• Section 1 - Purpose and Scope
• Section 2 - Process and Key Controls
• Section 3 - Fact Sheets for Commonly Used Radioisotopes
• Section 4 - Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material (NORM)
• Section 5 - Monitoring, Review and Assurance
• Section 6 - Appendix
• Definitions

Section 1 - Purpose and Scope

(1) This Guideline contains a list of links to the fact sheets of unsealed radioisotopes commonly used in appropriately certified radiation laboratories within The University of Queensland (UQ).

(2) This Guideline should be read with in conjunction with UQ’s Radiation Safety - Regulatory Compliance and Risk Management Procedure and other UQ procedures and guidelines pertaining to radiation safety. 

Section 2 - Process and Key Controls

(3) The radioisotope fact sheets provided within this Guideline have been produced with the relevant information from the Radiation Safety Regulation 2021 (Regulation) and other relevant sources. These isotopes are often used as tracers and used in very dilute solutions and most will have short half-lives.

(4) Work with these radioisotopes must be performed in laboratories certified for use with unsealed sources. Users must meet regulatory requirements (e.g. Use Licences, Approval to Acquire, etc.) as detailed in the Radiation Safety - Regulatory Compliance and Risk Management Procedure.

Section 3 - Fact Sheets for Commonly Used Radioisotopes

(5) Click on the radioisotope name to obtain its Safety Data Sheet in PDF format.

Section 4 - Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material (NORM)

(6) NORM is the term used to describe materials containing radioisotopes that exist in the natural environment, e.g. uranium ores and thorium in the form of mineral sands.

(7) They include the following radioisotopes:

1. long-lived radionuclides such as uranium-238 (U-238), uranium-235 (U-235) and thorium-232 (Th-232), and their radioactive decay products (such as radium, radon, polonium, bismuth and lead);
2. individual long-lived radionuclides such as potassium-40 (K-40), rubidium-87 (Rb-87) and indium-115 (In-115).

Section 5 - Monitoring, Review and Assurance

(8) This Guideline will be reviewed and updated by the Radiation Protection Consultant on a regular basis, especially when there are changes in the legislation which may affect the accuracy of the radionuclide.

Section 6 - Appendix

Definitions