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Answer to Question #6550 Submitted to "Ask the Experts"Category: Industrial Radiation — Industrial Applications The following question was answered by an expert in the appropriate field: Q
Do radioactive source gamma irradiators differ from x-ray generating irradiators in the quality and/or quantity of radiation administered to cell samples (e.g., blood cells, tumor cells, etc.)? I am posing this question to see if it is feasible to replace our current 137Cs Gammacell 1000 with an x-ray-generating irradiator that could perform equally, if such an irradiator exists. There would be advantages to using a nonradioactive source x-ray-producing irradiator such as avoiding the "increased controls" as well as the potential source hazard, disposal, and replacement. A
It is feasible to replace a 137Cs irradiator with an x-ray-generating irradiator. However the two sources of radiation are different. The 137Cs source has monoenergetic gamma ray of 661.65 keV, which is quite energetic and penetrating. Most of the x rays, produced by an x-ray machine, have much less energy than the maximum keV rating for the x-ray machine. The x rays from a machine have a broad energy range, from very low to the maximum keV rating for the machine. Most x-ray machines use a metal "filter," placed in the x-ray machine's primary beam. The filter is used to remove (absorb) the lower-energy x rays. Thicker or more dense filters remove more of the softer (lower-energy x rays) to make the x-ray beam more penetrating or harder. However, irradiating cell samples may not require such a penetrating photon, as that of the 137Cs; so you may not need to replace the 137Cs with an equivalent higher-energy keV x-ray machine with a dense filter.
John P. Hageman, MS, CHP
Answer posted on 25 June 2007. The information and material posted on this website is intended as general reference information only. Specific facts and circumstances may alter the concepts and applications of materials and information described herein. The information provided is not a substitute for professional advice and should not be relied upon in the absence of such professional advice specific to whatever facts and circumstances are presented in any given situation. Answers are correct at the time they are posted on the Website. Be advised that over time, some requirements could change, new data could be made available, or Internet links could change. For answers that have been posted for several months or longer, please check the current status of the posted information prior to using the responses for specific applications.
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