[ RadSafe ] definition of Rad (UNCLASSIFIED)

[Earley, Jack N]

I was surprised about the number of responses regarding this definition
until I looked it up in Borders' Dictionary of HP & Nuclear Sciences
Terms and saw that he lists 20 definitions from various sources.


-----Original Message-----
From: radsafe-bounces at radlab.nl [mailto:radsafe-bounces at radlab.nl] On
Behalf Of Falo, Gerald A Dr KADIX
Sent: Wednesday, October 03, 2007 11:46 AM
To: Kai Kaletsch; radsafe at radlab.nl
Subject: RE: [ RadSafe ] definition of Rad (UNCLASSIFIED)

Classification:  UNCLASSIFIED
Caveats: NONE

Kai,

I've not seen of the Wikipedia definition regarding the rad.  Most
everything I've seen implies that because 1 roentgen (for "conventional
x-rays") is equal to about 97.7 ergs per gram (or some other value close
to 100 ergs per gram), that the definition of the rad was chosen to be
100 ergs per gram.  See, for example, Herb Parker's article in the
Indian Journal of Radiology in 1956, reprinted in "Herbert M. Parker,
Publications and Other Contributions to Radiological and Health
Physics," edited by Kathren, Baalman, and Bair, 1986.

The origin of the name "rad" can be found at
http://www.orau.org/ptp/articlesstories/names.htm#rad. 

Jerry
________________________________

The statements and opinions expressed herein are my responsibility; no
one else (certainly not my employer) is responsible, but I still reserve
the right to make mistakes.
 
Don't panic! - Douglas Adams in "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy"
 
Gerald A. Falo, Ph.D., CHP
Kadix Systems
U.S. Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine - Health
Physics Program jerry.falo at us.army.mil
410-436-4852
DSN: 584-4852
 


-----Original Message-----
From: radsafe-bounces at radlab.nl [mailto:radsafe-bounces at radlab.nl] On
Behalf Of Kai Kaletsch
Sent: Tuesday, October 02, 2007 12:11 PM
To: radsafe at radlab.nl
Subject: [ RadSafe ] definition of Rad

Friends,

According to the Wikipedia entry for 'Rad', it was defined from 1918 to
1953 as the unit of X-ray dose required to kill a mouse. 1) I never
heard this definition before and 2) This seems like a very low dose for
killing anything.

This is somewhat before my time and I normally use SI units. Is the
Wikipedia statement correct?

Kai

_______________________________________________
You are currently subscribed to the RadSafe mailing list

Before posting a message to RadSafe be sure to have read and understood
the RadSafe rules. These can be found at:
http://radlab.nl/radsafe/radsaferules.html

For information on how to subscribe or unsubscribe and other settings
visit: http://radlab.nl/radsafe/
Classification:  UNCLASSIFIED 
Caveats: NONE

_______________________________________________
You are currently subscribed to the RadSafe mailing list

Before posting a message to RadSafe be sure to have read and understood
the RadSafe rules. These can be found at:
http://radlab.nl/radsafe/radsaferules.html

For information on how to subscribe or unsubscribe and other settings
visit: http://radlab.nl/radsafe/