GENERAL RADIOISOTOPE SERVICE

• The University of the Basque Country/EHU is deemed to be the institution that runs the installation.
• The installation will be located in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the Faculty of Science and Technology in Leioa.
• The main premises that make up the installation are as follows:
  • Main laboratory (Local 4-1.22.LI)
  • Meter room (Local 4-2.24.B)
• The activities to be developed at the installation are: possession and use of radioactive material for teaching and research purposes in the field of Biology.
• The installation will have to operate - within the activities referred to in the previous specification - in accordance with the legislation in force governing radioactive installations and protection against ionizing radiation, with the relevant documentation being duly submitted together with these specifications.
• The radioactive material that will be used and the maximum activities that will be able to be stored at the installation are as follows:
  • Non-encapsulated radionuclides
    • Iodine 125 - 9.2 MBq (0.25 mCi)
    • Rubidium 86 - 37 MBq (1 mCi)
    • Calcium 45 - 37 MBq (1 mCi)
    • Phosphorus 32 - 37 MBq (1 mCi)
    • Carbon 14 - 37 MBq (1 mCi)
    • Tritium - 370 MBq (10 mCi)
    • Zinc 65 - 37 MBq (1 mCi)
    • Sulphur 35 - 370 MBq (10 mCi)
    • Phosphorus 33 - 37 MBq (1 mCi)
    • Iron 55 - 37 MBq (1 mCi) 
    • Wolfram 185 - 37 MBq (1 mCi)
  • Encapsulated radioactive sources
    • One barium 133 encapsulated radioactive source with an activity of 0.74 MBq (20uCi) incorporated into the Packard sparkle detector, Tricarb 200 CA model.
    • One barium 133 encapsulated radioactive source with an activity of 0.69 MBq (18,8 uCi) incorporated into the Packard sparkle detector, Tricarb 3700 TR model.
• Radioactive material will need to be transferred between the premises that make up the installation by taking into consideration due safety measures and radiological protection, in accordance with the type of radioactive material to be transferred and based on the circuit to be followed, bearing in mind the presence of persons outside the radioactive installation.
• Radioactive material must only be purchased from firms or individuals who are authorised for their sale within Spain, or will be imported directly by the holder of the relevant authorisation after completing the relevant regulatory procedures.
• No solid radioactive residues or contaminated solid products will be evacuated, the delivery of which will be arranged with a legally authorised entity..
• Evacuation of liquid and gaseous residues will have to take place in such a way as not to exceed annual incorporation limits as established for members of the public. Radioactive liquids which are insoluble in water will be stored until they are removed. This will be established in the same way as for solid residues.  
• Radiological surveillance of contamination will have to be carried out at the end of the working day, for which purpose the installation will be equipped with equipment of a suitable type and sensitivity. The latter will be checked regularly by a legally accredited laboratory. Indirect methods (frotis or others) must be used for those radionuclides that cannot feasibly be detected by direct measurement by the monitors at the installation's disposal.
• The installation must be provided with signs in accordance with the Regulations in force governing Health Protection against Ionizing Radiation and the UNE 73.302 standard.
• The installation will need to be equipped with suitable means of decontamination and fire extinguishers, located in places that are easily accessed and the handling of which must be made aware by all personnel.
• The radioactive installation personnel will be familiar with and adhere to that set out by its Regulations governing Operation and the Emergency Plan. Any modifications to these documents must be passed on to the Nuclear Safety Council and will require approval. Documentation will be made available at the installation proving that personnel have received the aforementioned documents.
• In accordance with Title V of the Regulations governing Nuclear and Radioactive Installations and in order to ensure the smooth running of the installation, there will be at least one supervisor in possession of the regulatory licence. Radioactive material must also only be handled by personnel in possession of an Operator's or Supervisor's licence. Students undertaking internships or persons who are carrying out research work in which possibly radioactive material may be used are exempt from the obligation to be in possession of the aforementioned licence, provided that such work is carried out under the direction of a Supervisor or Operator and that they have received the relevant training in radiological protection.
• Dosimetric control and medical surveillance of professionally exposed workers must be carried out and the relevant dosimetric and medical records must be kept up-to-date, in accordance with that set out in Title III of the Regulations governing Health Protection against Ionizing Radiation.
• A Transaction Diary will need to be kept in accordance with section 77 of the Regulations governing Nuclear and Radioactive Installations, in which the following data - in addition to the specific information included in section 78 - will be reflected:
  • Data referring to the inventory of radioactive material.
  • Any incidents and data regarding the operation of the installation, including dosimetric readings higher than normal ones.
  • Data referring to the control of levels of radiation and contamination.
  • Results of the checks and calibrations of detection and radiation measuring equipment.
  • Data referring to the management of radioactive residues.
• Within the first quarter of each calendar year, a report will be sent to the Nuclear Safety Council in accordance with section 80 of the aforementioned Regulations governing Nuclear and Radioactive Installations, which must contain a summary of what has been recorded in the Transaction Diary during the previous year, in addition to that accumulated by each of the professional workers exposed during that period. .
• Radioactive material must at all times remain duly controlled in order to prevent its possible handling by unauthorised personnel.
• In the event of any anomaly or incident that may entail radiological risks to the personnel in charge of the installation or the general public, the Emergency Plan will be applied and the Nuclear Safety Council will be immediately informed. Quite apart from this and within a maximum period of ten days following the event, a report about the incident will be sent to the aforementioned body.
• If for any reason the radioactive installation should cease to operate. the relevant request for closure will be sent to the Nuclear Safety Council with a minimum one month's advance notice, together with a report describing the following:
  • The circumstances of closure.
  • The inventory of radioactive material at that time.
  • The destination of that material.
  • The radioactive protective measures taken in order to dismantle the installation.
• The holder of the authorisation will remain subject to the requirements set out in the regulations and to the limits and conditions of that authorisation, until such time as the installation closes.
• The premises that make up the radioactive installation must not be used for any other purpose until authorised inspectors have checked that circumstances enable it to do so.
• Any modification regarding that contained in these specifications will be subject to new authorisation in accordance with that set out in the Regulations governing Nuclear and Radioactive Installations. .
• These specifications replace and leave without effect those contained in the Resolution dated 9-6-94, whereby authorisation to modify the radioactive installation was granted.

Access to the unit of Radioisotopes involves meeting the requirements set forth in the Protocol for access to SGIker and the services it provides.