[ RadSafe ] RadSafe Digest, Vol 239, Issue 1

[Brennan, Mike (DOH)]

Hi, Franz.

If I were traveling with any source that might set off a detector, even if the source was exempt, I would have all the documentation I could lay hands on that would help me convince security personnel that I was allowed to do what I was doing.  I have been asked for advice by people who were going to be traveling internationally shortly after receiving I-131 treatment, and I advised them to have letters from their doctor in the languages of all the airports they would pass through, and to send letters ahead to the security directors of those airports.  Anything that makes it easier for them to agree with you than not.

"Don't get in a pissing contest with someone carrying a leaf-blower." - Mike Brennan


-----Original Message-----
From: Franz Schönhofer [mailto:franz.schoenhofer at chello.at] 
Sent: Wednesday, March 10, 2010 1:20 PM
To: 'Dan W McCarn'; Brennan, Mike (DOH); radsafe at health.phys.iit.edu
Cc: Ken.Peterson at us.fincantieri.com
Subject: AW: [ RadSafe ] RadSafe Digest, Vol 239, Issue 1

Dan, 

Sorry that we never met in Vienna. I am more than sure that we would have
had a lot of fruitful discusssions for hours and hours to go on! I actually
wonder why you never have contacted me though my telephone number was always
given in my messsges to RADSAFE. 

Though I agree with most of your contributions I cannot agree with your
latest one. What are your exempt check sources, why should they be treated
in any way separately?? They are exempt - ok, no need to  control them or
restrict them. Mineral waters with extremely high Radium content - should
they be controlled at the border? This is close to be ridiculous.

Best regards and wishes,

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 Dan W McCarn
Gesendet: Mittwoch, 10. März 2010 20:13
An: 'Brennan, Mike (DOH)'; radsafe at health.phys.iit.edu
Cc: Ken.Peterson at us.fincantieri.com
Betreff: Re: [ RadSafe ] RadSafe Digest, Vol 239, Issue 1

Dear Ken:

I agree with Mike on this one.  Also remember that the shoe bomber came from
overseas... Since we are so interconnected, it is the obligation of all
governments to help assure flight safety at all levels, and many regulations
are international e.g. IATA transport regs.  This means that a bag checked
at some obscure airport should have the same scrutiny as a bag checked (or
brought onboard) at a major airport.  This provides consistency
internationally.  

http://www.iata.org/index.htm 

I offer as an example my exempt check sources that I occasionally travel
with: I provide this following statement along with a calculation to
demonstrate compliance and a few telephone numbers to NRC and the
manufacturer of the sealed sources.

"The enclosed check / calibration sources are not considered radioactive
material for transport because they do not meet the test for DOT
"Radioactive Material" as defined in 49 CFR 173.403 as well as IATA
10.4.2.1"

Otherwise I would have to ship them under UN2910 regulations including
labeling.  If anyone would like a copy of the statement that I enclose in my
baggage, I'd be delighted to provide it!

Air travel is a privilege, not a right.  The same is true for a drivers
license.

Personally, I don't mind being selected-out for close inspection; I always
tell the folks conducting the inspection with a smile that "You mean I'm
special!?" and almost always get a smile back.  A couple of times it was to
clarify objects in my baggage, almost always my Ludlum Model 19, and once, a
saddle for my horse!  The smell of the horse on the saddle may have caused a
false positive from the sniffing dogs and it had an unusual shape.

Where have I been selected for close inspection? The USA, Germany, Belarus,
Kazakhstan and China so far.  That seems pretty international to me!  And,
as often as I have flown into and out of Schwechat in Vienna (30-40 times),
I've never been searched. It must be my Austrian accent!

Dan ii