Related Links
- Training material, IAEA Radiation Protection of Patients website (RPoP)
- Management of Radioactive Waste from the Use of Radionuclides in Medicine, IAEA TECDOC Series No. 1183
- Management of Waste from the Use of Radioactive Material in Medicine, Industry, Agriculture, Research and Education, IAEA Safety Guide No. WS-G-2.7
Waste Management
Radioactive medical waste tends to contain beta particle and gamma ray emitters. It can be divided into two main classes: diagnosis and therapy. In diagnostic nuclear medicine a number of short-lived gamma emitters such as technetium-99m are used. Radioactive waste from nuclear medicine can be disposed of by leaving it to decay for a short time (a number of half-lives) before disposal as normal waste.
The IAEA has put together material highlighting and discussing important issues relating to radioactive waste in nuclear medicine, including:
- Basic requirements
- Legal framework
- Waste collection, segregation, and storage
- Waste treatment and disposal
This material are linked in the “Related Links’ section.