[ RadSafe ] cesium 137 check source rate

Wed Aug 18 19:36:24 CDT 2010

Franz,
A "Geiger counter" could mean a number of things. First of all, the nomenclature describes the operational voltage range, i. e. Geiger-Muller - ~typically 900 volts DC, although there are detectors like this which operate at 550 volts DC. If that is the case, then there are several detectors out there which measure dose rate and are GM tubes. Secondly, a count rate meter such as a Geiger Counter CAN measure a dose rate if there is an applicable correction/calibration factor associated with it - i.e. XXX counts per minute per mr/hr for an applicable isotope- something like that. 

Again, if it was shipped within the USA, then it is probably an exempt source. By the description, the source is probably a sealed source, which is even safer.

Please refrain from referring to anyone as a troll (you must read allot of Tolken...).

Regards,
John Dixon

________________________________

From: radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu on behalf of Franz Schönhofer
Sent: Wed 8/18/2010 3:24 PM
To: 'The International Radiation Protection (Health Physics) MailingList'; 'Geo>K0FF'
Subject: Re: [ RadSafe ] cesium 137 check source rate

Dear Barbara,

Thank you very much for your comment - it save me some work. You write
almost exactly what are my thoughts about this issue. I think, that what has
been written on this topic by some "experts" until now is annoying. Some
people never have heard of "safety culture" and the same are not aware, that
sending radioactive material is regulated - not only in the USA but all over
the world even in those "underdeveloped countries" (!!!) like for instance
European or Asian ones.

I have a few additional comments:

First of all: Who sent the source, how was it sent? What do you do with this
source and why did you need it? Is it exempt? Do you need a licence to
posess it? (Sorry, I have never really understood the complicated US
regulations.) Why was the content of the item not declared, including its
activity and the surface dose rate of the package - which is compulsory when
sending radioactive material according to international rules. Those rules
can be found on the internet - please look them up yourself. Packages have
to clearly show a standardised declaration on the outside unless they are
exempt.

If it was exempt, then what do you worry about?

For handling of radioactive material the doserate is of importance and not
the number of beeps of some counter. Could anybody enlighten me, how to
measure a dose-rate with a Geiger-Counter? A Geiger-Counter is a
Geiger-Counter because of the characteristics of its counting tube. If one
attaches some other tube onto a counting system - then it is not a Geiger
counter any more.

Does that not mean that the alleged "recipient" of this package has no idea
about radioactivity? I thought RADSAFE was a forum for radiation
professionals. What are the profession and the affiliation of Harley Vance?
(As usual no affiliation given!!!) Is it another hoax or another troll?

George Dowell will now be very surprised - but I appreciate that he was the
very first to put some sound science into the thread.

Best regards,

Franz

Franz Schoenhofer, PhD

MinRat i.R.

Habicherg. 31/7

A-1160 Wien/Vienna

AUSTRIA

-----Ursprüngliche Nachricht-----
Von: radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu
[mailto:radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu] Im Auftrag von blreider at aol.com
Gesendet: Mittwoch, 18. August 2010 19:55
An: radsafe at health.phys.iit.edu
Betreff: Re: [ RadSafe ] cesium 137 check source rate

I see all sorts of little strings of thoughts here and perhaps they should
be tied together.  People have commented on compliance, technical basis and
procedural issues.  Curiosity has initated thoughts of why a source was
mailed to you, what are you doing with the source?  Why do you need conact
dose rates?

Anyway here goes my unrequested advice.  Perhaps you have done all of this,
in which case please forgive my butting in!

For any program involving radioactive substances or radiation generating
devices the following are necessary:

1.  Knowledge of all governing regulations and requirements for the
materials and tasks.

2.  Technical basis defining type and form of hazards, use of materials,
measurement methods and sensitivities of measurement methods.

3.  Procedure for implementing the above.

Of course these do not need to be extensive for low hazad items and there
are lots of documents online regarding point sources of Cs137, so no need to
reinvent the wheel. 

Barbara Reider, CHP

-----Original Message-----

From: Dixon, John E. (CDC/ONDIEH/NCEH) (CDC/ONDIEH/NCEH) <gyf7 at cdc.gov>

To: The International Radiation Protection (Health Physics) Mailing List
<radsafe at health.phys.iit.edu>

Sent: Wed, Aug 18, 2010 1:16 pm

Subject: Re: [ RadSafe ] cesium 137 check source rate

Hopefully, whomever shipped it did so with appropriate controls and

onitoring. Was this a US shipped source within the USA? I 'd like to

now what was done upon its receipt.

Regards,

ohn Dixon

-----Original Message-----

rom: radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu

mailto:radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu] On Behalf Of William Lipton

ent: Wednesday, August 18, 2010 12:36 PM

o: The International Radiation Protection (Health Physics) Mailing List

ubject: Re: [ RadSafe ] cesium 137 check source rate

I question the wisdom of handling a source without proper survey

nstruments.  The source could be mislabeled.  Even worse, it could be

eaking, in which case you've contaminated yourself and your facility by

ow.

Bill Lipton

t's not about dose, it's about trust.

On Wed, Aug 18, 2010 at 4:21 AM, Harley Vance <harleyvance at ymail.com>

rote:

> I just got a cesium 10 microcurie test source in the mail, and I

aven't

 gotten my geiger counter yet.

 My question is, what is the approximate rate of radiation at the

urface of

 the disc?

 It is blue and I believe it is encased in some kind of epoxy.

 Thanks!

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