Re: AW: Article: Radiation in Water Stumps Experts

["Bernard L. Cohen" <blc+@PITT.EDU>]

Franz Schoenhofer wrote:



>

>     Barry,

>

>     The only method I know about the determination of "gross alpha"

>     and "gross beta" is the evaporation of a water sample and

>     measuring it with some gas-flow low-level proportional counter,

>     assigning the counts per minute to some more or less (rather more)

>     undefined "activities", which are derived from "standards" of some

>     more or less (rather more) arbitrary selected radionuclides

>     (Sr-90+Y-90, K-40 or similar for betas and "natural uranium" or

>     similar for alphas). These undefined values are corrected for the

>     source thickness, adding the final uncertainty.

>

       At least for radon, lliquid scintillation is an excellent way. 

Add scintillant such as toluene or xylene and shake well, which 

transfers the radon from the water into the scintillant. Put scintillant 

into a liquid scintillation counter. .





>     One thing is for sure in this procedure: The radon (and tritium as

>     well as any other volatile compound) will be removed. So changes

>     in "gross whatsoever" cannot be attributed to radon and your

>     explanation cannot be accepted.

>

>     As long as it is not known, what radionuclide causes enhanced

>     radioactivity, I would never release any information and

>     especially not to the press.

>

>     The failures of these "gross" measurements have been discussed

>     extensively among scientists and I myself have banned any such

>     measurements from my laboratory 15 years ago, when I took over.

>

>     Best regards,

>

>     Franz

>