It was formerly hypothesized that placing a radioactive source near the end of a lightning conductor would improve the likelihood that lightning would strike the conductor. It is estimated that hundreds of thousands of these radioactive lightning conductors (RLCs) were installed worldwide. However, no convincing scientific evidence has been produced to demonstrate increased efficacy and the use of RLCs does not comply with the justification principle established in the International Basic Safety Standards. Therefore, most countries have recognized the need to stop installing RLCs and to remove existing devices from the public domain. This publication summarizes all technical and organizational aspects related to the recovery and dismantling of RLCs as well as the safe management of the associated disused radioactive sources. The report describes the general arrangement, highlights the quality management components, identifies the staffing requirements and covers certain areas vital for the preparation for dismantling and source conditioning operations. Relevant information is provided on the various models of radioactive lightning conductors and how their design features influence the dismantling and source recovery operations. The publication also incorporates the most recent experience on various concluded projects in several Member States and captures the lessons learned.

• 1. INTRODUCTION
  • 1.1. Background
  • 1.2. Objectives
  • 1.3. Scope
  • 1.4. Structure
• 2. TYPES AND CHARACTERISTICS OF radioactive lightning conductors
  • 2.1. Historical background
  • 2.2. Overview of radioactive lightning conductors
    • 2.2.1. Device category
    • 2.2.2. Typical range of dimensions and mass
    • 2.2.3. Device application
    • 2.2.4. Functional description
    • 2.2.5. Typical environment of use
    • 2.2.6. Common sources used in radioactive lightning conductors
  • 2.3. Characteristics of radionuclides commonly found in radioactive lightning conductors
    • 2.3.1. Radium
    • 2.3.2. Cobalt
    • 2.3.3. Americium
    • 2.3.4. Europium
• 3. RADIOACTIVE LIGHTNING CONDUCTORS IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN: PROBLEMS AND ACTIONS TAKEN
  • 3.1. Problems
    • 3.1.1. Contamination
    • 3.1.2. Loss of control
    • 3.1.3. Improper management
  • 3.2. Examples of actions taken by some Member States
    • 3.2.1. Belgium
    • 3.2.2. Brazil
    • 3.2.3. Cyprus
    • 3.2.4. France
    • 3.2.5. Luxembourg
    • 3.2.6. Malaysia
    • 3.2.7. Montenegro
    • 3.2.8. Spain
    • 3.2.9. Türkiye
    • 3.2.10. Greece
  • 3.3. Pathway to effective radioactive lightning conductor management
• 4. NATIONAL PROGRAMME FOR RADIOACTIVE LIGHTNING CONDUCTOR MANAGEMENT
  • 4.1. National policy and strategy
  • 4.2. Programme implementation
  • 4.3. Responsibilities of each party involved
  • 4.4. Training of personnel
    • 4.4.1. Radiation protection training
    • 4.4.2. Occupational health and safety training
  • 4.5. Financing
  • 4.6. Management system
• 5. PREPARATORY WORK (BEFORE RADIOACTIVE LIGHTNING CONDUCTOR REMOVAL)
  • 5.1. Locating radioactive lightning conductor
    • 5.1.1. Administrative searches
    • 5.1.2. Physical searches
  • 5.2. Initial inventory verification
  • 5.3. Preparation of site work plan(s)
  • 5.4. Record keeping
• 6. SITE WORK: RADIOACTIVE LIGHTNING CONDUCTOR REMOVAL, HEAD REMOVAL, PACKAGING AND TRANSPORT
  • 6.1. Removal of radioactive lightning conductor
    • 6.1.1. Preparing for removal arrangements
    • 6.1.2. Head removal
  • 6.2. Packaging and transport of radioactive lightning conductor heads
  • 6.3. Record keeping
    • 6.3.1. Packages with heads and sources
    • 6.3.2. Packages with secondary waste
• 7. Management of the radioactive lightning conductor heads at conditioning and/or storage sites
  • 7.1. Administrative issues
    • 7.1.1. Regulatory issues
    • 7.1.2. Personnel requirements
    • 7.1.3. information about the sources in radioactive lightning conductor heads
    • 7.1.4. Conditioning and inventory per package
  • 7.2. Initial actions when radioactive lightning conductor heads are received
  • 7.3. Treatment/conditioning of sources removed from heads
    • 7.3.1. Alpha emitting sources
    • 7.3.2. Beta/gamma emitting sources
  • 7.4. Record keeping
    • 7.4.1. Packages with heads and sources or just sources (treated or untreated)
    • 7.4.2. Packages with secondary waste (treated or untreated)
• 8. Conditioning of the sources and secondary Waste
  • 8.1. Selection and qualification of the conditioning method
  • 8.2. Equipment and material required
  • 8.3. Conditioning of alpha sources
  • 8.4. Conditioning of beta/gamma sources
  • 8.5. Marking and labelling of packages
  • 8.6. Safety and security considerations
  • 8.7. Management of secondary waste
  • 8.8. Record keeping
    • 8.8.1. Packages with heads and sources or just sources
    • 8.8.2. Packages with secondary waste
• 9. Storage and disposal of conditioned sources and Waste
  • 9.1. Storage
  • 9.2. Storage facility
  • 9.3. Disposal
  • 9.4. Record keeping
    • 9.4.1. Packages with heads and sources or just sources
    • 9.4.2. Packages with secondary waste
• 10. Conclusions
• Appendix I EXAMPLES OF RADIOACTIVE LIGHTNING CONDUCTORS
• Appendix II EXAMPLE OF A PUBLIC AWARENESS PROGRAMME
• REFERENCES
• Annex I EXAMPLE OF THE FULL LIFE CYCLE MANAGEMENT OF RLCs REMOVED FROM THE PUBLIC DOMAIN: SPAIN
• Annex II EXAMPLE OF THE MANAGEMENT OF RLCs REMOVED FROM THE PUBLIC DOMAIN: SINGAPORE
• Annex III EXAMPLE OF THE MANAGEMENT OF RLCs REMOVED FROM THE PUBLIC DOMAIN: CUBA
• Annex IV EXAMPLE OF THE MANAGEMENT OF RLCs REMOVED FROM THE PUBLIC DOMAIN: PARAGUAY
• Annex V EXAMPLE OF THE MANAGEMENT OF RLCs REMOVED FROM THE PUBLIC DOMAIN: FRANCE
• Annex VI EXAMPLE OF THE MANAGEMENT OF RLCs REMOVED FROM THE PUBLIC DOMAIN: MALAYSIA
• Annex VII EXAMPLE OF THE MANAGEMENT OF RLCs REMOVED FROM THE PUBLIC DOMAIN: MALTA
• ABBREVIATIONS
• CONTRIBUTORS TO DRAFTING AND REVIEW
• STRUCTURE OF THE IAEA NUCLEAR ENERGY SERIES