CERN Accelerating science

Radioactive material shall mean any material containing radionucleides where both the activity concentration and the total activity in the consignment exceed the values specified in paras 402-407 (Regulations for the Safe Transport of Radioactive Material, No. SSR-6 2012 Edition).

The radioactive waste minimization and elimination is a legal requirement stated in the radiation protection regulation of the two CERN’s host-states, France and Switzerland. CERN considers the regulatory compliance with the highest priority.

A correct elimination process for radioactive waste also contributes to the implementation of a safe working environment, that respects the safety and security of personnel and environment (reduction of the exposure of personnel to ionizing radiation, reduction of the dissemination hazard).

In addition to the regulatory compliance challenge, treatment and disposal of radioactive waste is very expensive, therefore minimization of the production is of utmost importance to reduce the expenses for the Organisation.

Any hazardous waste that is also radioactive is a “mixed waste”.  This includes items that would normally be recycled if they were not radioactive: lead, beryllium, batteries, mercury, fluorescent lamps, asbestos (floor/ceiling tiles, gaskets, insulation) and lead-soldered items (e.g. circuit boards, copper piping, etc.).

The materials and components that present residual activity after their operational lifetime in CERN’s accelerators or experiments become radioactive waste if their reuse is no longer possible or envisaged. By the appropriate choice of the material used in the construction of accelerators and neighbouring infrastructures, as well as by the optimisation of the beam parameters in the accelerators, CERN strives to minimize the activation in materials and the consequent production of radioactive waste.

Radioactive waste produced at CERN is disposed of towards the elimination pathways existing in the host States, France and Switzerland, according to the established procedures and the regulations. Before being disposed of the radioactive waste can be temporarily stored and treated on CERN site, under the strict control of the HSE unit.

The characteristics of the radioactive waste of CERN is very different from those produced at nuclear power plants: the specific activity is considerably lower, the half-lives of the radionuclides are shorter and, apart some specific cases, the radioactive waste does not present contamination risks (the radioactivity is “fixed” in the mass of the material).

The loan of a CERN radioactive source is free of charge.

3 days are necessary if the source is present and available at CERN. If the source needs to be bought, it can take from 2 to 4 months (for the most specific sources) to obtain it.

Why isn’t it possible to get it in less than 3 days?

The source is checked to make sure it does respect the use criteria (physical integrity, non-contamination check) for 3 days.

The budget code is only used if a source is damaged.