Chemical Hygiene Plan - Queensborough Community College ...

the same regulations and laws; and leading educational efforts CUNY-wide regarding human
subjects protections.
The ultimate responsibility for treatment of human research subjects rests with the P.I.. The
P.I.’s informed participation in this process helps to ensure that a positive, ethical, and
responsible climate for scholarly research at CUNY.
All CUNY investigators, as well as research staff, undergraduate, and graduate students who will
be working with human subjects or the data collected on human subjects must complete training
in the use of human subjects before applications are submitted for review to the College IRB.
On July 1, 2005, CUNY implemented a new required computer-based training program.
CITI is now the required program to be taken by all CUNY researchers and key personnel
involved in human subjects research, regardless of whether the research is funded or nonfunded.
XVIII.
RADIATION HAZARDS
Ionizing radiation is a form of energy. Unlike some other types of energy, such as heat (infrared
radiation) or visible light, the human body cannot sense exposure to ionizing radiation.
Nonetheless, absorption of ionizing radiation energy by body tissues causes changes to the
chemical makeup of living cells.
The type and thickness of material needed to make an effective barrier or shield around a source
of ionizing radiation varies a great deal depending on the type of ionizing radiation. Beta
radiation is a stream of tiny charged particles that can be stopped by a thin layer of plastic, glass,
wood, metal and most other common materials. X-rays and Gamma rays are very similar to
sunlight in that they are not particles, just electromagnetic waves. While sunlight will pass
through only a few materials, such as window glass, X-rays and Gamma rays penetrate easily
through most materials. However, even they can be blocked by a sufficient thickness of lead.
Ionizing radiation is also similar to other forms of radiation in that the intensity of the radiation
exposure decreases very quickly as you move away from the radiation source. Just as moving a
short distance closer to or farther from a fireplace causes a large change in how warm you feel,
keeping just a few feet away from where someone is handling radioactive material will almost
eliminate your exposure.
18.1 Where Ionizing Radiation is Used
Small amounts of radioactive material may be used and stored in hundreds of laboratories Some
of the material is contained in small sealed capsules. Examples of these “sealed sources” include
test sources for radiation detectors and ionization detectors in gas chromatographs. Most often
radioactive material is found in small vials of radioactively labeled chemicals in solution. These
labeled chemicals are widely used in research and in veterinary medicine. With very few
exceptions, only very small amounts of radioactive material are used and levels of radiation
exposure are quite low.
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