[ RadSafe ] Law and Order: Radioactive Intent

[Stabin, Michael]

I basically enjoyed the Law and Order episode last night about polonium
poisoning. It was an OK story, with not TOO many errors of fact
regarding radiation. Certainly none worth writing letters over, and
there did not seem to be any radiation hysteria bias. Errors I noted:

1) That a family member, incidentally contaminated by the really
contaminated person, would be likely to show symptoms of radiation
sickness. Nahhh.
2) Survey meters giving off the sound of metal detectors. Well, OK,
usual Hollywood prop effect. Like every damn tape recorder in the
universe having to make chipmunk noises so that we stupid viewers can
tell it's rewinding.
3) Meters, which looked like GMs to me, they sure weren't ZnS, letting
surveyors know that there were "intense alpha rays". 
4) Massive skin lesions on people internally contaminated as they died
of organ failure. Good X-files effect, not much to do with reality,
again.

I remember well the older L&O about the professor who worked at an
accelerator whose wife was killed by a mail bomb, they really did their
homework about radiation on that show. I'm giving an exam in my
radiation detector class today, wonder if my students studied for the
exam or watched Law and Order...well, I'll find out here shortly!


Mike

 

Michael G. Stabin, PhD, CHP
Assistant Professor of Radiology and Radiological Sciences
Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences
Vanderbilt University
1161 21st Avenue South
Nashville, TN 37232-2675
Phone (615) 343-0068
Fax   (615) 322-3764
e-mail     michael.g.stabin at vanderbilt.edu
internet   www.doseinfo-radar.com

 

"I am realistic -- I expect miracles." - Wayne Dyer