Public Service Message: This should be blindingly obvious, but...
General rule of thumb: When exploring abandoned hospitals, Do Not take the source tube out of an x-ray machine and try to sell it on eBay.


...

Considering the tube is of 1926 vintage, it's probably a radioactive source contained within a sealed housing, as the technology for operating electron-ion tubes (which do not contain radioactive materials) was still in it's infancy. Some examples of previous Orphaned Source accidents:

Ciudad Juarez orphaned source dispersal, 1983
Goiania orphaned source dispersal, 1987
Jilin orphaned source, 1992
Houston stolen source, 1996

I've reported the auction to eBay, and sent a note to the seller via the 'ask a question' thing. Should i bother pursuing this further?

Even if it's *not* a radioactive source, it's still regulated by the FDA as part (read: the Business End) of a radiation-producing machine - not something people should sell on eBay as some kind of collectible. (I actually repair x-ray machines as part of my day job, so i do know about this stuff. Tis why i was shopping on eBay for x-ray parts in the first place.)

Actually, it might also be a wise investment to pick up a Geiger-counter or dosimetry badge of some kind, for use when exploring (i regularly carry one). In addition to possibly orphaned medical sources, industrial sources were often kept for checking tank and pipe welds, seams, and for numerous other uses. With the nature of some abandoned places out there, you just don't know what manner of nastiness you're going to encounter. Older Civil Defense Geiger-counter models often still work quite well, and can be purchased for as little as $40.



Edit: Poking around in the seller's store turned up their phone number. I've called and explained about what they probably have, and told them to seek medical attention, post-haste.


Editx2: Called the local fire co down there, left my name and # for the police chief to return my call. Who then apparently contacted the company selling it, and were told that the company has paperwork declaring the machine as being 'decommissioned'. Basically this means it's "to be disposed of in a manner consistent with regulation", but no one will check up to make sure; nor does it address how such disposal should actually take place. Case closed, as far as the local authorities are concerned; as red tape clearly trumps logic. I wonder if anyone there even has a Geiger counter, much less knows how to use it.

Oh well. I guess if it's actually radioactive, the post office will find it when it's shipped to the buyer.



x-posted for maximum awareness. Apologies if you've seen twice.

источник-urban_decay@lj

читать полный текст со всеми комментариями