No subject

"Whole-body radiation exposure after a typical dose (2 to 4 mCi) is
approximately 0.68 rad, and the kidneys are the organ exposed to the most
radiation. The relatively long half-life (T1/2=73 hours) and low energy of
201Tl are important considerations during imaging. The long T1/2 contributes
to its significant inpatient residence time and requires lower doses to
minimize risk of radiation exposure."

This kind of event happens regularly. Many years ago, a visitor on a tour of
the White House [when the public was taken on tours]  set off rad monitors
there because he had had a nuclear stress test.

The article at the link Joel supplied below also states:

"In the test, a small amount of a radioactive material is injected into the
veins and used to help track blood flow to the heart.
 
Though the amount of radioactive material used in the test is relatively low
-- equal to a few X-rays or a diagnostic CT scan -- it was enough to set off
a radioactivity detector in the state police car. "

As we know a "small amount" of radioactivity or dose is relative. Had a
release [ aka "spewing" as invariably used by the press in writing about any
release] from a nuclear plant like Millstone nuclear station in CT [ which
supplies power to over 1 million people in CT] resulted in a fraction of the
exposure and dose rate cited, even to one person, many professional
anti-nuclear scaremongers would be calling for shutting down every nuclear
plant in the region and be wearing out the word "Fukushima". "Ain't it
awful" :-)

Stewart Farber
farber at farber.info

=======================


-----Original Message-----
From: radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu
[mailto:radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu] On Behalf Of Joel C.
Sent: Friday, May 11, 2012 12:10 PM
To: radsafe at health.phys.iit.edu
Subject: [ RadSafe ] It happened again


 "Mike Apatow, of Milford, poses at Stratford Fire Station, Company 2, in
Stratford, Conn. May 10th, 2012, where he works as firefighter. Apatow, who
had a radioactive stress test Wednesday, was pulled over later in the day,
in Newtown, by a state police trooper after a radioactivity detector in the
trooper's car was set off when Apatow passed. The detectors are used to help
identify potential terror threats. Apatow was not on duty at the time.
Photo: Ned Gerard
/ Connecticut Post

Read more:
http://www.ctpost.com/news/article/Radioactive-man-Milford-resident-pulled-o
ver-by-3549631.php#ixzz1uZtp8W47



 


Joel Cehn

joelc at alum.wpi.edu

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