Radiation detectors

We need to identify radiation detection and mitigation equipment which can be used in through the Japan Resilience System in the Japan Health Capacity Zones.  Here are some of my initial thoughts on this.

Radiation detectors.  A mixture of my thoughts and leads here.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geiger_counter
Illustrations show something which may be a bit bulky.
Text talks about the kind of radiation detected.

There is a mind boggling collection of types of detectors, so we need to nail down which are needed for current reality in Japan.

quoting from Wikipedia

The Geiger–Müller tube is one form of a class of radiation detectors called gaseous detectors or simply gas detectors. Although useful, cheap and robust, a counter using a GM tube can only detect the presence and intensity of radiation (particle frequency, as opposed to energy). Gas detectors with the ability to both detect radiation and determine particle energy levels (due to their construction, test gas, and associated electronics) are called proportional counters. Some proportional counters can detect the position and or angle of the incident radiation as well. Other devices detecting radiation include:

• ionization chambers
• dosimeters
• photomultipliers
• semiconductor detectors and variants including CCDs
• microchannel plates
• scintillation counters
• solid-state track detectors
• cloud chambers
• bubble chambers
• spark chambers
• neutron detectors
• microcalorimeters

The Geiger-Müller counter has applications in the fields of nuclear physics, geophysics (mining), and medical therapy with isotopes and x-rays. Some of the proportional counters have many electrodes and are called multi-wire proportional counters or simply MWPCs. Radiation detectors have also been used extensively in nuclear physics, medicine, particle physics, astronomy, and in industry.

unquote

It is my understanding that people who work in radiation professions, such as medicine ... operate X ray machines for example ... there is some kind of badge they wear, which measures exposure, changes color when too much, so immediately obvious the wearer needs medical attention.

However, there are different kinds of radiation.  It may be that some badges are only looking for what might be considered reasonable, based on the employment focus.  There are probably organizations which can best guide one on what is needed in Japan.  But some of them will be a bit overwhelmed right now.

DoD = Department of Defense (think US Navy ships with nuclear power plants)
HazMat
IAEA = International Atomic Energy Agency

JAEA = Japan Atomic Energy Agency

NEWS = Nuclear Event Web Based System[1] jointly managed by The International Atomic Energy Agency, the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency and the World Association of Nuclear Operators.

NISA = Japan’s Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency

NRC = US Nuclear Regulatory Commission

News releases are available through a free listserv subscription at the following Web address:

http://www.nrc.gov/public-involve/listserver.html. The NRC homepage at www.nrc.gov also offers a SUBSCRIBE link. E-mail notifications are sent to subscribers when news releases are posted to NRC's website.

NRC NEWS

U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

Office of Public Affairs Telephone: 301/415-8200

Washington, D.C. 20555-0001

E-mail: ***@***.*** Site: www.nrc.gov

Blog: http://public-blog.nrc-gateway.gov

It has sent experts to help Japan.[1]

UNSCEAR = United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR)

A quick google search locates some outfits which sell such stuff.  What we may need are places which manufacture the products, can tool up to higher volumes than normal production, and give priority to deliver to outfits needing them in Japan. 

Also see wikipedia search
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Search?search=Radiation+detectors&sourceid=Mozilla-search

Also, there will be a need to get certification that the devices are good quality.  There have been a number of scandals with devices sold to protect the public, to protect infrastructure, to detect terrorism threats, etc. which turned out to be totally fraudulent.  I will have to give some thought where to find such reviews, since this is probably not what we would find in Consumer Reports, or the general computer publications which compare competing technology products.  While there are probably Trade magazines for this industry, in my experience trade publications any industry info on individual companies is often PR, not comparative analysis.

http://www.nukalert.com/

Small enough to attach to a key chain.

http://www.nukepills.com/radiation-detector.htm

Wallet sized
I think people would be more comfortable with a BADGE where it can be instantly seen if their exposure is Ok or not.

I also think there may be a need for detectors not worn by people, but placed like sign posts where they read the wind.  You are in a building, at a doorway, and you can read an instrument which tells you what the temperature is outside, what the radiation reading is outside.  This tells you whether you want to put on some better protective clothing before exiting.  Similarly with a vehicle.  Is it safe to exit the vehicle? ... car, train, etc.

http://www.gammascout.com/

Due to the Earthquake/Tsunami disaster and unfolding nuclear crisis in Japan, Gamma Scout is experiencing an extremely high demand for our units and have a huge backlog of orders for our Gamma-Scouts. If you must place an order then please expect to wait MORE THAN 12 weeks for a unit.

This outfit http://www.blackcatsystems.com/science/radiation.html
talks about how to make your own.

Perhaps there are kits available from places like Radio Shack.

This looks way more sophisticated than current need.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Particle_detector

As you know, I am a geek who is not a professional in many areas, but I am a quick study.
During my career (I am now age 67), computer users often came to me with problems where they had some notion what going on, and instead of describing symptoms, error messages, what they trying to accomplish, they'd typically describe the problem within the context of their notion, often wrong.  So I became accustomed to studying all sorts of data to figure out what the heck is going on, what the business needs to accomplish, what is in fact wrong (training issue, documentation flawed, data corrupted, we need another program, whatever), and how best to resolve.  This means I am fairly good at delving into territory previously unknown to me, then trying to make sense of it in an unbiased manner.

Alister Wm Macintyre (Al Mac) pro bono volunteer
http://www.linkedin.com/in/almacintyre also on Facebook
http://haitirewired.wired.com/profile/AlisterWmMacintyre
http://rebuildhaitibetter.ning.com/profile/AlisterWmMacintyre
Haiti Research shared with / posted at http://www.haiti.prizm.org/ and
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HaitiDisasterRecoveryResearch/

Here is cut & paste from some of my research notes from a few days ago, perhaps relevant to this topic.

Radiation Scam (1 Mar 17)

In recent days a map has circulated the internet, purporting to predict high doses to the Western U.S.  This map bears the seal of the Australian Radiation Service, which did not produce it. The map has been refuted by the U.S. NRC, and experts state that it more closely resembles predictions for doses after deployment of a nuclear weapon than those for a situation such as that unfolding at present.[1]

Radiation Dose Clarifying (1 Mar 17)

We are told that this or that dose is less that we would get at a doctor office.  I sought radiation intensities associated with various ordinary incidents other than what’s going on in Japan, to put that in perspective.  This is on page 4 of a Radiation PDF which I have downloaded, and can send along to people.  Lots of graphics there, so I not adding here.    However something very similar at end of this sub-section “chapter.”

I learn that we are hampered because

• Some science measurement symbols not on our keyboards, nor easily get at, but maybe we can copy-paste them with explanation here.
• M = mili-meter (why not use MM?),
• M = micro-meter (this “science” system is overdue to fix), and
• M = meter

I am seeing radiation intensities in stories out of Japan in the following units: (sources)

mSv to 10 uSv/hr (IAEA news)

18,000 cpm to greater than 100,000 cpm (testing evacuated residents in NISA report)

A reading up to 1,204.2μSv was recorded in what got vented. (briefing by Japan government)

According to http://mitnse.com/

Normally nuclear workers are allowed to receive a dose of 20 millisieverts per year, although in practice they often receive very much less. If that limit is exceeded in any year, the worker cannot undertake nuclear duties for the remainder.

In emergency circumstances safety regulators allow workers to receive up to 100 millisieverts with the same conditions applying, that they must leave the site should that limit be reached. The 100 millisievert level is roughly the point at which health effects from radiation become more likely. Under a special allowance from the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA), workers at Fukushima were permitted doses of up to 250 millisieverts.

Health effects vary depending on size of dose at one time, what element isotopes involved. 

note: 1 Rem = 1000 millirem; 1Sv = 1000 millisievert

Cumulative Dose = Dose Rate x Time Exposed

Page left intentionally blank before following charts, so all of it on same page.