ISO 8939:2025
(Main)Decommissioning of medical cyclotron
Decommissioning of medical cyclotron
This document provides information and guidelines on the decommissioning of a medical cyclotron facility, with a focus on activated or contaminated parts. Useful information and guidelines are given on decommissioning strategy and plan, safety assessment, and various decommissioning activities. This document also provides the guideline on the estimation of activation level using Monte Carlo simulation and the methodology for the measurement of activated radionuclides in the main structure, system components, and shielding walls, ceilings and floors during operation and decommissioning. Financial provisions and radioactive waste management aspects are also included. This document can be used by organizations responsible for operation and decommissioning of a medical cyclotron facility. In addition, it is expected that organizations that design a medical cyclotron or manage radioactive waste generated by cyclotron can utilize or refer to this document in whole or in part.
Démantèlement des cyclotrons médicaux
General Information
Standards Content (Sample)
International
Standard
ISO 8939
First edition
Decommissioning of medical
2025-10
cyclotron
Démantèlement des cyclotrons médicaux
Reference number
© ISO 2025
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Published in Switzerland
ii
Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Decommissioning planning for a medical cyclotron facility . 3
4.1 General .3
4.2 Responsibilities .3
4.3 Decommissioning strategy .4
4.4 Decommissioning plan .4
4.5 Project management . .5
4.6 Decommissioning activities .5
4.7 Safety assessment .5
4.7.1 Identification of relevant safety criteria .6
4.7.2 Risk assessment .6
4.8 Quality assurance programme.6
4.9 Radiation protection programme .7
4.10 Financial resources .8
4.11 Final radiological survey .8
4.12 Final decommissioning report .8
5 Activation evaluation . 8
5.1 General .8
5.2 Activation level estimation method .9
5.2.1 Monte Carlo computer simulation .10
5.2.2 Measurement of activation . .11
5.3 Nuclides of concern .11
6 Management of radioactive waste .12
6.1 General . 12
6.2 Minimization of waste . 13
6.3 Categorization and characterization of waste . 13
6.4 Discharge control of liquid or airborne radioactive effluents. 13
6.5 Onsite handling and processing of waste . 13
6.6 Onsite storage of waste.14
6.7 Shipment of waste .14
Annex A (informative) Measurement method for determining thermal neutron fluence rate on
concrete surface .15
Annex B (informative) Measurement method for determining specific activity using a
scintillation survey meter. 16
Bibliography . 17
iii
Foreword
This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 85, Nuclear energy, nuclear technologies, and
radiological protection, Subcommittee SC 5, Nuclear installations, processes and technologies.
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This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 85, Nuclear energy, nuclear technologies, and
radiological protection, Subcommittee SC 5, Nuclear installations, processes and technologies.
Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards body. A
complete listing of these bodies can be found at www.iso.org/members.html.
iv
Introduction
Many types of accelerators have been installed and operated in the last several decades primarily for nuclear
research and radioisotope production worldwide.
A cyclotron is a type of particle accelerator invented by Ernest O. Lawrence in 1934 in which charged
particles are accelerated outwards from the centre along a spiral path. Cyclotrons have been the best
sources of high–energy beams for nuclear physics experiments for the last several decades. Additionally,
cyclotrons can be used in particle therapy to treat various types of cancers. Ion beams from cyclotrons can
be used to penetrate the body and eliminate tumours by radiation treatment, such as in proton therapy.
Cyclotron beams can be used to bombard other atoms to produce various radioisotopes for diagnostic
imaging in positron emission tomography (PET), single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)
and therapeutic applications in brachytherapy and alpha particle therapy. According to IAEA NW-T-2.9, it is
estimated to be over 1500 cyclotron facilities worldwide as of 2025.
Some cyclotron facilities have been dismantled and decommissioned because they have reached the end of
design life or because of ageing, accidents or other reasons like the changes in the purpose of use, location,
etc. Even though any standardized technical or administrative procedures for decommissioning of medical
cyclotron facilities have not been established yet, however, a safe decommissioning process is needed.
Therefore, it is necessary to analyse the major considerations such as activation and radioactive waste
management during the decommissioning of various kinds of cyclotron facilities.
Decommissioning actions typically involve different radiation protection strategies, such as radiological
surveys and monitoring; decontamination; dismantling and removal of structures, systems and components
and management of the radioactive waste generated during decommissioning. These actions are carried
out to achieve a progressive and systematic reduction in radiological hazards during decommissioning and
are conducted on a basis of planning and assessment to ensure the safety and protection of the workers, the
public and the environment and to ensure that the facility meets the planned decommissioning end state.
It is necessary to clarify the dismantling procedures at each stage from installation to decommissioning
of a medical cyclotron and to take measures to minimize decommissioning costs. This document aims to
develop proper decommissioning procedures and methods for medical cyclotron facilities, that accelerate
11 13 15 18
protons or deuterons for PET radiotracers ( C, N, O, F) by
— development of procedural guidelines for the decommissioning of a medical cyclotron facility,
— establishment of activation evaluation techniques for the end of operation of each cyclotron type, and
— consideration of the management of radioactive waste during the decommissioning of a medical cyclotron
facility.
v
International Standard ISO 8939:2025(en)
Decommissioning of medical cyclotron
1 Scope
This document provides information and guidelines on the decommissioning of a medical
...
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