Re: Lapel CAM

["Jean-Paul GUILLEMOT" <jpg@mgpi.com>]

MGP Instruments (formerly known as Merlin Gerin) discontinued the MCA 11.
The instrument, which was ONLY an alarming personnal sampler (no display,
only a factory threshold set point) was obsoleted in the early 90s by CAMs
such as the BA 31 / 33 Beta, gamma, alpha with radon compensation.

Anyone interested by MCA 11 litterature or report can reach me through
personnal email.

Jean-Paul GUILLEMOT
MGP Instruments
tel : 33 4 90 59 60 41
fax: 33 4 90 59 55 18
jpg@mgpi.com
http://www.mgpi.com

----------
> De : Morris, Robert <robert.morris@rfets.gov>
> A : Multiple recipients of list <radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu>
> Objet : Lapel CAM
> Date : lundi 25 janvier 1999 22:55
> 
> Tom Goff requested information on lapel CAMs
> 
> 
> Merlin Gerin Model MCA 11 is an alarming personal air sampler designed to
> alert workers to elevated airborne plutonium levels.  Originally
developed
> by the Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique of France, the monitor was (is?)
> made in France by Merlin Gerin.
> 
> The unit looks like a softball cut in half and suspended on a lanyard. 
It
> weighs 420 g and is accompanied by a 600 g belt-mounted battery and
> electronics package.  It was described in two English language
publications:
> 
> 		Perrin, M. L. "Plutonium aerosols size distributions in a
> reprocessing plant and during decommissioning operations."  Proceedings
of
> the DOE Workshop on Workplace Aerosol Monitoring, Napa, CA Oct 28 - 30,
> 1985.
> 
> 		Charuau, J.  "Design and assessment of a personal air
> monitor to optimize the occupational monitoring in plutonium
laboratories."
> Proceedings of  the DOE Workshop on Workplace Aerosol Monitoring, Napa,
CA
> Oct 28 - 30, 1985.
> 
> While we were employed at Chem-Nuclear (later Rust) Geotech at DOE's
Grand
> Junction, Colorado, Project Office, Dr. Dowell Martz and I bought two of
> these units, tested them in the radon research chamber, and published a
> report.  The report, titled "Evaluation of a Personal Air Sampler
Designed
> to Provide an Early Warning of Plutonium Exposure" was presented at a DOE
> Radiation Protection Conference in Knoxville, TN, August 27-29, 1991.
> Unfortunately, DOE never published the proceedings of that workshop.  It
did
> get a pre-print number of GJPO-M-008-91.  There is some chance it is
> available from DOE in Grand Junction.  Check the web for information on
how
> to contact that office.  www.doegjpo.com
> 
> The unit uses aerosol size separation and pulse height analysis as the
keys
> to minimizing radon interference.  When a spurious alarm does occur due
to
> radon progeny the short-lived Po-218 clears quickly and the alarm ceases
> after being removed to a unaffected, well-ventilated area.  Our testing
> revealed an intermittent leak past an o-ring seal.  Once the detector was
> slightly modified to correct the leak, we found that when the unit was
> operated in a 1 pCi/L, 50% equilibrium environment, the detection limit
for
> plutonium was approximately 21 DAC.
> 
> I no longer have the electronic file containing the report, but, if you
are
> not successful in getting a copy from DOE Grand Junction Office, you may
> send me an e-mail and I will mail a copy of the 13 page report to you.
> 
> 
> Robert Morris, CHP
> Safe Sites of Colorado
> Rocky Flats Environmental Technology Site
> Building 750
> PO Box 464
> Golden, CO  80402-0464
> 303 966-6468
> 
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