Radiological impact of low level solid radioactive waste disposed of with ordinary hospital refuse

A method for the measurement of radioactivity contained in cardboard boxes used to store hospital refuse was developed, testing its reliability with sources of known activity and geometry. The method was applied to a random sample of about 2000 boxes taken from those which are not considered to contain radioactive material and are disposed of without checks, in order to evaluate the amount of activity which is released into the environment. It was found that it is about 0.06% of the total activity administered to patients. Radiation protection quantities were calculated on this basis, showing that the radiological effect is small, not requiring routine analysis of all waste boxes produced in the hospital, but suggesting that measurements on a random sample are advisable to monitor the process. (Author)