[ RadSafe ] Gamma measurements in planes

[Aad van der Kooij]

OK, it might explain why Swedish aircraft are not widely used, since the
rest of the world has really gone for the concept of building planes as
light as humanly possible, even Boeing - originally a boat building company
- decided very early on, that you need to find stability in the air by other
means than a low point of gravity -)
Joking apart... The use of DU in aircraft has been more or less been
abandoned in favour of W, at least in civil aircraft. The switch has more to
do with less hassle (handling problems - workers health regulations,
dispersion risks in crashes - see the Amsterdam crash of an Israeli cargo
747, licensing requirements in large parts of the world) than economics. The
material is used as static balance weight for control surfaces. And although
you are talking about many kilograms of the stuff, you are also looking at
(very) low energy gamma emissions and the are all emitted several meters
away from the cabin.
The processes involved in radiation exposure of aircrew are on an a much
higher energy and intensity level. A very good publication (amongst others)
to brush up on the topic is the NTP publication: Radiation Exposure of Civil
Aircrew (ISBN 1 870965, EUR 14964 EN) the procedings of a workshop held in
Luxembourgh in 1991. In about 150 pages you get insight in the processes
involved, measuring methods and results.
Another resource for information (also hidden there are links to online dose
calculation for flights to and from all IATA airports via CARI, Sievert and
so on):
http://aircrewhealth.com/Topics/hazards/radiation.htm

Regards, 
Aad van der Kooij
Ass. RPO TU Delft
(and CPL/IF)


-----Original Message-----
From: radsafe-bounces at radlab.nl [mailto:radsafe-bounces at radlab.nl] On Behalf
Of Olsson Mattias :MSO
Sent: Saturday, 16 December 2006 19:14
To: radsafe at radlab.nl
Subject: [ RadSafe ] Gamma measurements in planes


There has been some writing about dose rate measurements in planes. I seem
to recall that DU can be used as ballast in planes. Even though not
exceptionally active, I suppose that could affect measurements somewhat
inside a plane!

Mattias Olsson
PhD, Nuclear chemistry _______________________________________________
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