A source in which the radioactive material is sealed inside a strong capsule, usually welded stainless steel, designed to prevent leakage. Sealed sources power industrial radiography (iridium-192, cobalt-60), density and level gauges (caesium-137), well logging and medical teletherapy. They are leak-tested by wiping at set intervals, inventoried, and must be returned or disposed of properly at end of life, since a lost one becomes an orphan source.
Leak test on the level gauge sealed source is due this month, smear the shutter and send it in.
Also heard as
- sealed radioactive source
Related terms
Orphan source
A radioactive source that has escaped regulatory control because it was lost, stolen, abandoned or never licensed.
Shot
A single industrial radiography exposure, used to x-ray a weld with a gamma source or X-ray tube.
Curie
The non-SI unit of radioactivity, equal to 37 billion decays per second.
Pig
A heavy lead or tungsten container used to store or carry a radioactive source or sample.