Regulatory authority over the use of ionizing radiation for medical purposes is shared among several federal, state, and local government agencies. NRC (or the responsible Agreement State) has regulatory authority over the possession and use of byproduct, source, or special nuclear material in medicine. NRC's primary regulations for medical use are 10 CFR Part 35 Medical Use of Byproduct Material and 10 CFR Part 20 Standards for Protection Against Radiation.
NRC and the Agreement States regulate many activities associated with medical, industrial, and academic uses of nuclear materials, including the following. The Agreement States administer about 75 percent of licensees while NRC administers the remainder of the licensees.
Medical Uses - nuclear materials used to monitor, image, or treat metabolic processes or tissues in humans. Byproduct material used in some calibration sources, radioactive drugs, bone mineral analyzers, portable fluoroscopic imaging devices, brachytherapy sources and devices, gamma stereotactical surgery devices, and teletherapy units used in medicine. Source material used for radiation shielding and counterweights in medical devices. A few operating cardiac pacemakers are still powered by special nuclear material batteries.
Academic/ Research Uses - nuclear materials used in universities, colleges, and other academic institutions for course work, laboratory demonstrations, and research.
General License Uses - commercial use of nuclear materials for activities such as measuring, gauging, or controlling devices, etc.