and Safety. The URSC is responsible for the control and direction of the Radiation Safety Program.