Re: Smearing sources

[Douglas Gossen <dogo@ltc.tec.wi.us>]

For information on smears and the reasons for wet, dry, and size look at
"Radiation Safety Officer" in the January/February 1996 issue.  It does a
good job explaining the reasons behind the practice.
At 01:47 PM 9/16/96 -0500, you wrote:
>Radsafers:
>
>Prof.Cember, on page 394 of "Introduction to Health Physics", 2nd ed.,
>says, "to test for surface contamination, wipe all exposed external
>surfaces of the source thoroughly with a piece of filter paper or a
>cotton swab moistened with an appropriate solvent, then measure the the
>activity on the paper of the swab."
>Thus, there seems to be no technical justification for a "dry" smear
>test.
>Wade Patterson
>
>
>
>
Douglas Gossen
Health Physics Dept.
Lakeshore Technical College