The Effect on Seeds of Mail Irradiation
I've seen several posts regarding worries about
radiation killing seeds sent through the mail. In a
prior life, I worked for a major manufacturer of the
radiation machines used for cancer therapy, and
irradiating medical supplies, food products and the
like. It is now being discussed using this type of
machine to sterilize mail. I believe that the postal
service may even be using this on a very limited
basis.
Since I know a little about the topic, I thought I'd
share a few thoughts. The first is to get this type
of technology in common use will take years. Special
shielded rooms are generally used for this type of
gear. So the radiation equipment must be purchased
and the facilities designed and built to house them.
This will take years to implement on a system wide
basis.
Secondly, what is being discussed is radiation in the
form of electron beams. Electron beams have low
penetrating power. They can go through a few layers
of packaging and thats about it. Similar machines are
used for treating skin cancer - it leaves a little
burn similar to a sunburn around the treated area but
does not penetrate beyond the skin.
The use of higher energy radiation which penetrates
better has a little problem with activation so could
not be used. If you irradiate with higher energy
gamma radiation some materials become radioactive.
The electron beam dose needed to kill spores and other
microbe pathogens would not get through the hard seed
coat of a pumpkin seed.
Third, I personally don't think that this technology
will come into common use for sterilizing mail because
of the expense and the difficult logistics of
implementing it on a large scale basis.
So I wouldn't be too concerned about mailing seeds
around, particularly if you are mailing them to me. I
doubt that they will be irradiated and if they are it
should not hurt them. It'll just kill the fungus
spores on them.
If you're really worried about it, wrap your seed
packets in aluminum foil. This is enough to shield
your seeds gonads. (and is just one of the reasons
irradiating mail will not be effective)
vince
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Make a great connection at Yahoo! Personals.
http://personals.yahoo.com
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Pumpkin-growing FAQ: http://www.hort.net/lists/pumpkins/search.cgi
To sign-off this list, send email to majordomo@mallorn.com with the
message text UNSUBSCRIBE PUMPKINS
