1. ASSUMPTION: Security personnel are looking only for terrorists. REALITY: In addition to identifying potential terrorists, security personnel would also want to identify victims of an erstwhile unknown radiological incident, or triage potential victims of a known incident. These victims may have the same radiological profile as nuclear medicine patients.
2. ASSUMPTION: The radioactive material of interest would create a high level radiation field. REALITY: Many dangerous radioactive materials would not create a high level radiation field, for example, Pu-239. Thus, even a low level radiation field could indicate a problem.
The opinions expressed are strictly mine.
It's not about dose, it's about trust.
Curies forever.
Bill Lipton
liptonw@dteenergy.com
mark.hogue@SRS.GOV wrote:
This is in regards to the subject of people emitting radiation and the efforts of security forces to determine if they represent a threat.... I suggested: If the radiation can be shown to be coming from the thyroid or distributed through the body, wouldn't that be enough to show that this is not a case of a terrorist intending to scatter a radiation source? ... Okay, let's add a dose rate limit to the screening. ...
...
Mark G. Hogue, CHP
mark.hogue@srs.gov
"But we surely overrate the usefulness of what we like to call "stimulation" and underrate the need for time, peace of mind, mature reflection." - Susan Haack"DISCLAIMER: The opinions expressed are mine and do not necessarily represent Westinghouse Savannah River Co. or the United States Department of Energy."