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145 nuclear items were identified in scrap worldwide in 2011, 200 in
2010.
The most recent
one we've learned about involves Cobalt 60 contamination of a metal tissue
cover box sold through Bed Bath And Beyond.
"The level
of exposure from holding a contaminated
tissue-box holder against the body for an hour is equivalent to a chest
X-ray," according to the NRC.
Despite the
"assurances" of the NRC officials, chronic exposures to low doses of radiation
can lead to cataracts, cancer and birth defects according to the USEPA (see chronic exposure page in link).
Cobalt 60 is both a beta and gamma emitter. One of the problems with beta
emissions is that they lack the ability to travel, so their effects concentrate
where they are stopped. Gamma emissions have high energy and penetrating
power.
Most people keep
their tissues on the night stand by the head of the bed. Get the picture?
They keep their
tissues by the head of the bed...
If radioactive
materials came into your shop, how would you know?
Fortunately,
every North American steel melt shop that I have visited takes a number of
steps to assure that they do not accept radioactive scrap or materials in
bound, and have positive means to test when original melt lab work is
done.
Radiation detectors
at truck scales, train gates, and at detectors at sample prep stations in the
melt shop lab are just some of the means that the special bar quality mills
I've worked at or visited use to assure that radioactive materials do not get
into the product stream.
But that level of
security does not exist everywhere, as the Bed Bath and Beyond Tissue Box shows
us.
Bloomberg reports that U.S. Department of
Homeland Security data shows that India and China were the top sources of
radioactive goods shipped to the US through 2008.
These countries
lack the protections that we have come to expect here in North America like
entry exit gate detectors.
Bottom line:
Radioactive materials can and do "go wild" in the marketplace.
Responsible steelmakers have means to assure quality.
Know who you buy
from. Reputable North American Steel Producers have this figured out.
Truck Shipping Gate Radiation Detector
Tissue box Photo
Homer
Simpson Head X-ray
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Re: Can Radioactive Scrap Contaminate Your Business?
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