Re: AW: irradiated mail

["Zack Clayton" <zack.clayton@EPA.STATE.OH.US>]

Franz,



The difference is that irradiation of food, spices, and med devices are targeting active organisms.  The mail is being irradiated to eliminate spores - inactive but still viable survival capsules for anthrax.  The rate of metabolism and water content seems to be the determining factor.  The spores require a much higher dose to destroy them than the active organisms.   



I have seen the dose comparisons listed (I think on radsafe, someone interested in the exact numbers could check the archives) but I do not recall the exact numbers.  I think it is the difference between 10's of KiloRads for food to MegaRads for spores.







Zack Clayton

Ohio EPA - DERR

email:  zack.clayton@epa.state.oh.us

voice:  614-644-3066

fax:       614-460-8249





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