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Health Physics Questions and Answers - Question 39

Question 39: Can biological material be defined better in 20.2003? For example, is all organic material biological material? Can animal fats be released to the sewer?

Answer: Biological material, in its ordinary meaning, is material pertaining to living organisms (plants or animals). The statement of considerations indicates that ground-up animal carcasses are examples of such material. Animal fats are biological material and, if "dispersible," can be released to the sewer.

(Reference: 10 CFR 20.2003 (a) (1))

Page Last Reviewed/Updated Monday, November 27, 2017