Physical Characteristics

• Half-life: 25.3 days
• Emissions: Beta particles with a maximum energy of 249 keV and an average energy of 76 keV.
• Maximum Range: 45 cm in air; 0.06 cm in tissue
• Fraction transmitted through the dead layer of the skin: 0.35

Dose Rate and Shielding

• Dose rate to the skin at 10 cm: 2000 mrad/hour/mCi (for an unshielded point source)
• Dose rate to epidermal basal cells from skin contamination of 1 mCi/cm²: 4500 mrad/hour
• Shielding: None needed, when used in millicurie quantities or less, under normal laboratory conditions
• Annual Limit on Intake (ALI): 6 millicuries via ingestion. The intake of one ALI will produce a dose of 5 rem.

Detection

Wipe surveys using liquid scintillation counting is the preferred method for detecting P-33. Most G-M detectors are not likely to detect the presence of P-33 in amounts less than about 100,000 dpm (0.05 µCi).

Precautions

Low-level P-33 contamination cannot be easily detected with a G-M meter, and special precautions are needed to keep the work environment clean. The regular use of wipe testing, using a liquid scintillation counter, is the only way to insure that the work space does not contain low-level removable contamination.

Waste Disposal

• Solid Wastes: through the Onsite Decay-in-Storage Program
• Liquid Scintillation Wastes:  through the Off-Site Radioactive Waste Disposal Program
• Liquid Wastes: through the Sewer Disposal Program. The laboratory disposal limit for P-33 is 3 mCi per month.