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

[Steven Dapra]

Jan. 20

         Again, why?

Steven Dapra


At 11:58 AM 1/20/2012, you wrote:
>I strongly recommend that the State Radiation Control Board be informed
>of this incident.
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu
>[mailto:radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu] On Behalf Of Jake Hecla
>Sent: Thursday, January 19, 2012 7:25 PM
>To: The International Radiation Protection (Health Physics) Mailing List
>Subject: Re: [ RadSafe ] Co-60 tissue box holders: applicable
>regulationsfor disposal
>
>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