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Cs137/Ba137m generators
Date: Wed, 14 Nov 2001 10:35:06 -0600
From: "Walt Lilly" <wlilly@biology.semo.edu>
Subject: Cs137/Ba137m generators
Hi,
I have a couple of questions regarding the use of Cs137/Ba137m
isogenerators. It is my reading of the NRC regs that possession of more
than one of these as exempt quantity units requires licensing. Do you all
agree? Second, while it seems that these are marketed and used as "safe",
besides, the typical "wear gloves and lab coat" admonishments there is
little discussion of safety issues in the protocols that faculty use. In
fact, in one protocol I found on the web, they use M&M's to model
radioactive decay in the same lab they do the Ba137m halflife
measurements! I realize that the short half life of the Ba137m is short
enough to make potential exposures low, but has anyone done any
"worst-case" modelling on these? I'd appreciate your thoughts on the
general use of these isogenerators in undergraduate labs, and especially
any thoughts on potential regulatory issues such as safety training and
licensing.
Thanks
walt
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Walt W. Lilly
Professor of Biology
Radiation Safety Officer
Southeast Missouri State University
Cape Girardeau, MO 63701
(573) 651-2359
wlilly@biology.semo.edu
http://biology.semo.edu/wlilly/lab/
Cape Central Marching Band -- http://biology.semo.edu/chsband/
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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