Abstract
This study was carried out to survey and measure radioactivity concentration and estimate radiation dose level at the surface of spent technetium generator columns for the safe final disposal of radioactive waste. High resolution gamma-spectrometry with the aid of handheld radiation survey meters has been used. The radioactivity measurements has shown that U-238, K-40 and Cs-137 were only measurable in one sample whereas Sb-125 was found in 14 samples out of total of 20 samples with an activity concentration which ranged from 21 to 7404 with an average value of 1095 Bq/kg. The activity concentration of Sb-125 is highly variable indicating that the spent Tc-99m generator columns are of different origin. This investigation highlighted the importance of radiation monitoring of spent technetium generators in the country in order to protect workers, and the public from the dangers posed by radioactive waste. (c) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.