Re: leaded "plastic"

[ehsnet!hps (HPS)]

Reply-to: Wes.Dunn@p2.f13.n233.z1.fidonet.org (Wes Dunn)
Fido-To: romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu!ccmail.orst.ed

In a message of <27 Apr 94  23:35:05>, Gene Forrer writes:

 >          I have yet to see any significant amount of
 >          scatter radiation from most research x-ray units.  

Most research x-ray units use a copper window, which creates low-energy
x-rays.  However, a Moly (Mo), Tungsten (W), or (*shudder*) open window creates higher energy x-rays that will have significant scatter radiation.

 >          Also most state and many federal agencies frown upon  >         "homemade" x-ray devices.

Regulators have a history of frowning on things they don't understand.  However, there is no reason a well-prepared homemade x-ray unit can't be safe.  The problem is the "hey, what can we do with this?" attitude that many grad students can't resist.

(one day, a physics grad student walked into the office saying he wanted his x-ray unit checked out.  Not having authorized any unit in that lab, we were interested to find a 400KW power supply hooked up to a bare tube in a box with this lead shielding on 5 sides and a lead brick right in front of the window.  They (claimed they) hadn't turned it on yet.)  Scatter was about 1R/hr at 1 meter.)



--- msged 1.99S ZTC
--- eecp 1.45 LM2 

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