Ethics Guidelines
Part B - Guidelines for Projects Involving Ionising Radiation
Section 9 - Disposal
9.1 Radioactive material or items, or materials classified as radioactive waste, shall not be disposed of in Antarctica nor in the Southern Ocean. The only exception is an animal carcass which cannot practicably be returned to Australia (see Section 10).
9.2 Release of radioisotopes to the environment as an inevitable part of an experiment (e.g. excretion of radioisotopes by animals being the subjects of an authorised study) is not to be categorised as disposal for the purposes of this section. Release of radioactive materials to the environment is dealt within Section 7.
9.3 Radioactive materials and items classified as waste shall be returned to Australia in full compliance with the transport requirements of Section 8.
9.4 All items and/or substances that have or may have been in contact with unsealed radioactive materials shall be treated as radioactive waste for the purposes of this section and shall be returned to Australia. For example, samples of water that have been doped with radioisotopes for the purposes of the experiment.
Note: Laboratory glassware used in the experiment and which was in contact with radioactive liquid must either be:
1. Returned to Australia (RTA) OR
2. Hand-washed using decon detergent. All washings and rinses must be collected for RTA.
9.5 The Australian Antarctic Division will not accept responsibility for storage or disposal of radioactive wastes other than for those used in Australian Antarctic Division projects. Final disposal of radioactive waste shall be discussed with the Australian Antarctic Division RSO. This is an integral part of the licensing process with ARPANSA.
(ASP&C)
May 2002
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