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Abstract
When X-ray energy above 8 MV is used, photoneutrons are generated by the photonuclear reaction, which activates the components of linear accelerator (linac). Safely managing the radioactive material, when disposing linac or replacing components, is difficult, as the standards for the radioactive material management are not clear in Korea. We surveyed the management status of radioactive components occurred from medical linacs in Korea. And we also measured the activation of each part of the discarded Elekta linac using a survey meter and portable High Purity Germanium (HPGe) detector. We found that most medical institutions did not perform radiation measurements when disposing of radioactive components. The radioactive material was either stored within the institution or collected by the manufacturer. The surface dose rate measurements showed that the parts with high surface dose rates were target, primary collimator, and multileaf collimator (MLC). 60Co nuclide was detected in most parts, whereas for the target, 60Co and 184Re nuclides were detected. Results suggest that most institutions in Korea did not have the regulations for disposing radioactive waste from linac or the management procedures and standards were unclear. Further studies are underway to evaluate short-lived radionuclides and to lay the foundation for radioactive waste management from medical linacs.

Na Hye Kwon a, Dong Oh Shin a, Jinsung Kim a, Jaeryong Yoo b, Min Seok Park b, Kum Bae Kim c, Dong Wook Kim a, Sang Hyoun Choi c

a
Department of Radiation Oncology, Yonsei Cancer Center, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
b
National Radiation Emergency Center, Korea Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences, Seoul, South Korea
c
Research Team of Radiological Physics and Engineering, Korea Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences, Seoul, South Korea