HEALTH PHYSICS DIVISION

Pakistan Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology (PINSTECH) is a multidisciplinary Institute having two research reactors of 9 Mega Watts and 30 Kilo Watts and other radioactive/radiochemical research laboratories. To achieve the objectives of the health physics, a small group of health physicists was established at the Institute in 1965 to determine pre-operational environmental radioactivity background level at the proposed PINSTECH site. This group of health physicists was raised to the level of Division in 1966 and named as Health Physics Division (HPD).

The Division consists of five well-established technical groups which conduct the following programs :-

• Applied health physics services to achieve standards of radiation protection through implementing PNSRP Regulations-1990 at institute level

The importance of health physics has been increasing day by day with the increased use of ionizing radiation worldwide as a tool in many fields, e.g. medicine, agriculture, industry, power production and research and development in nuclear science and technology. The main objective of health physics program is to minimize and keep the radiation exposure to the workers, public and the environment As Low As reasonable (ALARA) without limiting the beneficial practices. Constant surveillance of the personnel and environment is carried out to ascertain that radiation doses received by personnel remains within prescribed limits recommended by the Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Board (PNRB), a national regulatory authority. It also ensures the accuracy and reliability in the radiation protection and radiotherapy dosimetry and provides personnel monitoring. The importance of safely managing radioactive waste generated at nuclear facilities/industry can hardly be over emphasized.

• Personal radiation dosimetry services to assess radiation doses received by PAEC and non-PAEC radiation workers on country level

The health Physics Division at PINSTECH has been playing a very important role in strengthening the radiation protection infrastructure at institute and in the country by assisting various organizations on the radiological safety aspects of the workers and radiation sources/facilities. Personnel radiation monitoring for all radiation workers in the country is provided through film badges & TLDs on monthly basis to assess their radiation doses. The institute has excellent facilities regarding film badges and Thermoluminescence (TL) dosimetry. The film badge system consists of densitometer and a PC, while for TL dosimetry, a fully automatic system is available. Bioassay services for the detection of internal contamination due to iodine, tritium and uranium are provided.

Automatized TLD workstation model 8800   Automatized film badge system

• Radiological environmental monitoring to measure radioactivity levels in air, precipitation’s water, vegetation and food materials

Radiological environmental monitoring services are provided around nuclear establishments. Radiochemical procedures for the analysis of strontium 89, strontium 90, cesium 137 and iodine-131 in air, water, milk and vegetables have been well established. Gamma spectroscopy, gross gamma, beta counting. Liquid scintillation, and alpha spectroscopy techniques are used for the determination of radio-nuclides of interest present in the environment and food items. A mobile version of this laboratory is available for on-site radiation and contamination survey and radiation emergencies. Food items can also be examined for contamination.

Gamma-spectrometric analysis using software programmes   Alpha Spectrometry system

• Secondary standard dosimetry calibration services to radiotherapy centers and other radiation users in the country

Secondary Standard dosimetry Laboratory, a unique facility in Pakistan, is well equipped to provide radiation dosimetry/survey instruments calibration and radiation beam output measurement services to all radiotherapy institutes and radiation users in the country. The laboratory is a member of IAEA/WHO network of Secondary Standards Dosimetry Laboratories. SSDL is well equipped and the accuracy in measurements is ensured by following dose quality audit programs of IAEA, etc.

Set-up for the standardization of radiation protection dosimetry

• Radioactive waste management services to finally disposal off the radioactive waste safely

Public and private industrial sector using radioactive materials/radiation sources produces unique type of waste, requiring special management. Facilities for the handling, transportation, storage, treatment and final safe disposal for such radioactive waste are available.     Compactor of 30 Ton.

Liquid radioactive waste final storage tanks and disposal open seepage pit area   Solid radioactive waste disposal area