Re: cpm conversion to mrem/hr

[schoenho@via.at]

At 15:53 28.08.1996 -0500, you wrote:
>Actually, one does see such conversions from time to time.  They are generally 
>treated as "rules of thumb."  Examples can be found in IAEA #152, "Evaluation 
>of Radiation Emergencies and Accidents."  Granted, such relationships are not 
>scientifically rigorous, but they are very handy to get a feel for what one is 
>dealing with.
>
>Your comments regarding calibration are correct.  How does one equate two 
>measurements that use different geometries (i.e., calibration setups vs. 
>"field" measurements).  CPM to mr/hr can be done, but one must be very careful 
>to ensure that the field measurement duplicates the geometry of the
calibration 
>setup.
>
>As to your comment regarding sarcasm. . . .we have a saying in the U.S. that 
>there is no "stupid" question.  Given that we all use various thumb rules in 
>day to day health physics, I don't think that the question was all that 
>off-base.  Are you possibly just laying on the flame button a little heavily?
>
>
>Jim Barnes, CHP
>Radiation Safety Officer
>Rocketdyne Division; Rockwell Aerospace
>===========================================================================
Jim,

I am using rules of thumb extensively every day. But before I use it I
establish the rules according to my instrumentation. I use the words
"relatively high", "very high", "extremely high", "low", "very low",
"negligible" very often - but only related to the instruments I use. A
Cs-137 contamination of some Bq per liter might be high for milk, but it
will be low for certain mushrooms. Such rules of thumb cannot be found in
books or publications. I hope you agree that the rules of thumb need a
certain experience. 

I think that sarcasm is sometimes a very good way to make people think. Not
all react positive to it. I had about 6 positive replies within about 15
minutes and one negative - this was the person who posed the question, who
accused me of spending 75% of my time before the screen and he will push the
delete button whenever he sees my name. He is even so stupid that he is not
aware of the time difference between the USA and Europe. It is now 11:10 pm
and all my activities with e-mail and radsafe are conducted in my sparetime.
I like to receive the information available on radsafe. You as well as
everybody is cordially invited to use the same sarcastic way with regard to
European conditions.

Best regards,  Franz
Schoenhofer
Habichergasse 31/7
A-1160 WIEN
AUSTRIA/EUROPE
Tel./Fax:	+43-1-4955308
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e-mail:		schoenho@via.at