Anyone work with radiation?

[Sho'Nuff]

And knows about measuring exposure?

Ages ago I studied analytical chem and took a number of radio (nuclear) chem classes. What do you want to know?

Edit - NM. Glad you aren't glowing.

 

[Rubycon]

Test sources for checking geiger counters are not going to hurt you at all. Even if you ate them. Well I wouldn't go that far!

Now if you happen upon a few tens of TBq of caesium-137, that's quite another story!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goi%C3%A2nia_accident

Been messing around with some smoke detectors, that's as close as I've gotten. No, I did not crack open the americum chamber yet. 😛 For what I'm doing I'm more interested in the piezo part of the circuit.

I don't think there's enough substance in one to be harmful anyway. Start buying crates full on the other hand... lol

Smoke detectors are quite safe even if you "play around" with the capsule. It's a good alpha source but is very weak.

Activity from an old spinthariscope used in a Gilbert Chemistry set of the 1950s had much more activity! The end disc was painted with the same paint used for watch dials and aircraft altimeters. Its activity was easily equivalent to a dozen dials!

 

[Mark R]

6 feet is fine. In practice, you probably won't need protective clothing at that distance, but it's a good idea to use it, and will almost certainly be required by your employer.

Anyway, the most dangerous source of radiation is not actually the x-ray tube, but the patient. When the beam hits the skin surface the x-rays scatter off the skin surface in all directions.

This is why it is preferred to have the x- ray source under the table, so the bulk of the scatter is directed downwards at the feet (rather than up at the neck) and the detector above. Surgeons don't like that because the source is compact and the detector big.

 

[Born2bwire]

Worked in a facility with radioactive materials. Been years since I had to wear a film badge and check out on a hand and foot monitor though.

 

[EagleKeeper]

As long as all 3 legs are functional, you should be OK

 

[_Rick_]

U238 is not even really radioactive.

 

[shortylickens]

Nope. Failed out of nuke school.
Went to Deck.
Chipped paint.