Physical Characteristics:
- Half-life: 14.3 days
- Emissions: Beta particles with a maximum energy of 1.71 MeV and an average energy of 0.7 MeV.
- Maximum Range in Air: 620 cm in air; 0.8 cm in tissue; 0.6 cm in plexiglas
- Fraction transmitted through the dead layer of the skin: 0.95
Dose:
- Dose rate to the skin at 10 cm: 4070 mrad/hour/mCi
(for an unshielded point source) - Dose rate to epidermal basal cells from skin contamination of 1 mCi/cm2:9200 mrad/hour
Shielding:
- ½ to ¾ inch plexiglas/acrylic/lucite/plastic/wood
- Do not use lead foil or sheets as primary barrier! Penetrating bremsstrahlung x-ray will be produced!
- Use lead sheets or foil to shield bremsstrahlung x-rays only after low density plexiglas/acrylic/lucite/wood shielding.
Annual Intake Limits (ALI)
- Ingestion: 6×102 µCi (class D)
- Inhalation: 4×102µCi (class W
Note: 1.0ALI = 5,000 mrem CEDE - Odine
- Liquid scintillation counting is also an acceptable method for detecting removable P-32 contamination.
- A NaI survey meter may be used; however, the efficiency of detection is low as it is detecting bremsstrahlung x-rays.
- Whole Body dosimeter: Required
- Finger dosimeter: Required
Precautions:
High localized doses are possible while handling millicurie amounts of P-32 and as a result of skin contamination. Reduce doses by wearing safety glasses (for shielding the eyes), using remote handling tools such as tongs, using shielding extensively to shield storage and experimental containers and work areas, and performing thorough and frequent surveys of the work area, clothing and the body.
Waste Disposal: Call radiation safety office