SAFETY ANALYSIS REPORT- BIOLOGY LABORATORIES PLUTONIUM - 238 EXPERIMENTS

Fifty-watt, triply encapsulated radiation sources, supplied by the Division of Isotopes Development, AEC, and consisting of about 125 g of {sup 238}PuO{sub 2}{sup 16} (87.8 g of {sup 238}Pu in 110.2 g of Pu mixture, total activity 1500 Ci), are to be used in studies of the biologic effects of heat and radiation in support of the artificial heart program, under sponsorship of the Division of Biology and Medicine, AEC. A review of the circumstances which could lead to a loss of control of this moterial while in the Biology Laboratories (331 Building, 300 Area) has been made and steps taken to minimize the likelihood of such an occurrence. Significant external dose and criticality accidents are not judged to be credible. Credibility of an internal exposure accident is marginal to insignificant. An internal exposure accident is postulated; however, it is concluded that loss of control is unlikely and the studies would not result in significant risk to the public