Phosphorus 32

Half-life

14.29 days

Emitter

Beta

Beta Energy

1710 keV

Travel distance

  • Air: 610 cm or 240 inches or 24 feet
  • Water/Tissue: 0.76 mm or 0.33 inches
  • Plastic: 0.61mm or 3/8 inches

Annual Intake Limit

  • Inhalation: 400 µCi
  • Ingestion: 600 µCi

Detection

  • Portable Survey Meters:
    • Geiger-Mueller [17-28% efficiency];
    • NaI [for secondary Bremstrahlung x-rays]
  • Wipe Test: Liquid Scintillation Counting may be used to detect removable 32P contamination

Shielding

  • Shield 32P with 1/4 – 1/2 Plexiglas, Acrylic, Lucite, plastic or wood and monitor for Bremstrahlung
  • If Bremstrahlung X-rays detected outside Plexiglas, apply 1/8 to 1/4 inch lead [Pb] shielding outside Plexiglas
  • The accessible dose rate should be background but must be <2 mR/h

Dosimeter Monitoring

  • Wear radiation dosimetry monitoring badges [body & ring] if regularly handling 5 mCi quantities of 32P per procedure

Precautions

  • Avoid skin contamination [absorption], ingestion, inhalation, & injection [all routes of intake]
  • Store 32P (including waste) behind Plexiglas shielding [3/8 inch thick]; survey (with GM meter) to check adequacy of shielding (accessible dose rate <2 mR/hr; should be background); apply lead Lead shielding outside Plexiglas if needed
  • Use 3/8 inch Plexiglas shielding to minimize exposure while handling 32P
  • Use tools [e.g. Beta Blocks] to handle 32P sources and contaminated objects; avoid direct hand contact
  • Always have a portable survey meter present and turned on when handling 32P
  • 32P is not volatile, even when heated, and can be ignored as an airborne containment unless aerosolized

Recommendations

  • Place sample tubes in a plexiglas holder to minimize hand exposure when carrying
  • Do not work over open containers of 32P without shielding
  • Dispose the waste as per USC radiation waste policies. Do not mix the waste with any other isotope. 32P waste must be segregated and kept separate from other radioactive waste. This waste should be consolidated and stores in a location away from work and high traffic areas.
  • Store your radioactive waste carefully. When mor ethan a millicurie, place within a secondary lucite/plexiglas (shielded) container and increase your distance.

Radiological Data

  • Radiotoxicity:
    • 94.7 mrem/uCi [Lung] & 15.5 mrem/uCi [CEDE] of 32P inhaled
    • 29.9 mrem/uCi [Bone Marrow] & 8.77 mrem/uCi of 32P ingested
  • Critical Organ:
    • Bone [soluble 32P]; Lung [Inhalation]; GI Tract [Ingestion – insoluble compounds]
  • Exposure Routes:
    • Ingestion, inhalation, puncture, wound, skin contamination, absorption
  • Radiological Hazard:
    • External Exposure [unshielded dose rate at 1 mCI 32P vial mout: approx. 26 rem/hr]
    • Internal Exposure & Contamination