AW: Follow up question

["Franz Schoenhofer" <franz.schoenhofer@CHELLO.AT>]

    -----Ursprüngliche Nachricht-----

    Von: owner-radsafe@list.vanderbilt.edu

[mailto:owner-radsafe@list.vanderbilt.edu]Im Auftrag von Ned Naylor

    Gesendet: Dienstag, 10. Februar 2004 17:16

    An: radsafe@list.vanderbilt.edu

    Betreff: Follow up question





    Hi all,



    The responses I received from my last question were extremely useful and

have led me to ask even more.  I was enlightened that blood irradiators,

depending on the specific kind, usually run out of juice for blood

irradiation in about ten to 15 years.  Specifically, though, what are the

lifespans of 1-source, 2-source, and 3-source blood irradiators,

respectively.



    Also, of the three major companies that specialize in selling

irradiators, which ones offer disposal services?  And of these companies

that do dispose, do any discriminate against a particular radioactive

substance?  I've read that, unlike Co-60, Cs-137 is difficult to dispose of

because it is not a Target Source, which precludes it from further use.



    ------------------------------------------------------------------------

-----------------



    I would believe that the best answer to your question would be given by

the companies themselves - the answers would be authentic and not based on

"I think..", "I believe to remember.." and hearsay.



    Having not the slightest idea about this specific "blood irradiator" I

though want to mention, that usually, when a source becomes to weak, it is

replaced by a new one and not the whole system has to be discarded. (This

applies to density gauges, nickel sources for gas-chromatography detectors,

food irradiators etc.) In the European Union the manufacturer of such an

instrument is obliged to take back any decayed sources or the source if the

instrument is not any more in use. If this is not legally the case in the

USA I would recommend that you make this a condition for a purchase.



    Best regards,



    Franz