Regulatory Challenges for Reactor Based Nuclear Medicine Production

In October 2012 , ARPANSA received a licence application from the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) to site a new molybdenum 99 (Mo 99 ) production facility at the Lucas Heights Science and Technology Centre The facility is a purpose designed plant for extraction of Mo 99 from Low Enriched Uranium (LEU) targets irradiated at the Open Pool Australian Light water research reactor (OPAL). The technology is based on an alkaline fission product process which has been in use for many years at the existing ANSTO Health plant (now Health Products '') and the NTP Radioisotopes Pty Ltd plant in South Africa. August 2017:. A Quality Control Technician receives an estimated extremity exposure of 20 Gy whilst decapping a vial of Mo 99 at the older ANSTO Health facility (now Health Products ''). This results in severe tissue reactions and is reported as an INES level 3 event to the INES database. Lessons learned: It is highlighted that the radiological hazard from direct contact with Mo 99 solution from the dissolution process is extreme with skin dose limits potentially being reached in a matter of a few minutes. The accident identified potential weaknesses in licence holder risk assessments, particularly human factor aspects. ARPANSA has since engaged its licence holders to ensure that their risk estimates do not underestimate likelihood or consequence.