Re: A question of semantics or not?

["Matthew Rumick" <merumick@HOTMAIL.COM>]

Louis,



I would agree with Mr. Barnes.  The term "radiation" refers to the energy 

emitted from the radioactive material which is being dispersed.  The term 

"radiological" refers to the actual radioactive material that would be 

dispersed by the RDD.



Matthew Rumick

University of Chicago



>From: "James Barnes" <james.g.barnes@WORLDNET.ATT.NET>

>Reply-To: "James Barnes" <james.g.barnes@WORLDNET.ATT.NET>

>To: <LNMolino@AOL.COM>, <radsafe@list.vanderbilt.edu>

>Subject: Re: A question of semantics or not?

>Date: Sun, 15 Jun 2003 22:29:50 -0700

>

>Dear Louis,

>

>The common "proper" terminology I have seen is "Radiological" Dispersion 

>Device.

>

>"Radiation" dispersion device gets the concept across, but you are 

>dispersing radioactive materials which (theoretically) would increase the 

>radiation levels over a wide area.  Thus, "radiation" dispersion device is 

>a bit of a misnomer.  You are dispersing the radioactivity which then 

>increases the radiation.

>

>Splitting hairs?  Yes, probably.  Depending on the audience, I'd use the 

>term that I felt would be most effective at getting the concept across.  To 

>a group of professional HPs I'd use radiological.  To a "hands on" group 

>that aren't radiation specialists, "radiation" would probably do nicely.

>

>Jim Barnes, CHP

>james.g.barnes@att.net

>

>

>

>   ----- Original Message -----

>   From: LNMolino@AOL.COM

>   To: radsafe@list.vanderbilt.edu

>   Sent: Sunday, June 15, 2003 9:18 PM

>   Subject: A question of semantics or not?

>

>

>   hello RADSAFERs,

>

>   I'm a lurker here who has a very limited background in radiation 

>training per say yet a need to have a good working understanding of same 

>but not to the Nth level as some of y'all get to. I have a question of what 

>some in my world (fire, police EMS and emergency management) consider to be 

>an issue of semantics I however a not sure if it is or if it is more 

>important then we think?

>

>   We spend a great deal of time talking about the threat of a terrorist 

>using a radiological material (RAM) as a "filler" for an improvised 

>explosive device (IED) this creating what is commonly called an RDD.

>

>   Note I did not define RDD because this is the crux of my question. Is 

>the R in RDD RADIOLOGICAL or is it RADIATION? Assuming that the RAM is 

>placed in an IED (the common theory for the creation of an RDD) which term 

>would those of you that are "into" the R side of the house prefer to see 

>used and or more appropriately does it matter to you which term is used 

>hence is it just semantics?

>

>   Louis N. Molino, Sr., CET

>   FF/NREMT-B/FSI/EMSI

>   LNMolino@aol.com

>   979-690-3607 (Home Office)

>   979-458-0795 (Fire Field Office)

>

>   "A Texan with a Jersey Attitude"

>

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>

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