Radium Beryllium Neutron Source

["George Anastas" <ANASTASG@facmgmtserver.fm.csus.edu>]

Dear Radsafers:

I am assiting a collegue who has been assigned the RSO 
responsibilities at a small univeristy.  One of the items he has 
"inheritied" is a 3 mCi RaBe neutron source.  The source is in a 
~18 inch diameter ~24 inch long cylinder filled with a wax.  
There are 7 (seven)  ports (cylindrical holes) in 
the wax from the top of the cylinder to about 3/4 the length of the 
cylinder.  The inner (source) cylinder is contained in a larger 
cylinder about 3 feet in diameter and perhaps 4 feet long, with  4 
wheels.

The manufacturer is (was) Leybold (German Company) and numbers on the 
label says 55-930/5693/148.

We did wipe tests on top of the inner cylinder, inside several of the 
ports, top of outer cylinder, floor, etc.

Found no evidence of leakage.

I really would feel more comfortable if I could wipe the source 
and/or find out more about the unit.

The unit is not in use (has not been used for at least 5-10 years).

The questions for you all, if you would be so kind to help, are:

1)  anyone have information about these type units?
2) does anyone have a contact for Leybold (or if they were mergered
with another company).

Please reply to me at anastas@csus.edu, no sense loading the 
bandwidth.

Thanks for your help.

George Anastas

George Anastas, M.P.H., P.E., C.H.P., Director
Environmental Health and Safety and 
University Radiation Safety Officer
California State University, Sacramento
6000 J Street
Sacramento, CA  95819-6002
Telephone 916/278-6456
Direct 916/278-5447
FAX 916/278-5960
anastas@csus.edu 

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