[ RadSafe ] School Becquerel kits

Wed Apr 23 06:54:12 CDT 2008

Would anyone kindly explain why these chemicals were widely distributed to
middle schools and high schools: why those schools bought radioactive
chemicals anyhow (assume that's how they got those chemicals): why they
needed them before but don't need them any longer so they need to dispose
them now. Thanks.

Min-Sook Kim, Ph.D.
New York State Department of Health
E-Mail : msk02 at health.state.ny.us
TEL: (518) 402-7650

             grahnk at comcast.ne                                             
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                                                                   Subject 
             04/22/2008 11:26          RE: [ RadSafe ] School Becquerel    
             PM                        kits                                

In Illinois,
http://www.illinois.gov/PressReleases/ShowPressRelease.cfm?SubjectID=9&RecNum=5485
 we are conducting a rad chemical and source roundup for high schools and
middle schools.  We are currently conducting our spring roundup.  Over the
last three weeks, we have picked up several hundred of these kits and are
accumulating them for disposal. I picked up 50 of them from 4 schools
today.  It's our most popular item due to the potential for leaks and the
older plastic containers that are quite brittle with age, and exposure to a
lesser degree.  We are working with CRCPD to find a current
processor/vendor of U and Th salts and hope to recycle these along with
actual U and Th chemicals still in stock bottles.

See if there's a state program to take the materials.  Either as a rad
pickup or as part of a household/community hazardous waste pickup.  If it's
a small total number of kits, they are exempt.

Kelly Grahn
Illinois Emergency Management Agency, Division of Nuclear Safety
630-947-2721
kelly.grahn at illinois.gov

-------------- Original message --------------
From: "Jim Hardeman" <Jim.Hardeman at dnr.state.ga.us>

> Christina et al. --
>
> We had a situation involving a similar (if not identical) source set at a
high
> school here in Georgia not too long ago. Bottom line is that the poly
boxes are
> not air-tight. These nitrates appear to be hydrophilic -- and some of
them
> leaked to the point that there was removable contamination in the areas
where
> the kits were stored. I'll be happy to discuss w/ you in private e-mail
--
> although I'm out of pocket for the next few days and my availability may
be
> limited.
>
>
> Jim Hardeman, Manager
> Environmental Radiation Program
> Environmental Protection Division
> Georgia Department of Natural Resources
> 4220 International Parkway, Suite 100
> Atlanta, GA 30354
> (404) 362-2675
> Fax: (404) 362-2653
> Personal fax: (404) 521-4485
> E-mail: Jim.Hardeman at dnr.state.ga.us
>
>
> >>> "Louie Cueva" 4/22/2008 18:05 >>>
> With regards to waste disposal I have come across these "Becquerel kits"
> from various schools. The last kit I came across contained approximately
2
> grams of each of the following: sulfur, U nitrate, Th nitrate, Na
nitrate,
> Na sulfate, U sulfate.
>
> These kits are usually contain similar contents with the biggest disposal

> concern coming from the uranium and thorium nitrates which are considered

> mixed waste due to the oxidizing and radioactive nature. Typically the
poly
> cubes are numbered or lettered with the corresponding description printed
on
> the box it comes in.
>
>
> Louie Cueva
> Director of Technical Services
>
> Thomas Gray & Associates, Inc.
> 1205 West Barkley Avenue, Orange, CA 92868
> P: 714.997.8090
> F: 714.997.3561
> E: louie at tgainc.com
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: radsafe-bounces at radlab.nl [mailto:radsafe-bounces at radlab.nl] On
Behalf
> Of Christina Dillard
> Sent: Tuesday, April 22, 2008 10:47 AM
> To: radsafe at radlab.nl
> Cc: Labsafe at aol.com; gregk at westgeauga.k12.oh.us
> Subject: [ RadSafe ] School kits
>
>
> Dear Radsafe Listers,
>
> Below is an email from a teacher in Ohio that has come across "6 small
boxes
> of yellow & white powders labeled 'Becquerel Chemicals, Damon Engineering

> Product #99142' by Damon Scientific Company."
>
> I have seen this question posted before and all I have been able to
deduce
> is that this is most likely a radioisotope kit for a cloud chamber.
Kristen
> has been encouraged at this point to at minimum borrow a Geiger counter
to
> check the radioactivity.
>
> If you can help us further identify these samples please contact us
through
> the list or directly at gregk at westgeauga.k12.oh.us (Kristen Gregory)
>
> Thank you,
>
> Christina L. Dillard
> Assistant Director
>
> The Laboratory Safety Institute (LSI)
> A Nonprofit International Organization for Safety in Science and Science
> Education
>
> 192 Worcester Road, Natick, MA 01760-2252
> Phone: 508-647-1900 Fax: 508-647-0062
> Cell: 781-789-1178
> cdillard at labsafety.org
> www.labsafety.org
>
> PS We thank you for printing this e-mail only if it is necessary
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Kristin Gregory [mailto:gregk at westgeauga.k12.oh.us]
> Sent: Monday, April 21, 2008 11:54 AM
> To: cdillard at labsafety.org
> Subject: radioactive chemicals
>
> Hello,
>
> This is a follow up email to corresponce with Jim Kaufman regarding the
> identification of some radioactive chemicals that I have in my
department.
>
> I know it's a long shot, but I was hoping that maybe you have come across

> this question before.
>
> We need to get rid of, or at least identify, all radioactive substances
in
> stock as per Jarod's Law. The troublesome chemicals that I have are in
kits
> of 6 small boxes of yellow & white powders labeled "Becquerel Chemicals,
> Damon Engineering Product #99142" by Damon Scienctific Company.
>
> A web search showed 2 entries by others who have these chemicals in their

> storerooms, but no identification of the compounds.
>
> Do you have any idea what they are or where to search for an answer?
>
> Thank you for your help.
>
>
> Kristin J. Gregory
> Science Department Chair
> 440-729-5922 ext. 4123
> gregk at westgeauga.k12.oh.us
>
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