re: Cs137/Ba137m generators

["Michael Stabin" <michael.g.stabin@vanderbilt.edu>]

Date: Wed, 14 Nov 2001 14:24:35 -0600

From: "Walt Lilly" <wlilly@biology.semo.edu>

Subject: re: Cs137/Ba137m generators



Thanks,



That's the way I interpreted it also.  Just wanted to make sure.



Walt







At 01:05 PM 11/14/01 -0500, Harry Newman wrote:

>Walt,

>I always have interpreted and exempt quantity as appling to a

>device.  Remember, the MANUFACTURER of the device is licensed to

>distribute the device as exempt.  Therefore, the device itself has been

>through the regulatory grist mill and has been deemed acceptable for

>manufacture and for general distribution.

>

>I don't have experience with these units and withold comment on the safety

>issues.  However, I would advise a good written training program for

>users, with signed acknowledgement of receipt of training.

>

>Harry J. Newman, CHP

>NEXTEP Environmental, Inc.

>Louisville, KY

>hnewman@nextep.cc

>

>   >>  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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>   >>  0478A6F

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