Research and analysis

Light bulbs containing radionuclides: transport and disposal

This report (HPA-CRCE-008) describes the radiological consequences of the transport and disposal of lamps containing radioactive material.

• From: Public Health England
• Published: 1 October 2010

Documents

HPA-CRCE-008: assessment of the radiological impact of the transport and disposal of light bulbs containing tritium, krypton-85 and radioisotopes of thorium

Ref: ISBN 978-0-85951-678-5

PDF, 273 KB

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Details

The European Lamp Companies Federation commissioned HPA to carry out a study to assess the radiological consequences arising from the transport and disposal of lamps containing low levels of radioactive material.

This study showed that the radiological consequences from the transport of lamps to the end-user and transport in bulk of disused lamps to landfill are not significant and therefore the exemption limits for consignments recommended by the IAEA in its Regulations for the Safe Transport of Radioactive Material appear to be restrictive when applied to the transport of lamps containing low levels of radioactive material.

Published 1 October 2010