It is also used in nuclear weapons production, as a power supply in small satellites, and in the oil industry. Signature effisy elate cheque, visa, misicr cud, eurocaid, switch and mono olden are accepted. Polonium210 information sheet penn state college of earth and. Po210 is used in some industrial applications such as static eliminators, which are devices designed to eliminate static electricity in processes such as rolling paper, manufacturing sheet plastics, and spinning synthetic fibers. Loss of po210 static eliminator sources 2 examples. Static eliminators typically contain from one to tens of gbq hundreths to tenths of curies of radioactivity. In general, they employ an alpha emitting radioactive source, usually polonium210, to ionize the air immediately in front of the device. No state or usnrcspecific license is required to purchase or possess this unit. This powerpoint presentation contains information about handling of static eliminators, safety and security precautions when handling po210, and responsibilities. Nuclear regulatory commission issued an order suspending the distribution of certain. The nrc currently regulates the use of static eliminators under the. Thus, when the ashland chemical company reported radioactive polonium210 contamination at two of its facilities, resulting from leakage of such devices, the u. It is recommended to replace the cartridge every 18 months to ensure. Determination of pb210 and po210 in sediment and soil.
Static eliminators po210 issues environmental health. In general, they employ an alpha emitting radioactive source, usually polonium 210, to ionize the air immediately in front of the device. Spent unit may be mailed to the manufacturer for proper disposal. Evaluation of static eliminators containing polonium210. Static eliminators gen4 super ion air knife and accessories exairs gen4 super ion air knife removes static electricity from plastics, webs, sheet stock and other product surfaces where tearing, jamming or hazardous shocks are a problem. The static eliminators that we carry use a naturally occurring radioactive element called polonium210 it was discovered by marie and pierre. The potential safety and health hazards from industrial use of static eliminators containing polonium210 are well known 1, 2, 3. Static eliminators can perform this function in a few different ways, such as by using alternating current or by using small amounts of a radioactive element to remove electrons. For neutralization of static charge on balances, optics, films, etc. A case study on the regulation of static eliminators, volume 2 nrc. The highest measured activities were found in the enclosed basins of the neretva channel, where the majority of croatian mussel cultivation is. Static eliminators 1960s and 1980s static eliminators of the type sold to the general public have been used to eliminate dust on records, film negatives, lenses, etc. Full text of amiga computing magazine issue 058 internet archive.
In recent years, polonium made the news because of its use as a poison. The static eliminators that we carry use a naturally occurring radioactive element called polonium210 it was discovered by marie and pierre curie and named after. During a visit to a factory to replace a number of polonium210 static eliminator sources, the supplier noted that one of the original sources containing 440 mbq of polonium210 was missing. Polonium210 is a radioactive isotope that occurs in small amounts in nature and can be made in a nuclear reactor. Po210 is used in some industrial applications such as static eliminators, which are devices designed to eliminate static electricity in processes such as rolling.
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