Bill -
As to (1), that's a very good question, but I've seen people try to make those sorts of measurements more times than I care to remember. Personally, I'd like to see the mR/hr scale (or mSv/hr, etc.) scales removed from ALL GM meters ... even those used exclusively with energy-compensated side-window probes ... so that you couldn't try to obtain a "dose rate measurement" with a GM instrument (I prefer the term "dose rate estimate")
As to (2), even if there is no beta present, the "gamma-only" responses from a side-window and pancake GM probes will more than likely be different. Besides, I wouldn't be looking for fixed beta on a package anyway ... so why would I (or anybody else) be waving a pancake probe directly at a package? (Unless they don't really know much about radiation instruments and their use ... maybe that's the point). I can see looking for removeable contamination with a pancake GM and a smear, but ...
Jim Hardeman
Jim_Hardeman@mail.dnr.state.ga.us
>>> William V Lipton <liptonw@dteenergy.com> 5/17/2000 13:04:01 >>>
Let's try to keep within shouting distance of reality, here:
(1) How do you obtain a dose rate from a pancake GM?
(2) Unless the package is grossly contaminated, you should not see any beta.
The opinions expressed are strictly mine.
It's not about dose, it's about trust.
Bill Lipton
liptonw@dteenergy.com
William Lorenzen wrote:
> What if the shipper surveyed the box with an ion chamber
> calibrated to Co-60 and the receiver measured the box with an open
> window pancake GM? You will never get the same response from both
> meters in this scenario... So I say it may NOT be reportable.
>
> What is the "true" dose rate?
>
> William Lorenzen
> Children's Hospital
> Boston, MA 02115
>
> lorenzen_w@a1.tch.harvard.edu
>
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