RE: Experts trying to identify radioactive substance from Manila

["Mark Settles" <msettles@cswnet.com>]

Please accept my apologie up front, because I do understand this is not a
forum for advertisement!  However,  If there is an emergent need for
equipment in the field of Radiation Protection, this is a quick avenue to
inform those in need.  If there is a need or the GammaCam to identify source
material, please contact me, not on the list, but privately!

Mark A. Settles
AIL Systems, Inc.
GammaCam
(501) 967-7204

> -----Original Message-----
> From: radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu
> [mailto:radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu]On Behalf Of Pollan, Paul B.
> Sent: Monday, May 01, 2000 9:39 AM
> To: Multiple recipients of list
> Subject: RE: Experts trying to identify radioactive substance from
> Manila
>
>
> Perhaps the people trying to identify the constituent isotopes in the
> container should consider a "gamma cam" which is a pretty
> good "field GELI"
> for just such an occasion.  We have used such a device here
> at my plant to
> characterize the type and quantity of radionuclides adhering
> to the inside
> of the reactor coolant piping without breaching the system.
> The radiation
> levels being emitted from the container are lower than those
> of the main
> coolant piping here.  I would believe an accurate study could be
> accomplished.
>
> Note that the opinions expressed are my own and do not
> necessarily reflect
> those of my employer.
>
> Paul B. Pollan, RRPT
> Southern Nuclear Operating Co.
> Farley Nuclear Plant
> pbpollan@southernco.com
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From:	Sandy Perle [SMTP:sandyfl@earthlink.net]
> > Sent:	Monday, May 01, 2000 9:22 AM
> > To:	Multiple recipients of list
> > Subject:	Experts trying to identify radioactive
> substance from Manila
> >
> > Experts trying to identify radioactive substance from Manila
> >
> > WAKAYAMA, Japan, May 1 (Kyodo) - Nuclear experts were trying to
> > identify the radioactive substance inside a sealed
> container imported
> > from the Philippines, without opening it, Science and Technology
> > Agency officials said Monday.
> >
> > The agency dispatched four experts from the Japan Atomic Energy
> > Research Institute in Tokyo to check the container at a Sumitomo
> > Metal Industries Ltd. steelworks in Wakayama, Wakayama Prefecture.
> >
> > Sumitomo Metal and the central, prefectural and municipal
> governments
> > have been at odds over what to do with the 6-meter-long, 2.6-meter-
> > high container, with the steelmaker and the local
> governments wanted
> > the agency to cart it away before it is opened.
> >
> > The agency officials said the four experts carefully examined the
> > radiation levels of the container Monday morning from a
> scaffold set
> > up surrounding it, and were discussing the results.
> >
> > The container, carrying 19 tons of stainless steel waste
> from cutlery
> > factories in the Philippines, was unloaded at Osaka South Port on
> > Thursday and transported to Wakayama.
> >
> > The waste was to be melted and processed at the Wakayama plant,
> > Sumitomo Metal officials said.
> >
> > When the container was trucked Friday to the steelworks in
> Wakayama,
> > south of Osaka, a radiation detector at the gate alerted workers to
> > the presence of radioactive material inside, the officials said.
> >
> > When inspectors from the Science and Technology Agency measured the
> > radiation Friday night, they detected gamma rays of up to 75
> > microsieverts per hour as well as neutron rays of up to 6
> > microsieverts per hour emanating from the container's surface, the
> > agency said. One microsievert is one-millionth of a sievert.
> >
> > The detected levels of radiation are deemed very low and
> are unlikely
> > to cause health damage, according to the agency.
> >
> > Officials at Mitsui Bussan Raw Materials Development Corp., which
> > imported the container, said the company had recently imported two
> > separate containers of steel waste from Manila to the
> Wakayama plant,
> > but no radiation was detected from those containers.
> >
> > The company, which sells scrap metal, is a wholly owned
> subsidiary of
> > Mitsui & Co.
> >
> > Representatives from Sumitomo Metal, Mitsui Bussan Raw
> Materials, the
> > prefecture, the city and the agency will discuss how to dispose of
> > the container as soon as the experts reach a conclusion on exactly
> > what is inside it, the agency officials said.
> >
> > Sumitomo Metal, and the Wakayama prefectural and city governments
> > demanded that the agency remove the container from the company's
> > premises and from Wakayama as quickly as possible.
> >
> > Sumitomo Metal asked the agency to obtain the consent of the
> > prefectural and city governments before opening the container.
> >
> > But the local governments are demanding that the agency take
> > responsibility for any consequences arising from opening the
> > container, local government officials said.
> >
> >
> --------------------------------------------------------------
> ----------
> > Sandy Perle					Tel:(714)
> 545-0100 / (800)
> > 548-5100
> > Director, Technical				Extension 2306
> >
> > ICN Worldwide Dosimetry Division		Fax:(714) 668-3149
> >
> > ICN Biomedicals, Inc.				E-Mail:
> > sandyfl@earthlink.net
> >
> > ICN Plaza, 3300 Hyland Avenue  		E-Mail:
> sperle@icnpharm.com
> >
> > Costa Mesa, CA 92626
> >
> > Personal Website:  http://www.geocities.com/capecanaveral/1205
> > ICN Worldwide Dosimetry Website: http://www.dosimetry.com
> >
> >
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