Revealed Radioactive Materials beyond Regulatory Monitoring

During the fourth quarter of 2016, the state nuclear and regulatory inspectorates of the SNRIU in cooperation with appropriate structures of other central executive bodies of Ukraine continued their activity aimed at revealing illicit trafficking of radioactive materials beyond regulatory monitoring.

Three cases of revealing radioactive contaminated scrap metal were fixed during the incoming radiation monitoring at Azovstal Iron & Steel Works. These were mainly pipes with high content of radium-226 and ampoule with continuous luminous material including salts of radium-226. One case of contaminated scrap metal was revealed at PJSC “ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih”.

Ampoule with continuous luminous material

In October 2016, a dosimetrist of OJSC “Promindustriya” in the city of Kyiv revealed during the inspection of boxes on the territory of the enterprise two subjects, namely type E gamma source blocks used within radioisotope devices of process monitoring in metallurgical, chemical, construction, coal and other industry branches.

Type E gamma source block

During the inspection, the National Police of the Public Utility “Nikopolvodokanal” in the city of Nikopol revealed protective head of GAMMARID-170/400 gamma-flaw detector that was not appropriately registered, and included depleted uranium.

Protective head of GAMMARID-170/400 gamma-flaw detector

Equivalent dose rate of gamma radiation of the revealed subjects exceeded the established health and safety standards. The revealed subjects were retrieved and sent for further safe and secure storage to DSP “Dnipropetrovsk SISC”of UkrDO “Radon”.

Uatom.org editorial board