Whole Body Counters
- UNITED STATES
- ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION
- Dr. Glenn T. Seaborg, Chairman
- James T. Ramey
- Dr. Gerald F. Tape
- Dr. Samuel M. Nabrit
- Wilfrid E. Johnson
ONE OF A SERIES ON
UNDERSTANDING THE ATOM
Nuclear energyis playing a vital rolein the life ofevery man, woman, and childin the United States today.In the years aheadit will affect increasinglyall the peoples of the earth.It is essentialthat all Americansgain an understandingof this vital force ifthey are to discharge thoughtfullytheir responsibilities as citizensand if they are to realize fullythe myriad benefitsthat nuclear energyoffers them.
The United StatesAtomic Energy Commissionprovides this bookletto help you achievesuch understanding.
Edward J. Brunenkant
Director
Division of Technical Information
Whole Body Counters/CONTENTS
- 1 SENSITIVE DETECTORS
- 2 THE GENEVA COUNTER
- 8 THE LIQUID SCINTILLATION COUNTER
- 10 POTASSIUM-40 IN HUMAN BODIES
- 13 CRYSTAL COUNTERS
- 15 THE RADIUM STORY
- 17 A NEW BODY CONTAMINANT
- 21 PROTECTION OF LABORATORY PERSONNEL
- 24 SPECIAL USES
- 31 CONCLUSION
- 34 SUGGESTED REFERENCES
THE COVER
This smiling youngster in the chute ofa large whole body counter has justemerged from the opening (beyond herfeet) of a hollow tank of scintillationliquid, where she lay while the radioactivityin her body was being “counted.”In a minute she will step into her slippers(on the ramp, right) and be readyfor play. The sensitive, heavily shieldedradiation-detecting equipment shown hasmany uses that are described in thisbooklet.
THE AUTHORS
John H. Woodburn teaches chemistryat Walter Johnson High School inRockville, Md. In the past he taught atMichigan State University, Illinois StateNormal University, and Johns HopkinsUniversity. He received his A.B. fromMarietta College, his M.A. from OhioState