Re: Rad Sources for Workshops Don't Open Smoke Dets.

["Michael Kay" <makay43@attbi.com>]

Don't open smoke detectors to get the Am-241 sources out. These are

impossible to get rid of. Primus still uses thorium oxide in their mantles

(as of a couple of years ago).

Once a smoke detector is opened, it cannot be returned to the manufacturer

for disposal. The cost difference is very large; shipping for one box

(quantity doesn't matter) or disposal of transuranics.



You might try salt shaker sized containers of Lite Salt (KCl--experiment to

see if you can detect the K-40 above background).



Try Texas A&M; They may have several small sources from sets dating back in

time that are still active, but long out of use for calibration purposes. I

am still using some sources from the 1950 - 1975 period. The sets are not

complete, but the Cs-137, Sr-90, and some others are still active. There may

also be some old Ra sources around, and maybe from geology (even at your

local colleges) uranium ore, yellowcake, or pitchblende.













----- Original Message -----

From: "maury" <maury@WEBTEXAS.COM>

To: "Wade Miller Jr." <WMiller@PANTEX.COM>;

<radsafe-digest@list.vanderbilt.edu>

Sent: Wednesday, June 19, 2002 11:01 AM

Subject: Re: Rad Sources for Workshops





> Hi Wade, I wish you well on the workshop -- I wish more of this could

happen around the State. Is there any reasonable way you might obtain and

use of smoke detector elements as sources?

> Maury Siskel         maury@webtexas.com

> ===========================

> "Wade Miller Jr." wrote:

>

> > Hi folks,

> >

> > The Texas Panhandle Chapter of the HPS is preparing a teacher workshop

we'll be giving to local high school teachers this coming August and

November.  We'll be providing the teachers with survey meters (typically

GM - similar to old Civil Defense meters).  What we also need to provide

these teachers are "radioactive sources".  Commercially available sources

are not an option since the schools have blown their budgets for this year -

it may be an option in coming years.  Fiestaware is rare and expensive.  I'm

thinking old radium dials might be an option but we will have lots of

teachers and will need a good number of them.  Old military dials might be

available at surplus stores but our chapter budget is limited.

> >

> > Do any of you have any ideas on sources we could use or that you have

used for your demos or presentations?

> >

> > Thank-you for your time and your help.

> >

> > Wade

> >

> > Wade Miller

> > Health Physicist

> > Pantex Radiation Safety Dept.

> > P.O. Box 30020

> > Amarillo, TX  79120

> >

> > wmiller@pantex.com

> > (work)  806-477-5943

> > (fax)     806-477-4198





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