[ RadSafe ] Low background Shielding Material

[Baratta, Edmond J]

I believe that the Cobalt-60 was used in the Furnace linings to measure the
thickness of them. The iron (steel) making ate away at the walls of the
furnaces.  They kept track of the thickness this way.  Beta emitters had
been (maybe still are) to measure the thickness of products such as paper ,
etc to measure the thickness. Polonium-210 (alpha emitter) is still used to
counteract 'static' electricity.

Edmond J. Baratta
Radiation Safety Officer
Tel. No. 781-729-5700 x 728
Fax:  781-729-3593
edmond.baratta at fda.gov

These are my opinions and not that of my Agency!!

-----Original Message-----
From: radsafe-bounces at radlab.nl [mailto:radsafe-bounces at radlab.nl] On Behalf
Of Vernig, Peter G.
Sent: Thursday, June 08, 2006 11:09 AM
To: radsafe at radlab.nl
Subject: [ RadSafe ] Low background Shielding Material

Group,

I have heard many times that "Pre World War II battleship steel" is used
for extremely low background shielding.  I had always wondered about
that as it seemed that an infinitesimal amount of fallout would find its
way into steel.  But then I heard another explanation that made more
sense something to do with the fabrication process that apparently
changed post WWII and involved a small amount of Co-60 I think.

Does anybody out there know what the explanation is?

Any opinions in this e-mail are solely those of the author, and are not
represented as those of the VA Eastern Colorado HCS, the Dept. of
Veterans Affairs, or the US Government.

Peter G. Vernig, Radiation Safety Officer, MS-115, VA Eastern Colorado
Health Care System, 1055 Clermont St. Denver, CO 80220,
peter.vernig at va.gov, Phone= 303.399.8020 x2447; Fax = 303.393.5026,
alternate fax, 303.393.5248

"...whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is lovely, whatever is
admirable, if anything is found to be excellent or praiseworthy, let
your mind dwell on these things."

Paul of Tarsus

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