Radioactive Material Used in Research

Radiation Facts

Radioactive materials are used to help some researchers create and test new medicines, technologies, and procedures that benefit plants, animals and people.
Research laboratories must follow strict rules to order, store, use and dispose of radioactive material.

Some research facilities use radioactive materials in scientific studies and experiments to create new medicines or products. Strict requirements must be met before a research facility can order, store or use radioactive materials.

On this page:

About Radioactive Material Used in Research
What you can do
Where to learn more

About Radioactive Material Used in Research

Radioactive materials are used in many laboratories across a wide range of fields in science and engineering. Here are two of the many examples of how radioactive materials are used to keep us healthy and thriving.

Medical researchers use radioactive materials to develop and test the effectiveness of new medicines and treatments. To do this, some researchers use specialized detectors called “tracers” that track how material travels through a person or animal. Tracers show where medicines or treatments interact with the body, so doctors can diagnose and treat disease. There is a special field in medicine called radiopharmaceuticals that focuses on the use of radioactive materials to help treat or cure diseases. The creation and testing of new radiopharmaceuticals requires the use of radioactive materials. Learn more about Nuclear Medicine.

Agricultural researchers use the same type of tracers used in medical research to see how certain materials move through plants.

To learn more about jobs and careers in radiation-related fields, visit RadTown’s Careers in Radiation Protection webpage.

When using radioactive materials in laboratories, researchers must consider safety and waste disposal. Strict requirements must be met before a research facility can order, store or use radioactive materials. Facilities that use radioactive materials are required to keep detailed records so that in the case of an emergency responders would be well informed. If the research creates radioactive waste, it must be disposed of according to state and federal requirements.

What You Can Do

Follow safety guidelines. It is unlikely that you will come into contact with radioactive materials in a research facility. If you do spend time in an area where radioactive materials are used for research, be sure to follow all safety guidelines.

Where to Learn More

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

The EPA uses four laws to protect human health and the environment from unnecessary radiation exposure that could come from emissions and waste productions from facilities, including research facilities and laboratories.

The Clean Air Act sets National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAPs) which limit how much radioactive material can be released into the environment from facilities that use or produce radionuclides.
The Mixed Waste Rule may apply if the facility is creating waste that contains both radioactive and chemically hazardous materials, but it depend on whether the facility uses certain materials.
When facilities need to dispose of their radioactive waste, there are two laws that may apply. The EPA’s Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) and the Atomic Energy Act could apply, but would depend on different characteristics of the waste. Learn more about Radioactive Waste.

Additionally, the EPA helps other federal and state agencies protect the public from ionizing radiation by making recommendations, providing guidance, and collaborating with other technical experts.

Radiation Regulations and Laws, Air and Drinking Water Standards
This webpage provides information on the EPA’s standards for releasing radioactive material emissions into the air.

The States

Under the Atomic Energy Act, the NRC controls the civilian use of radioactive material in medicine, industry and research through a combination of rules, licenses, inspections and enforcement activities. Many states have signed formal agreements with the NRC giving the states regulatory responsibility over source materials, byproducts material, and small quantities of special nuclear material. These states are known as Agreement States.

Directory of Agreement State and Non-Agreement State Directors and State Liaison Officers
The webpage provides links to state radiation protection offices.

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

OSHA sets standards to protect radiation workers from unnecessary exposure to ionizing radiation.

OSHA Radiation Protection Standards
This webpage provides information on OSHA’s radiation worker safety standards.

Universities and Colleges

Some university labs use radioactive material. These labs have special safety classes for students and researchers to make sure they stay safe.

UCSF Radiation Safety Manual
University of California, San Francisco
This manual provides an example of the kinds of rules that laboratories follow when they use radioactive material.

Penn State University Environmental Health and Safety Department
The Pennsylvania State University
This website has information about how the university keeps students, researchers, and the public safe.

University of Texas at Austin Radiation Safety
The University of Texas at Austin
This webpage includes radiation safety manuals, forms, and other resources provided to students, researchers, and others at the university.