ASTM D5928-96

NOTICE: This standard has either been superceded and replaced by a new version or discontinued.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.
Designation: D 5928 – 96
Standard Test Method for
Screening of Waste for Radioactivity
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 5928; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 5. Significance and Use
1.1 This test method covers the screening for a, b, and g 5.1 Most facilities disposing or utilizing waste materials are
radiation above ambient background levels or user-defined prohibited from handling wastes that contain radioactive ma-
criteria, or both, in liquid, sludge, or solid waste materials. terials. This test method provides the user a rapid method for
1.2 This test method is intended to be a gross screening screening waste material samples in the field or laboratory for
method for determining the presence or absence of radioactive the presence or absence of radioactivity at userestablished
materials in liquid, sludge, or solid waste materials. It is not criteria. It is important to these facilities to be able to verify
intended to replace more sophisticated quantitative analytical generator-supplied information that radioactive or mixed
techniques, but to provide a method for rapidly screening wastes have not been included in shipments of waste materials.
samples for radioactivity above ambient background levels or
6. Interferences
user-defined criteria, or both, for facilities prohibited from
6.1 Needle deflections or audible clicks of the survey meter,
handling radioactive waste.
1.3 This test method may not be suitable for applications or both, occur due to naturally occurring omni-directional
background radiation. This level of ambient background radia-
such as site assessments and remediation activities.
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the tion should be periodically assessed. See Section 10.
6.2 Possible sources of interference include pacemakers,
standard.
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the X-ray generating equipment, radium-based luminescent dials,
polonium-based static eliminators, and smoke detectors con-
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- taining a radioactive isotope sensing mechanism. Such inter-
ferences can usually be traced to their source using the portable
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. instrument specified in this test method.
6.3 A large amount of potassium in the waste sample may
2. Referenced Documents
produce a positive result due to the natural presence of the
2.1 ASTM Standards: radioactive isotope, Potassium-40.
C 859 Terminology Relating to Nuclear Materials 6.4 The sensitivity of this test method to beta and gamma
radiation may be dependent on sample volume. A small sample
3. Terminology
volume with readings near background levels may give a false
3.1 For terminology related to radioactive materials, see
negative result.
3 14
Terminology C 859. 6.5 Some radioactive isotopes, such as H and C, may not
emit radiation of sufficient energy to be detected. If suspected
4. Summary of Test Method
to be present in the waste, another procedure should be used
4.1 A sample is held within 6 mm of the detector window of
that is appropriate to their determination.
a radiation survey meter, and the visible or audible reaction of
6.6 Liquid samples, as well as moisture in solid samples, are
the meter, or both, is noted. The user defines an application/
good attenuators of radiation and will hinder detection of many
project specific “negative” and “positive” result criteria. A
radionuclides unless they emit high-energy gamma radiation.
“negative” test result indicates radiation levels are below the
The possible inability to detect alpha particles and low-level
user-established criteria; a “positive” test result indicates the
beta emissions that may be attenuated, in many cases, should
radiation levels are above the user-established criteria.
not be a serious shortcoming in this test method because these
emissions are often accompanied by higher energy gamma
emissions.
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D34 on Waste
6.6.1 Moisture-laden Americium-241 bearing waste would
Management and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D34.01.05 on
be a case where there is a high probability of non-detection due
Screening Methods.
Current edition approved March 10, 1996. Published May 1996.
to attenuation.
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 12.01.
Copyright © ASTM, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
NOTICE: This standard has either been superceded and replaced by a new version or discontinued.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.
D 5928
6.7 Survey meter contamination can cause artificially low or 10.2 Check the survey meter’s performance at least daily
high results when reading standard sources or ambient back- using the a, b, and g check sources. This is done by observing
ground. If this occurs, the survey meter performance shall be the survey meter response when held within 6 mm of each
considered unreliable and should be appropriately decontami- check standard. At a minimum, check sources should be >2
nated by qualified personnel, or disposed of in accordance with times the ambient background. The check sources listed in 9.1
applicable regulations. far exceed this requirement.
6.8 The radiation monitor should be operated in accordance 10.3 The survey meter should be factory-calibrated at least
with the manufacturer’s instructions. yearly.
10.4 Assess the level of ambient background radiation
7. Apparatus
periodically. This may be prior to each test, daily, weekly, or
7.1 Radiation Survey Meter, with a halogen-quenched un-
monthly depending on user requirements.
compensated Geiger-Mueller tube with thin mica end-window.
10.4.1 Set the survey meter to its X1 or most sensitive
It is advisable to choose an instrument model that has an
setting and enable the audible alarm, if unit is so equipped.
in
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