[ RadSafe ] Lethal Amount of Po-210 - any gamma?

[Flanigan, Floyd]

Kai,
Did the increase in detected levels, by chance, increase in conjunction with altitude and decrease with the lack there-of? If so, Franz is correct. You were picking up the increase in background radiation levels produced by cosmic rays. 

Floyd W. Flanigan B.S.Nuc.H.P.

-----Original Message-----
From: radsafe-bounces at radlab.nl [mailto:radsafe-bounces at radlab.nl] On Behalf Of Franz Schönhofer
Sent: Tuesday, December 12, 2006 2:17 PM
To: 'Kai Kaletsch'; radsafe at radlab.nl
Subject: AW: [ RadSafe ] Lethal Amount of Po-210 - any gamma?

Ever heard about cosmic rays???????!!!!!!!

Franz Schoenhofer
PhD, MR iR
Habicherg. 31/7
A-1160 Vienna
AUSTRIA
phone -43-0699-1168-1319


> -----Ursprüngliche Nachricht-----
> Von: radsafe-bounces at radlab.nl [mailto:radsafe-bounces at radlab.nl] Im
> Auftrag von Kai Kaletsch
> Gesendet: Montag, 11. Dezember 2006 16:13
> An: radsafe at radlab.nl
> Betreff: [ RadSafe ] Lethal Amount of Po-210 - any gamma?
> 
> Po-210 emits a gamma ray, but at a very low branching ratio. I did a quick
> calculation and concluded that you would not be able to see a gamma field
> above background, even a very small distance away from a lethal dose of
> Po-210, or even a few tens of lethal doses of Po-210 (it doesn't seem like
> those guys were particularly stingy with the stuff).
> 
> I would appreciate it if anyone in radsafe land could tell me if this
> conclusion is correct.
> 
> History:
> 
> I was on a plane yesterday and noticed elevated gamma readings on my
> radiation detecting watch. (5 to 20 times normal BG before take-off and
> after landing and noticeably higher than what I am used to during flight.)
> Was told afterward that there were medical isotopes in cargo. But, you
> have
> a lot of time to consider possible scenarios during a 4 hour flight.
> 
> BTW, it's a pretty strange experience trying to tell an airline that their
> plane is radioactive. You don't know who to talk to and you are not sure
> if
> they are going to stick you in a straight jacket. Especially, at a time
> when
> all you hear on the news is about people getting killed with radiation and
> planes getting contaminated. The first few people you talk to do not know
> that there is radioactive material in cargo.
> 
> Kai
> 
> 
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