[ RadSafe ] Co-60 tissue box holders: applicable regulations for disposal

[Steven Dapra]

Jan. 19

         Sounds like a case of extreme paranoia by the corporate 
power brokers at Bed, Bath, and Beyond.

Steven Dapra



At 05:25 PM 1/19/2012, you wrote:
>There must have been an internal memo sent out about keeping anyone and
>everyone away from them. They told me I would be forcibly removed from
>their store if I showed up with my GM counter to check the stock on the
>shelf for radioactivity.
>
>2012/1/19 Carl Willis <carl.willis at gmail.com>
>
> > Dear Radsafers,
> >
> > As many of us are aware, Bed Bath and Beyond recently stocked some
> > India-made tissue box holders that were contaminated with Co-60.  These
> > were delivered to a minority of the chain's stores, including the Ventura
> > Center store in Albuquerque where I live.  The manager told me last Friday
> > there was not a snowball's chance in hell that they would even let me see
> > one, let alone purchase one; they had just been boxed up for good.  I then
> > had to leave on an out-of-town trip, but on Saturday, my friend Gary
> > Bodman, who teaches middle-school physical science here, rolled over to BBB
> > with a scintillation detector.  It swung up to ~3x local background near
> > the employees' annex in the back of the store.  Again, though, his advances
> > to merely observe, let alone procure, one of these coveted articles were
> > rebuffed with extreme prejudice.  We know the items are there!  We know
> > they're hot!  My question to anyone knowledgeable is this: is BBB legally
> > prohibited from selling these cobalt boxes now, or is it just corporate
> > management or local management that's enforcing this policy of uptightness
> > that we observe?  Also, how would the store "properly" get rid of their
> > inventory?  My guess is the NM Radiation Control Bureau will have that
> > task.  Bottom line is I'd love to see one of these things before they're
> > gone and all forgotten.  Any recommendations are welcome...
> >
> > -Carl
> > 505-412-3277