From Name
Bill Brodhead

I now understand why those connected with nuclear medicine considerradon trivial.
I was visiting a home to provide a radon mitigation estimate and
happened to have my PM1703 gamma meter on my belt. As soon as I
walked into the house the 1703 started buzzing. I looked down and was
shocked that it was reading 300 uR/hr. I took it off my belt and as I
approached the client it shot up to over a thousand uR/hr. The
customer then asked me to stand still as he walked away and my 1703
quickly decreased to more reasonable numbers.
The client had radiation treatment for thyroid cancer 9 days ago!! At
6 feet away my 1703 read 160 uR/hr. At 3 feet it read 400 uR/hr. At
1 foot it read 1300 uR/hr. The client then called his doctors office
and was told it was OK and he should not be concerned. He was told
the half life was 8 days. He was previously told to not sleep with
his wife for two days and to stay indoors for a week but could go out
after that.
As I understand it 2 mR/hr for an hour is a maximum allowable dose.
Well this guy was well beyond that. At nine days his chest was still
reading 3 mR/hr! I calculate it would take 2 months before his chest
is down to the 40 uR/hr above background that some granite countertops
emit.
Bill Brodhead
--
WPB Enterprises
W 610 346-8004 Fax 610 346-8575
www.WPB-Radon.com
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