title: Survey on lost and poorly controlled radioactive sources in non-medical applications in Iran.
abstract: Despite well-developed Regulatory Authority systems for radiation protection, there are some concerns about lost-controlled and poorly controlled radioactive sources owing to abundance and dispersion of the users. This survey covers the current situation of the categories 3 through 5 of radioactive sources (based on the categorisation of the IAEA) in non-medical applications in Iran. The investigation performed on a selected group of non-medical users of radioactive sources in different provinces of Iran. Findings show that unauthorised supply and legacy sources in addition to abandonment of sources under regulatory control are the main reasons for lost-controlled sources. Considering the possibility of increasing poorly controlled sources which can lead to increase in the number of lost-controlled sources, further developments are needed in national regulatory control as well as international cooperation and discipline in this regard.
authors.affiliation: National Radiation Protection Department, Iranian Nuclear Regulatory Authority, Tehran, Iran. fmianji@hotmail.com
authors.forename: F A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Mianji
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Kardan
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rastkhah
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007390:International Agencies; D007492:Iran; D011835:Radiation Protection; D018788:Radioactive Hazard Release / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011848:Radioactive Pollutants; D011850:Radioactive Waste; D018570:Risk Assessment; D017751:Safety Management
chemical_list: D011848:Radioactive Pollutants; D011850:Radioactive Waste