[ RadSafe ] Infestation of structural timbers in ancient buildings

[Wade Allison]

Radsafers,
Restoration and conservation architects for ancient buildings say that infestation of large structural timbers by deathwatch beetle, in particular, cannot be eradicated, although the deterioration can be slowed by controlling the humidity. Chemical treatment has a superficial effect. I have found some old references to treatment by a gamma source (which would seem to be an effective approach). Does anyone know of recent work on this? Or has everyone run away from such an idea on safety grounds? The building is a 13th century English country church.
Wade Allison, Keble College, Oxford