[SPAM][ RadSafe ] RE: What Are Radionuclear Materials?

Mon Sep 21 10:22:19 CDT 2009

I can understand the position. However, is not all material (unstable -
radioactive - or not,  in reality "nuclear" (as in contains a nucleus...).
It only becomes radioactive if the nucleus is unstable... 

So I think this position is a bit "we know best" rather than "let's try and
be as clear as possible".
Just because "nuclear" as an adjective (nuclear energy, etc) is clear, it
does not preclude (in my simple, non-professional mind) make it the only
correct usage. 

And as for the statements " Radionuclear has also been used as a journalese
shorthand form for 'nuclear and/or radiological' - what is wrong with that
(other than the use of the semi-arrogant "journalese" - as in you dummies
have no right to mess with our lexicon...). And do they precisely define the
distinction between "nuclear" and radiological (or radioactive - as they use
the two terms in the same sentence...... )

Oh, well. I guess I am just having a bit of fun. We must remember that the
English language is a living thing and "usage" changes almost daily. If the
entire US establishment embraces the term "nucular", I don't feel too bad
about the use of radionuclear..
;~)
Doug

___________________________________
Doug Aitken
QHSE Advisor
D&M Operations Support
jdaitken at sugar-land.oilfield.slb.com
Mail: c/o Therese Wigzell,
Schlumberger,
Drilling & Measurements HQ,
300 Schlumberger Drive, MD15,
Sugar Land, Texas 77478

-----Original Message-----
From: radsafe-bounces at radlab.nl [mailto:radsafe-bounces at radlab.nl] On Behalf
Of Strickert, Rick
Sent: Monday, September 21, 2009 9:21 AM
To: Scott, Bobby; radsafe at radlab.nl
Subject: [SPAM][ RadSafe ] RE: What Are Radionuclear Materials?

Regarding the term, "radionuclear", the _IAEA Safety Glossary: Terminology
Used in Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection_, 2007 Edition, Vienna,
June, 2007. STI/PUB/1290
(http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/publications/PDF/Pub1290_web.pdf) stated:

"radionuclear:  'Radionuclear' is not a legitimate word. See nuclear
material and radioactive material. 

"Radionuclear has been used in nuclear medicine to mean 'involving the use
of radionuclides'; thus 'radionuclear tests' in nuclear medicine has been
used to mean tests in which radiopharmaceuticals are administered. This
usage should be avoided.

"Radionuclear has also been used as a journalese shorthand form for 'nuclear
and/or radiological', as in the terms 'radionuclear weapon' and
'radionuclear emergency', or for 'nuclear and/or radioactive', as in the
term 'radionuclear material'. These and other such usages should be
avoided."

The use of "radionuclear" by Mohtadi and Murshid occurs in the first
sentence of their article in the journal, _Risk Analysis_ (29:9, Sept. 2009,
1317): "If the food sector is attacked, the likely agents will be chemical,
biological, or radionuclear (CBRN)."

However, the acronym, CBRN, stands for "chemical, biological, radiological,
and nuclear" and is commonly used in association with terrorist threats or
WMD.  The CBRN term is used in English-speaking countries such as Canada,
the United Kingdom, and the United States, and has replaced the old term,
NBC (nuclear, biological, chemical).   (Sometimes an "E" is added, referring
to "explosive.")

Rick Strickert
Austin, TX

-----Original Message-----
From: radsafe-bounces at radlab.nl [mailto:radsafe-bounces at radlab.nl] On Behalf
Of Scott, Bobby
Sent: Friday, September 18, 2009 6:39 PM
To: radsafe at radlab.nl
Subject: [ RadSafe ] What Are Radionuclear Materials? 

Colleagues:

The terminology "radionuclear material" appears in some recent
publications that relate to possible future food supply contamination
carried out by terrorist (e.g., WHO 2002; Mohtadi and Murshid 2009).
Can someone define or explain what is meant by radionuclear material?
Isn't this improper terminology?

Bobby R. Scott

Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute

2425 Ridgecrest Drive SE

Albuquerque, NM 87108 USA

References

Mohtadi H, Murshid AP. 2009. Risk analysis of chemical, biological, or
radionuclear threats: Implications for food security. Risk Analysis Vol.
29(9):1317-1335.

http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/bpl/risk/2009/00000029/00000009/ar
t00013

WHO. 2002. Food Safety Issues: Terrorist Threats to Food. Guidance for
Establishing and Strengthening Prevention and Response Systems. World
Health Organization. Available at:

http://www.vet.utk.edu/cafsp/resources/pdf/WHO%20Food%20Safety%20Issues%
20-%20Terrorist%20Threats%20to%20Food.pdf 

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