Testing a Hazmatpac Can with Locking Ring as a Secondary Shipping Container for Radium-224/Lead-212 Generators

A Hazmatpac can, paint can style shipping container with locking ring, was tested for use as an alternative shipping configuration for shipment of radium-²²⁴/lead-²¹² generators. ²²⁴Ra (t_1/2 = 3.63 d) decays by alpha emission to radon-220 (t_1/2 = 55.6 s). The potential for the radioactive radon gas to escape the generator column and the shipping container is of particular concern for the safe delivery of ²²⁴Ra/²¹²Pb generators to customers. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether the Hazmatpac can is a suitable shipping configuration, capable of containing the radon gas that may escape the generator column during transit. A 17.3 mCi ²²⁴Ra/²¹²Pb generator was built and packaged into a Hazmatpac can. The can was smeared by a Radiological Control Technician (RCT) every day for seven days to analyze for radioactive contamination on the outside of the can. Over the course of the study, no radioactive contamination was found on the outside of the can. Therefore, the Hazmatpac can was approved as an alternative shipping configuration for shipment of ²²⁴Ra/²¹²Pb generators.