Section 1 - CHEMICAL PRODUCT AND COMPANY IDENTIFICATION

PRODUCT NAME

RADIUM-226 (SEALED SOURCE)

NFPA

PRODUCT USE

Sealed radioactive source in instruments and articles used for medical and industrial
radiography, a neutron source, radon generator.

SYNONYMS

"instruments radioactive", "radioactive instruments and articles", Ra226, 226Ra88

Section 2 - HAZARDS IDENTIFICATION

CANADIAN WHMIS SYMBOLS

EMERGENCY OVERVIEW

RISK

Limited evidence of a carcinogenic effect.

POTENTIAL HEALTH EFFECTS

ACUTE HEALTH EFFECTS

SWALLOWED

  Not normally a hazard due to physical form of product.  

EYE

  There is some evidence to suggest that this material can causeeye irritation and damage in some persons.  Not normally a hazard due to physical form of product.  alpha-Radiation produces severe inflammation of eyelid tissue and eye surface. There may be a delay of years before symptoms develop. Cataracts can develop an are progressive, but their growth may stop at any stage.  2 Gy of gamma radiation in a single dose can cause clouding of the lens in humans. Effects can be delayed for years. Cataracts can develop, and are progressive, but their growth can stop at any time. Growth is faster when there is exposure to higher doses of radiation.  The eye is particularly sensitive to radioactivity. A single dose of 1 Gy can cause inflammation of the conjunctiva and cornea. It is unlikely that a dose sufficient to cause radiation sickness would occur if only the eyes were involved. However, if eye damage caused by ionizing radiation occurs, it should be assumed that other parts of the body are involved.  

SKIN

  Overexposure is unlikely in this form.  Acute radiodermatitis resulting from gamma-irradiation may occur in three stages.  ·  Radiodermatitis erythematosa is characterized by a reddening of the skin on the fourth to seventh day. After the third or fourth week the skin regains its normal appearance. Hair from the head or beard may fall from areas of reddened skin within two or three weeks. The skin remains temporarily colored, peels easily and is dry.  ·  Radiodermatitis bullosa may occur after large doses, the skin becomes dark-violet between the second and fifth day and water blisters, similar to second-degree burns, are formed. Itching, burns and pain may appear. Within two or three weeks, the hair falls out - loss is generally permanent. Healing is slow and the skin remains dry, white, and crossed with bright-red blood vessels.  ·  Radiodermatitis escharotica occurs after extremely high doses. Reddening appears as early as the second day. Deep and painful ulcers and abscesses appear on the skin, healing is slow, and scars, interwoven with large blood vessels, remain on the damaged areas. The skin is dry, as a result of the destruction of sebaceous and sweat glands. Severe damage may result in cancer. Due to the deep penetrating nature of the irradiation,  exposure may produce damage to the internal organs and produce radiation sickness.  beta-Radiation may produce reddening and color changes to the skin. Peeling, blistering, ulceration and death of skin tissue may occur. After damage occurs, cancers may develop.  

INHALED

  Inhalation may produce health damage*.  Not normally a hazard due to non-volatile nature of product.  alpha-Radiation kills cells immediately adjacent to the source of contact. Damage may be irreversible. Generally, soluble compounds are more easily absorbed. Smaller particles can lodge and remain in the alveoli (air sacs); larger ones are more easily swallowed. Damage depends on the speed of elimination, susceptibility of tissue, and radioactive damage. Even a single dose may produce radiation sickness.  gamma-Radiation produces inflammation of the membrane lining the eyelids and the surface of the eye. Late effects may produce cataracts. It can be carried throughout the body. A single dose may cause sterility in young women.  The degree of absorption into the body depends on solubility and particle size. Insoluble compounds and heavier particle may remain at or near the sites of deposition and may be brought to the throat by ciliary action where they may be swallowed. Soluble compounds may enter the blood stream. Lighter particles may remain in the alveolar sacs. The degree of damage is dependent on the rate of elimination and the susceptibility of the tissue to radiation damage. A single large dose may produce radiation sickness.  A whole body dose of 2-10 Gray may cause loss of appetite, tiredness, nausea and vomiting,  most severe after 6-12 hours. After this subsides a gross disturbance in blood cell distribution occurs with loss of white blood cells and platelets over weeks. The activity of bone marrow may become so depressed that overwhelming infections can occur and cause death. A dose of 4 Gray can lead to damage of the bowel lining, causing untreatable nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, which may result in severe dehydration, collapse and death. Although repair of the damage may occur, failure of blood cell production can ensue. At 6 Gray, damage to the blood cell production and digestive systems can be fatal. Whole body doses of 30 Gray can cause nausea, vomiting, listlessness, drowsiness, weakness, tremors, convulsions, inco-ordination and death within hours. The reproductive organs are particularly sensitive to radiation. A does of 0.3 Gray can cause temporary loss of fertility in men; there may be cessation of periods in women.  

CHRONIC HEALTH EFFECTS

  There has been concern that this material can cause cancer or mutations, but there is not enough data to make an assessment.  

  Principal route of exposure is by the total bodily interception of  invisible ionizing radiation.  DANGER:  The primary radioactive source material is RADIOTOXIC.  Hazard increases as the separation distance is reduced (square law).  The effects of exposure to internally deposited alpha-emitters largely depends on the dose and target organs. Sufficiently high doses may produce radiation sickness. Possible disorders may include lung cancer, problems of sterility, anemia, leukemia or bone-  cancer. Leukemia and cataracts have been observed at doses lower than those which produce skin scarring and cancer or bone tumors. The lens of the eye should be considered as critical.  Animal testing revealed that very low doses of chronic gamma radiation may cause blood disturbances and leukemia, and that slightly higher doses may induce fatal anemia. Possible other consequences of long-term exposure to gamma radiation include sterility and cancer of the lung, bones and other sites, with rates increasing sharply with exposure doses. Damage to tissues may show quickly or not show effects for a long time. In humans, deaths from digestive system damage may occur within 10 days but death from lung damage may be delayed for months. IARC has determined that gamma radiation and X-  rays definitely cause cancer in humans.  High doses of beta radiation can cause lung cancer, sterility, anemia, leukemia or bone cancer. Cataracts can develop and should be seen as a sign. Prolonged exposure to smaller doses can lead to dry, thick skin with itchiness, redness and warts, and hair loss.  Acute radiation sickness can develop if exposed to large quantities of  radioactive substance (e.g. 250 milliCurie or more) for long periods of  time (24 or more hours).  A single large or prolonged low exposure to radiation can cause delayed effects, including blood cancers, genetic disorders, shortened lifespan and cataracts. Leukemia is the most common cancer caused; cancers of the thyroid, bone, lung (due to radioactive particle deposits) and skin are also seen. Many and varied genetic changes can occur; if they affect cells of the reproductive system, they may only display themselves after being inherited.