Re: News on BNL Deer

["Phil Hypes" <laradcon@HOTMAIL.COM>]

You are absolutely correct that a data point 12 times the average level and 

twice the previous maximum is worth looking into.  This could be the case 

that illustrates a previously unknown release pathway.  Or, it could be a 

completely scientifically inconsequential measurement that gets blown way 

out of proportion and used by the anti-BNL crowd to inflict further damage 

on a valuable national resource.  Handling the situation in light of the 

former possibility may help prevent the latter possibility.



Phil





>From: William V Lipton <liptonw@dteenergy.com>

>To: Phil Hypes <laradcon@HOTMAIL.COM>

>CC: Cehn@AOL.COM, radsafe@list.vanderbilt.edu

>Subject: Re: News on BNL Deer

>Date: Tue, 19 Feb 2002 12:44:32 -0500

>

>I would guess that the correct units are pCi/g.  In addition, gross results 

>are not meaningful for dosimetry.

>

>To put this in perspective, the "reporting levels" for a nuclear power 

>plant for environmental sampling of "food products" are 0.1 pCi/g - I-131, 

>1

>pCi/g - Cs-134, and 2 pCi/g - Cs-137.  These are the thresholds for a 

>special report to the NRC.

>

>The key index, regardless of any unit errors, is that this level is more 

>than 12 times the average level, and twice the highest level previously

>seen.  It's an indication of a serious programmatic failure, and another 

>black eye for the industry.

>

>The opinions expressed are strictly mine.

>It's not about dose, it's about trust.

>Let's look at the real problem, for a change.

>

>Bill Lipton

>liptonw@dteenergy.com

>

>Phil Hypes wrote:

>

> > 21 *PICO* curies.  Wow.  My RHH tells that I should divide by 27.02 to 

>get

> > the number of Bq, so that deer had 21/27.02=0.78Bq.  So, this animal had

> > enough radioactive material in its body that less than one atom decays 

>every

> > second.  I'd be seriously interested to know what analytical techniques 

>were

> > used.  Someone please tell me this reporter got the units wrong.

> >

> > Phil Hypes

> > Los Alamos Radiation Consultants

> > laradcon@hotmail.com

> > 505.920.9712

> >

> > >From: Cehn@AOL.COM

> > >Reply-To: Cehn@AOL.COM

> > >To: <radsafe@list.vanderbilt.edu>

> > >Subject: News on BNL Deer

> > >Date: Tue, 19 Feb 2002 11:38:50 EST

> > >

> > >Tues. Feb 19, 2002

> > >Radiation Is High in Dead Deer

> > >By TAMER EL-GHOBASHY

> > >

> > >After several radiation tests on the deer, lab scientists found it

> > >contained 21 picocuries of radioactive material. A picocurie is a unit 

>used

> > >to measure radioactivity.

> > >

> > >Green said there is no need for alarm, but the lab is taking the matter

> > >seriously.

> > >

> >

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