Re: Radium Dials

[Steven.Rima@DOEGJPO.COM (Steven Rima)]

     John,
     
     I'll give you my opinion, of course we all know what opinions are 
     worth... ;-)  Is there any regulatory driver for removing the panel? 
     If not, I would not worry too much as long as there is no smearable 
     contamination. Antique stores are full of stuff with dose rates higher 
     than 0.8 mR/h on contact, but we don't confiscate these items or 
     prohibit their sale or ownership.
     
     I guess I would consider the risk of this type of display. (Please, 
     let's not "migrate" to the validity of the LNT with this 
     conversation.) There are signs telling people not to climb on this, 
     and even if someone does, and they sit directly on the panel (highly 
     unlikely :-) I don't believe the risk from 0.8 mR/h warrants much 
     worry, unless a regulation is being violated. You may want to survey 
     for removable activity occasionally, as it is a somewhat different 
     question if it involves loose activity.
     
     Steven D. Rima, CHP
     Manager, Health Physics and Industrial Hygiene
     MACTEC-ERS
     steven.rima@doegjpo.com
     
     


______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: Radium Dials
Author:  "Aperans; John E. SFC" <aperansj@MCCLELLAN-CMLS.ARMY.MIL> at Internet
Date:    7/25/97 10:42 AM


Greetings, RADSAFERs:
     
First, belated thanx to all who answered my previous 
question on tritium compasses.
     
I guess this is as good a Friday topic as any.  Recently, while 
doing my sealed source inventory, I visited the Chemical
Corps Museum, just down the road here.  
     
After the curator pled ignorance to the presence of any 
sources, I demonstrated to him that the control panels 
on four vehicles parked outside have radium dials.
[THE METER WENT WILD!!!!!  (grin)]
     
On one amphibious vehicle of WWII vintage, the dial 
crystals were broken.  Dose rates on contact were recorded
at 0.8 mR/hr with a G-M detector.  Wipe tests of the control 
panel and dial faces showed no removable contamination 
(dial faces had been spray painted over?).  
     
THE QUESTION.  Should I remove this control panel,  
or am I worrying too much about it?  The curator says 
that removing the dials, even if I replaced them with mock-ups, 
will destroy the vehicle's value as an otherwise fully functional 
artifact.  
The control panel is open to the environment and it does 
not take a lot of effort to climb into the vehicle, even though 
signs are posted to keep visitors off.  Is there some happy 
middle ground?  
     
Please reply directly to me at the address below. 
John E. Aperans
Health Physics Office, US Army Chemical School 
Ft McClellan, AL
aperansj@mcclellan-cmls.army.mil
Voice (205) 848-5044    FAX (205) 848-4615        DSN 865
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed are solely those of the author (me). 
The Department of the Army and DoD have no knowledge of this message, 
and would not approve it if they did.
     
Duct Tape and Binding Energy . . . Form following function?