Most people have heard of the fact that Americium, a radionuclide, is present in every smoke detector and hence most every home in the developed world. However, some of the following examples are less known uses of radiation that are integral to our country's infrastructure. There are also potential jobs available in both applications .
Crop Irradiation
Food irradiation is the application of ionizing radiation to food, a technology that improves the safety and extends the shelf life of foods by reducing or eliminating microorganisms and insects. Like pasteurizing milk and canning fruits and vegetables, irradiation can make food safer for the consumer. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is responsible for regulating the sources of radiation that are used to irradiate food. FDA approves a source of radiation for use on foods only after it has determined that irradiating the food is safe.
Gamma rays produced from Co-60 and Cs-137 and x-rays are able to penetrate food to greater depths than electron beams, which only penetrate a maximum of one inch below the surface of most foods. While electron beams are not produced from radioactive sources and therefore have no resultant radioactive waste, they do produce ionizing changes in foods, just as the other irradiation energy sources do. Ionizing radiation reduces the number of disease-causing organisms in foods by disrupting their molecular structure and killing potentially harmful bacteria and parasites. However, when food is irradiated, some nutrients are destroyed and untested compounds, referred to as URPs (unique radiolytic products), may be created. Other terms commonly used to identify ionizing irradiation are "cold pasteurization" and "irradiation pasteurization."
FDA has evaluated the safety of irradiated food for more than thirty years and has found the process to be safe. The World Health Organization (WHO), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) have also endorsed the safety of irradiated food. FDA has approved a variety of foods for irradiation in the United States including:
Crop Irradiation
Food irradiation is the application of ionizing radiation to food, a technology that improves the safety and extends the shelf life of foods by reducing or eliminating microorganisms and insects. Like pasteurizing milk and canning fruits and vegetables, irradiation can make food safer for the consumer. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is responsible for regulating the sources of radiation that are used to irradiate food. FDA approves a source of radiation for use on foods only after it has determined that irradiating the food is safe.
Gamma rays produced from Co-60 and Cs-137 and x-rays are able to penetrate food to greater depths than electron beams, which only penetrate a maximum of one inch below the surface of most foods. While electron beams are not produced from radioactive sources and therefore have no resultant radioactive waste, they do produce ionizing changes in foods, just as the other irradiation energy sources do. Ionizing radiation reduces the number of disease-causing organisms in foods by disrupting their molecular structure and killing potentially harmful bacteria and parasites. However, when food is irradiated, some nutrients are destroyed and untested compounds, referred to as URPs (unique radiolytic products), may be created. Other terms commonly used to identify ionizing irradiation are "cold pasteurization" and "irradiation pasteurization."
FDA has evaluated the safety of irradiated food for more than thirty years and has found the process to be safe. The World Health Organization (WHO), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) have also endorsed the safety of irradiated food. FDA has approved a variety of foods for irradiation in the United States including:
- Beef and Pork
- Crustaceans (e.g., lobster, shrimp, and crab)
- Fresh Fruits and Vegetables
- Lettuce and Spinach
- Molluscan Shellfish (e.g., oysters, clams, mussels, and scallops)
- Poultry
- Seeds for Sprouting (e.g., for alfalfa sprouts)
- Shell Eggs
- Spices and Seasoning
Crop irradiation has proven to be effective, safe and environmentally friendly: it releases no chemical, biological or nuclear agents into the environment. It has enabled farmers to limit the use of fertilizers, which helps preserve water supplies, saves energy costs from pumping and prevents runoff of potential contaminants into streams and rivers. More than 40 countries have approved the use of radiation to help preserve nearly 40 different varieties of food. In agriculture, radiation has eradicated approximately 10 species of pest insects. Farmers can now show how plants absorb fertilizer, helping researchers to learn when to apply fertilizer, and how much to use; this prevents overuse, thus reducing a major source of soil and water pollution.
Why irradiate food? For prevention of foodborne illness, preservation, control of insects, delay of sprouting/ripening, and sterilization. Irradiation does not make foods radioactive, compromise nutritional quality, or noticeably change the taste, texture, or appearance of food. In fact, any changes made by irradiation are so minimal that it is not easy to tell if a food has been irradiated.
FDA requires that irradiated foods bear the international symbol for irradiation. Look for the Radura symbol along with the statement "Treated with radiation" or "Treated by irradiation" on the food label. Bulk foods, such as fruits and vegetables, are required to be individually labeled or to have a label next to the sale container. FDA does not require that individual ingredients in multi-ingredient foods (e.g., spices) be labeled.
We can all take action by urging our Senators and Representatives to support prominent labeling on irradiated foods. Tell them that consumers have the right to easily discern which foods have been irradiated. Voice your opposition to legislation, such as the amendment to the FDA Modernization Act of 1997, that undermines your ability to identify irradiated foods.
Border/Airport Security
U.S. Customs and Border Protection have deployed systems called radiation portal monitors at border crossing sites and airport security stations to curb terrorism and weapons of mass destruction from entering this country. Nuclear and radiological materials are of particular concern because of their potential to harm large numbers of people and disrupt the U.S. economy. The deployment of portal monitors is an important component of CBP's multi-layered strategy to prevent the introduction of nuclear and radiological materials into this country.
What is a radiation portal monitor? A radiation portal monitor is a detection device that provides Customs and Border Protection (CBP) with a passive, non-intrusive means to screen trucks and other conveyances for the presence of nuclear and radiological materials. These systems are capable of detecting various types of radiation emanating from nuclear devices, dirty bombs, special nuclear materials, natural sources, and isotopes commonly used in medicine and industry.
These systems are not similar to x-rays in that they do not produce images. Rather, the portal monitor is a passive system that captures and alerts to energy emitted by radioactive sources that happen to pass near it. The system is very similar to a radio receiver, in that it responds to certain types of energy and provides an indication to the operator of the strength of the energy received. They emit no radiation whatsoever and are completely safe for passersby - men, pregnant women, children alike. Portal monitors are very common in hospitals and other industries.
An alert by a portal monitor indicates that the device has detected a source of radiation passing by it. There are many legitimate, "innocent" sources of radiation, including naturally occurring radiation and various medical and industrial isotopes that pose little threat to the public. Nevertheless, in the case of any alert by a portal monitor, CBP will follow strict protocols to determine whether the source of radiation is a potential terrorist threat, a natural source, or a legitimate medical/industrial source of radiation.
A handheld device that can detect, identify, and locate a radiological or nuclear source has been manufactured by many companies. Detection is conducted with two new, advanced scintillating materials. The first is cesium lithium yttrium chloride, one of a class of elpasolite materials developed for simultaneous detection of gamma-rays and neutrons. The other is strontium iodide.
Keeping public places, such as airports, safe is a big job. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screeners at airports check passengers and suitcases for dangerous items such as weapons. To do their job, they use different kinds of screening equipment such as backscatter x-ray and cabinet x-ray machines. They also use millimeter wave machines and metal detectors.
Luggage is scanned with cabinet x-ray systems. The thick walls and lead curtains of the cabinets keep radiation from escaping. The machines must meet strict standards about how much radiation can escape. The machines must also have locks, warning lights and warning labels. Passenger scanners can detect threats such as weapons or explosives that a person could be carrying under their clothing. There are two main types that may be used in airports: backscatter x-ray systems and millimeter wave machines. Backscatter machines use very low levels of x-rays. Generally, the amount of radiation received from a backscatter machine equals the amount of cosmic radiation received during two minutes of flight. The risk of health effects is very, very low. The machines are effective at detecting items that would be a threat to other passengers and crew.
For more information about monitoring at ports, the most possible in fact, see the reference listed below which takes you to:
Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General's United States Customs and Border Protection's Radiation Portal Monitors at Seaports
References
https://cna.ca/technology/food-agriculture/crop-improvements/
http://www.sustainabletable.org/728/food-irradiation
http://www.fda.gov/Food/ResourcesForYou/Consumers/ucm261680.htm
http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/about-our-products/food-safety/irradiation-us-and-canada
http://www.nei.org/Knowledge-Center/Other-Nuclear-Energy-Applications/Food-Agriculture
https://www.dhs.gov/advanced-radiation-monitoring-device
http://www.cbp.gov/border-security/port-entry/cargo-security/cargo-exam/rad-portal1
https://www.oig.dhs.gov/assets/Mgmt/2013/OIG_13-26_Jan13.pdf
http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/radiation/airport_scan.htm
https://www3.epa.gov/radtown/airport-security-scanning.html
Why irradiate food? For prevention of foodborne illness, preservation, control of insects, delay of sprouting/ripening, and sterilization. Irradiation does not make foods radioactive, compromise nutritional quality, or noticeably change the taste, texture, or appearance of food. In fact, any changes made by irradiation are so minimal that it is not easy to tell if a food has been irradiated.
FDA requires that irradiated foods bear the international symbol for irradiation. Look for the Radura symbol along with the statement "Treated with radiation" or "Treated by irradiation" on the food label. Bulk foods, such as fruits and vegetables, are required to be individually labeled or to have a label next to the sale container. FDA does not require that individual ingredients in multi-ingredient foods (e.g., spices) be labeled.
We can all take action by urging our Senators and Representatives to support prominent labeling on irradiated foods. Tell them that consumers have the right to easily discern which foods have been irradiated. Voice your opposition to legislation, such as the amendment to the FDA Modernization Act of 1997, that undermines your ability to identify irradiated foods.
Border/Airport Security
U.S. Customs and Border Protection have deployed systems called radiation portal monitors at border crossing sites and airport security stations to curb terrorism and weapons of mass destruction from entering this country. Nuclear and radiological materials are of particular concern because of their potential to harm large numbers of people and disrupt the U.S. economy. The deployment of portal monitors is an important component of CBP's multi-layered strategy to prevent the introduction of nuclear and radiological materials into this country.
What is a radiation portal monitor? A radiation portal monitor is a detection device that provides Customs and Border Protection (CBP) with a passive, non-intrusive means to screen trucks and other conveyances for the presence of nuclear and radiological materials. These systems are capable of detecting various types of radiation emanating from nuclear devices, dirty bombs, special nuclear materials, natural sources, and isotopes commonly used in medicine and industry.
These systems are not similar to x-rays in that they do not produce images. Rather, the portal monitor is a passive system that captures and alerts to energy emitted by radioactive sources that happen to pass near it. The system is very similar to a radio receiver, in that it responds to certain types of energy and provides an indication to the operator of the strength of the energy received. They emit no radiation whatsoever and are completely safe for passersby - men, pregnant women, children alike. Portal monitors are very common in hospitals and other industries.
An alert by a portal monitor indicates that the device has detected a source of radiation passing by it. There are many legitimate, "innocent" sources of radiation, including naturally occurring radiation and various medical and industrial isotopes that pose little threat to the public. Nevertheless, in the case of any alert by a portal monitor, CBP will follow strict protocols to determine whether the source of radiation is a potential terrorist threat, a natural source, or a legitimate medical/industrial source of radiation.
A handheld device that can detect, identify, and locate a radiological or nuclear source has been manufactured by many companies. Detection is conducted with two new, advanced scintillating materials. The first is cesium lithium yttrium chloride, one of a class of elpasolite materials developed for simultaneous detection of gamma-rays and neutrons. The other is strontium iodide.
Body scanners using millimeter wave technology are being used in United States airports. Millimeter-wave technology uses non-ionizing radiation in the form of low-level radio waves to scan a person’s body. A millimeter-wave body scanner uses two antennas that rotate around a person’s body to construct a 3-D image that resembles a fuzzy photo negative. The image is sent to a remote monitor. Millimeter-wave technology does not use x-rays and does not add to a person’s ionizing radiation dose. As mentioned above, the United States uses millimeter-wave technology in airport security scans. This form of technology uses low-energy non-ionizing radiation that releases thousands of times less energy than a cell phone.
- Some of this screening equipment uses ionizing radiation, which has enough energy to break bonds in living cells. X-ray machines use ionizing radiation.
- Other airport security screening machines use non-ionizing radiation. Non-ionizing radiation does not have enough energy to break bonds in living cells. Millimeter wave machines use low-energy non-ionizing radiation.
- Some equipment uses no radiation at all. Passengers at some airports have to pass through metal detectors. This equipment does not use radiation.
Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General's United States Customs and Border Protection's Radiation Portal Monitors at Seaports
References
https://cna.ca/technology/food-agriculture/crop-improvements/
http://www.sustainabletable.org/728/food-irradiation
http://www.fda.gov/Food/ResourcesForYou/Consumers/ucm261680.htm
http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/about-our-products/food-safety/irradiation-us-and-canada
http://www.nei.org/Knowledge-Center/Other-Nuclear-Energy-Applications/Food-Agriculture
https://www.dhs.gov/advanced-radiation-monitoring-device
http://www.cbp.gov/border-security/port-entry/cargo-security/cargo-exam/rad-portal1
https://www.oig.dhs.gov/assets/Mgmt/2013/OIG_13-26_Jan13.pdf
http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/radiation/airport_scan.htm
https://www3.epa.gov/radtown/airport-security-scanning.html
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