Re: radiotherapy question

[StevenFrey <StevenFrey@aol.com>]

In a message dated 3/11/98 11:13:56 AM Pacific Standard Time,
LORENZEN_W@A1.TCH.HARVARD.EDU writes:

<< The deodorant can irritate the skin which is being exposed to high levels
of 
 radiation and over time will become red and sore.  There have been some
comments 
 made about the trace metal content in some products but I am not sure what
that 
 issue might be if an issue at all.
  >>

One possible concern about the presence of metals to teletherapy beams
involves radioactivation of the metals by photoneutrons.  Linear accelerators
which operate at or greater than about 10 MeV can produce photoneutrons.
Photoneutrons are produced in such an environment via interaction of the
primary beam photons with the air in the beam path.  The magnitude of
photoneutron radiation produced via teletherapy usually is insignificant
compared to the primary beam.  But it does warrant attention as a scattered
radiation, and in principle could radioactivate the metal(s) in the patient's
deodorant as well.

Steve Frey, MS, CHP
Stevenfrey@aol.com
Phone: (800) 888-7008 (office)