Interested in purchasing the PM 1703

[markmark]

Hi,

I'm looking to remodel my kitchen with granite.

Who do I need to contact to purchase the PM 1703 scintillator?

-Mark

[Al Gerhart]

Hi Mark,

The PM 1703's were bought up quickly after last summer's media attention to the granite countertop crisis. Ebay has some inexpensive meters, a good one will run around $500.00, or you can buy one of the Russian meters for under $150.00. They are accurate, but usuallly use beeps to tell you the rad levels. One beep is okay, then beeps not so much, 1000 beeps, run like hell.

If you find a meter, post a link to it and I'll take a look at it for you.

Be sure and check back, I just posted a new study on granite countertops that is coming out soon in a scientific journal, and there is another that we just presented at the Health Physics annual convention, plus Dr. Steck had a presentation that we might get a copy to post. Then there are six, yes 6 papers or presentations being presented at the next AARST/CRCPD convention (radon scientists and radiation control program directors organizations).

AL

[markmark]

Hi Al,

The Russian dosimeter (on Ebay) looks like it would work -- especially with the ability to filter out all but gamma radiation.

Do you know if anyone has found it to be accurate?

Thanks,
Mark

[markmark]

Hi Al,

I forgot to include the link to it:

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-RADIATION-DOSIM ... 1|294%3A50

Thanks,
Mark

[markmark]

Hi Al,

Another Russian one: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 0054788676

-Mark

[Al Gerhart]

Looks like the second one is more useful, has a lower range and reads in Roetgens ( uR/hr actually micro roentgens). As to accuracy, each unit gives a meV range it responds to, both are adequate but the second unit is a little bit closer to the actual engergies you will encounter.

One warning, even the most expensive hand held unit will ready between 3 and 5% of the radiation coming fromm the granite. Only a sophisticated gamma spectrometer with a large crystal (3 to 4" square) is capable of telling you what is actually present. Everything else is just a survey meter, allowing you to sort higher radiation stone from the lower radiatino stone.

One other point, I was talking with Dr. Steck today about his presentation at the HPS meeting last week. He sent me his power point presentation since I didn't get to stay for his presentation on granite countertops. In his testing, he has shown that a hand held meter can detect 90% of the problem stones, but the final 10% require isotope identification with very expensive equipment, then another 5% of the slabs require radon testing. One stone they found had low radiation levels, averaged 10 uR/hr over the surface, with occasional hot spots of 14 to 15 uR/hr, really mild stone. Yet these slabs "spewed" radon according to Dr. Steck, enough that they would be unsafe in a small energy efficient home.

You are doing the right thing by pretesting for radiation, but don't forget to have the slab checked for radon emanation which is the most dangerous form of radiation release.

[dahur]

I too, am interested in buying a PM 1703M. Even a used one.

Dan

[dahur]

I too, am interested in buying a PM 1703M. Even a used one.

Dan

I just bought one from Air Chek. ($495)

[Al Gerhart]

Be careful not to drop it, they ruin easily due to the crystal inside.