[ RadSafe ] Radiation Doses to Luggage

[Elsa Nimmo]

Sandy, Floyd, Bob, Rob, Lawrence,

Thanks for your responses.  The Alaska pipeline worker story got my
attention -- bored people & radiation sources might not be the best
combination.  

A couple more questions:

Aren't some airports doing a series of screens that involve exposing checked
luggage to radiation, including CT & activation analysis?

Per pass through airport security (where ever in the world), would you
assume something like 500 mrem as the maximum possible dose to luggage?
 
Elsa


-----Original Message-----
From: Sandy Perle [mailto:sandyfl at earthlink.net] 
Sent: Wednesday, March 09, 2005 5:55 AM
To: Floyd.Flanigan at nmcco.com; elsa.nimmo at varian.com; radsafe at radlab.nl
Subject: RE: [ RadSafe ] Radiation Doses to Luggage

Floyd,

Very much so. The units in foreign airports have even higher outputs in some
cases. My data is based on actual dosimeters, film and TLD, that were placed
in checked bags.

I am about to board another flight, 1st of 2 today, for my hormetic dose :)


-- 
Sent from my PalmOne Treo

-----Original Message-----
From:  Flanigan, Floyd
Date:  3/9/05 8:43 am
To:  Sandy Perle, elsa.nimmo at varian.com, radsafe at radlab.nl
Subj:  RE: [ RadSafe ] Radiation Doses to Luggage

Sounds like their x-ray equipment is very different from ours. Ours takes a
'snap-shot' of the contents as they pass through the array and is only in
the 'on' position for a split second. The picture it puts out is very
detailed, in color and shows stratification of object throughout it's
layers. I guess the dose is varried depending on the equipment/model etc.

Floyd W.Flanigan B.S.Nuc.H.P.

-----Original Message-----
From: radsafe-bounces at radlab.nl [mailto:radsafe-bounces at radlab.nl]On
Behalf Of Sandy Perle
Sent: Tuesday, March 08, 2005 7:20 PM
To: elsa.nimmo at varian.com; radsafe at radlab.nl
Subject: Re: [ RadSafe ] Radiation Doses to Luggage


On 8 Mar 2005 at 9:23, Elsa Nimmo wrote:

> Does anyone know of recent studies reporting the range of radiation
> doses that a piece of checked luggage might receive per one pass
> through security screening at an airport?  It would be great to find a
> study that included info worldwide, but leads on more limited studies
> are welcome too.

Checked bags X-ray units for the most part put out high dose. 
Dosimeters irradiated in these units approaches between 150 and 300 
mrem in many instances. Kodak has an alert about outting your film in 
checked bags.

These units are not typical check units and these are different than 
he units used to check carry-on bags, which have a lower output.

-------------------------------------
Sandy Perle
Senior Vice President, Technical Operations
Global Dosimetry Solutions, Inc.
2652 McGaw Avenue
Irvine, CA 92614 

Tel: (949) 296-2306 / (888) 437-1714  Extension 2306
Fax:(949) 296-1902 

E-Mail: sperle at dosimetry.com
E-Mail: sandyfl at earthlink.net 

Global Dosimetry Website: http://www.dosimetry.com/ 
Personal Website: http://sandy-travels.com/ 

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