Radioactive Materials

CLASS 7 - RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS

Note: The following description is not intended to be a definitive technical description of what is termed a dangerous goods under the New Zealand Standard 5433:1999 - Transport of Dangerous Goods on Land or The United Nations Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods.

Perhaps the most difficult dangerous goods hazard to explain is radioactivity. All materials are to some extent radioactive and consequently radioactivity is all around us. This is called background radioactivity. Obviously, there is no point in regulating all materials! Relying on the enormous amount of research and practical experience that has gone into radioactivity since its discovery by Madame Curie in the 19th century, the International Atomic Energy Authority (IAEA) based in Vienna has set levels at which radioactive material becomes regulated.

The Uses for radioactive materials include:

Radiopharmaceuticals used for cancer treatment.
Oilwell analysis
Identifying faults in steel structures.
Power generation - Not a New Zealand problem.

Packages containing radioactive material are identified by one of 3 labels:

Radioctivity as a hazard is somewhat different from other dangerous goods in that it is only a potential hazards. The packaging is designed specifically to ensure that only an acceptable amount of activity will be released. The design and construction of the packaging is therefore very strictly controlled since this is what makes radioactive material safe for transportation.
The lowest level of hazard is indicated by the Radioactive "white" label. This indicates a very low hazard.

Radioact.gif (3236 bytes)

The "yellow" label denote a higher degree of radioactive hazard contained within the packaging, the higher the red numbers - the higher the risk.

Radioact2.gif (4805 bytes)

Radioact3.gif (5826 bytes)