ASTM D5928-18
(Practice)Standard Practice for Screening of Waste for Radioactivity
Standard Practice for Screening of Waste for Radioactivity
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 Most facilities disposing or utilizing waste materials are prohibited from handling wastes that contain radioactive materials. This practice provides the user a rapid method for screening waste material samples in the field or laboratory for the presence or absence of radioactivity at user-established criteria. It is important to these facilities to be able to verify generator-supplied information that radioactive or mixed wastes have not been included in shipments of waste materials.
SCOPE
1.1 This practice covers the screening for α–, β–, and γ radiation above ambient background levels or user-defined criteria, or both, in liquid, sludge, or solid waste materials.
1.2 This practice is intended to be a gross screening method for determining the presence or absence of radioactive materials in liquid, sludge, or solid waste materials. It is not intended to replace more sophisticated quantitative analytical techniques, but to provide a method for rapidly screening samples for radioactivity above ambient background levels or user-defined criteria, or both, for facilities prohibited from handling radioactive waste.
1.3 This practice may not be suitable for applications such as site assessments and remediation activities.
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard.
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.6 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
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Designation: D5928 − 18
Standard Practice for
1
Screening of Waste for Radioactivity
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D5928; 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 (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 3. Terminology
1.1 This practice covers the screening for α–, β–, and γ 3.1 For terminology related to radioactive materials, see
radiation above ambient background levels or user-defined Terminology C859.
criteria, or both, in liquid, sludge, or solid waste materials.
4. Summary of Practice
1.2 This practice is intended to be a gross screening method
for determining the presence or absence of radioactive mate- 4.1 Asample is held within 6 mm of the detector window of
rials in liquid, sludge, or solid waste materials. It is not a radiation survey meter, and the visible or audible reaction of
intended to replace more sophisticated quantitative analytical the meter, or both, is noted. The user defines an application/
techniques, but to provide a method for rapidly screening project-specific “negative” and “positive” result criteria. A
samples for radioactivity above ambient background levels or “negative” test result indicates radiation levels are below the
user-defined criteria, or both, for facilities prohibited from user-established criteria; a “positive” test result indicates the
handling radioactive waste. radiation levels are above the user-established criteria.
1.3 This practice may not be suitable for applications such
5. Significance and Use
as site assessments and remediation activities.
5.1 Most facilities disposing or utilizing waste materials are
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the
prohibited from handling wastes that contain radioactive ma-
standard.
terials. This practice provides the user a rapid method for
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
screening waste material samples in the field or laboratory for
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
the presence or absence of radioactivity at user-established
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
criteria. It is important to these facilities to be able to verify
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
generator-supplied information that radioactive or mixed
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
wastes have not been included in shipments of waste materials.
1.6 This international standard was developed in accor-
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
6. Interferences
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
6.1 Needle deflections or audible clicks of the survey meter,
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
or both, occur due to naturally occurring omni-directional
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
background radiation. This level of ambient background radia-
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
tion should be periodically assessed. See Section 10.
2. Referenced Documents 6.2 Possible sources of interference include pacemakers,
X-ray-generating equipment, radium-based luminescent dials,
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
polonium-based static eliminators, and smoke detectors con-
C859 Terminology Relating to Nuclear Materials
taining a radioactive isotope-sensing mechanism. Such inter-
ferencescanusuallybetracedtotheirsourceusingtheportable
instrument specified in this practice.
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D34 on Waste
6.3 A large amount of potassium in the waste sample may
Management and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D34.01.05 on
Screening Methods. produce a positive result due to the natural presence of the
Current edition approved Jan. 15, 2018. Published January 2018. Originally
radioactive isotope, potassium-40.
ε1
approved in 1996. Last previous edition approved in 2010 as D5928– 96 (2010) .
DOI: 10.1520/D5928-18.
6.4 The sensitivity of this practice to beta and gamma
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
radiation may be dependent on sample volume.Asmall sample
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
volume with readings near background levels may give a false
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. negative result.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1
---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
D5928 − 18
3 14
6.5 Some radioactive isotopes, such as H and C, may not 1
Source T
...
This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
´1
Designation: D5928 − 96 (Reapproved 2010) D5928 − 18
Standard Test Method Practice for
1
Screening of Waste for Radioactivity
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D5928; 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 (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1
ε NOTE—Editorial changes were made throughout in January 2010.
1. Scope
1.1 This test method covers the screening for α–, β–, and γ radiation above ambient background levels or user-defined criteria,
or both, in liquid, sludge, or solid waste materials.
1.2 This test method is intended to be a gross screening method for determining the presence or absence of radioactive materials
in liquid, sludge, or solid waste materials. It is not intended to replace more sophisticated quantitative analytical techniques, but
to provide a method for rapidly screening samples for radioactivity above ambient background levels or user-defined criteria, or
both, for facilities prohibited from handling radioactive waste.
1.3 This test method may not be suitable for applications such as site assessments and remediation activities.
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard.
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory
limitations prior to use.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
C859 Terminology Relating to Nuclear Materials
3. Terminology
3.1 For terminology related to radioactive materials, see Terminology C859.
4. Summary of Test Method
4.1 A sample is held within 6 mm of the detector window of a radiation survey meter, and the visible or audible reaction of the
meter, or both, is noted. The user defines an application/project specific “negative” and “positive” result criteria. A “negative” test
result indicates radiation levels are below the user-established criteria; a “positive” test result indicates the radiation levels are
above the user-established criteria.
5. Significance and Use
5.1 Most facilities disposing or utilizing waste materials are prohibited from handling wastes that contain radioactive materials.
This test method provides the user a rapid method for screening waste material samples in the field or laboratory for the presence
or absence of radioactivity at user-established criteria. It is important to these facilities to be able to verify generator-supplied
information that radioactive or mixed wastes have not been included in shipments of waste materials.
6. Interferences
6.1 Needle deflections or audible clicks of the survey meter, or both, occur due to naturally occurring omni-directional
background radiation. This level of ambient background radiation should be periodically assessed. See Section 10.
1
This test method practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D34 on Waste Management and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D34.01.05 on
Screening Methods.
Current edition approved Jan. 1, 2010Jan. 15, 2018. Published January 2010January 2018. Originally approved in 1996. Last previous edition approved in 20032010 as
ε1
D5928 – 96D5928(2003). – 96 (2010) . DOI: 10.1520/D5928-96R10E01.10.1520/D5928-18.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1
---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
D5928 − 18
6.2 Possible sources of interference include pacemakers, X-ray generating equipment, radium-based luminescent dials,
polonium-based static eliminators, and smoke detectors containing a radioactive isotope sensing mechanism. Such interferences
can usually be traced to their source using the portable instrument specified in this test method.
6.3 A large amount of potassium in the waste sample may produce a positive result due to the natural presence of the radioactive
isotope, Potassium-40.
6.4 The sensitivity of this test method to beta and gamma radiation may be dependent on sample volume. A small sample
volume
...
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