Re: Rule of Thumb for BETA contamination

["Norman Randy" <rnorman@smtplink.microbio.com>]

     Something escapes me here...isn't dpm "decays PER MINUTE" and mrem a 
     unit of dose? The dose received via exposure to a certain number of 
     dpm (or uCi, etc.) depends (among many other things) upon the total 
     time of exposure. The same activity can yield a very low dose or a 
     very high dose, depending upon the amount of time one is exposed, no??
     
     I though this was a basic concept...am I missing something here? Are 
     there assumptions being made that are not explicitly stated? 
     
     Come on now, it's already been a long week..no fair playing games with 
     my head!
     
     Randy Norman
     Safety Manger, RSO, CHO, BSO, etc.
     MA BioServices, Inc.
     Rockville, MD
     rnorman@microbio.com


______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: Rule of Thumb for BETA contamination
Author:  radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu at INTERNET
Date:    10/2/97 8:46 AM


The rule of thumb conversion for removable contamination has been 1 mrem 
gamma = 1 million dpm
assuming Co-60 as the major isotope does anyone have a rule of thumb for 
1 mrem BETA ? 
     
I'll welcome any input 
     
Thanks,
     
M.B.
Mark Bedenbaugh
RNP- Ext. 1287
Beeper - 673-6040
mark.bedenbaugh@cplc.com