Citation:
J. Erchinger “Investigating the operational Capabilities of Custom and Pedestrian Portal Monitoring Systems for Screening Livestock for Radioactive Contamination”, M.S. Thesis, Health Physics, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX (2013).
Abstract:
Livestock and companion animals are valuable economically and emotionally in many states1″ economies and to their citizens. In a radiological emergency situation, the loss of a large amount of livestock could be devastating to a state or national economy. If such an event occurred, there are currently no screening and decontamination protocols for the handling of livestock. This research investigated current policies and procedures for monitoring and decontamination of livestock and companion animals, as well as testing pedestrian portal monitors and a newly designed livestock portal capable of isotopic identification. It was discovered that only ten states addressed companion animals or livestock anywhere in their emergency planning. None of the states included detailed procedures for livestock. To address livestock screening, three pedestrian portal monitoring systems were tested in the field and lab trials – the Johnson AM801, TSA TPM903A, and Ludlum 52-1-1. Factors such as operability and ease of use were also considered. All three systems would alarm when a 5 μCi
Associated Projects:
1. Effective Contamination Detection for Livestock Following a Radiological Event,