WASTE MINIMIZATION IN THE LOS-ALAMOS-MEDICAL-RADIOISOTOPE-PROGRAM

Since the mid-1970s the Los Alamos Medical Radioisotope Program has be en irradiating target materials to produce and recover radioisotopes f or applications in medicine, environmental science, biology, physics, materials research, and other disciplines where radiotracers find util ity. By necessity, the chemical processing of targets and the isolatio n of radioisotopes generates radioactive waste materials. In recent ye ars (here have been federal mandates requiring us to discontinue the u se of hazardous materials and to minimize radioactive waste volumes. A s a result, substantial waste reduction measures have been introduced at the irradiation facility, in processing approaches, and even in the ways the product isotopes are supplied to users.