[ RadSafe ] Re: Panel wants tighter radiation security

[Clayton J Bradt]

The concern about Cs-137 irradiators did not originate with the Defense
Science Board, although they are the first that I have heard advocate
removing these units from service.  People from the national labs, DNDO and
DHS have been ringing the alarm for quite some time, with the objective of
improving security over these units.  The analyses leading to the concern
have centered around the amount of uniformly distributed contamination that
would result in an exclusion zone, a la Chernobyl.  Although based upon
worst case assumptions, the physics and health physics of these analyses
are sound enough: its the assumptions about social psychology and economics
that I find unconvincing.  I don't think we can use Prypriat as a model for
dealing with lower Manhattan.

Previous posters on this thread indicated that the proposal to get rid of
Cs-137 self-shielded irradiators was ridiculous.  I wanted to point out
that it wasn't the uninformed, but rather HPs that have focussed attention
on these devices.  If there is blame to distribute, at least some of it
needs to be directed at our own profession.  A little more security for the
units might be appropriate, if it can be done without impinging on the
vital mission that they serve.

In my opinion, the risk of Graft v. Host Disease as a result of transfusing
unirradiated blood products far outweighs the risk of economic collapse
should several blocks of lower Manhattan be contaminated with Cs-137.
Unless an equally effective alternative technology is readily available to
replace these units, to propose their removal from service is reckless.


Clayton J. Bradt
Assistant Bureau Director
BERP
NYS Dept. of Health
518-402-7578


                                                                           
             Cindy Bloom                                                   
             <radbloom at comcast                                             
             .net>                                                      To 
                                       Clayton J Bradt                     
             10/17/2007 01:09          <cjb01 at health.state.ny.us>,         
             PM                        radsafe at radlab.nl                   
                                                                        cc 
                                                                           
                                                                   Subject 
                                       Re: [ RadSafe ] Re: Panel wants     
                                       tighter radiation  security         
                                                                           
                                                                           
                                                                           
                                                                           
                                                                           
                                                                           




Clayton,

I'm confused.  The original post stated:
      "The report comes from the Defense Science Board, a panel of retired
      military and CIA officials and defense industry experts who offer the
      Pentagon possible solutions to actual and potential national security
      problems. It is expected to be released late this year."
The above description doesn't really sound like DOE HPs.  Authors names do
not appear to be available because the report is not yet released, so I
guess time will tell who has written the opinions (if names are included in
the report - names were not readily available on the Board's web site).

Also, it was difficult for me to glean your opinion regarding continued use
of Cs-137 irradiators from your note, which  seems to be dependent on your
(undisclosed) regard for DOE HPs.

Cindy

At 02:03 PM 10/15/2007 -0400, Clayton J Bradt wrote:

      The people leading the charge against Cs-137 self-shielded
      irradiators are
      not ignorant bureaucrats and politicians: they're health physicists
      working
      for DOE.

      Clayton J. Bradt
      Assistant Bureau Director
      BERP
      NYS Dept. of Health
      518-402-7578


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