Geiger Counter: A Nuclear Radiation Detector with Health, Research, and Emergency Uses
Background Radiation is Everywhere! It occurs naturally when the uranium in soil and rock break down. If there are enclosed spaces like houses for the radiation to build up in, this radioactive gas is called Radon. It can be bad for your health. People receiving Medical Radiation Therapy will often use Geiger Counters or other home test kits to be extra sure that they are not getting a double dose of radiation - from the hospital and from their home.
More information about Radon can be found on this Web Site: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/environmental-workplace-health/reports-publications/radiation/radon-your-home-health-canada-2009.html#a1
The Geiger Tube Radiation sensor detects whenever a random or non-random free floating radioactive particle hits it. The Geiger counter's built in audio speaker expresses that particle collision with that audible 'Tick' sound that a Geiger counter makes. A well used standard of radiation measurement is CPM or Counts Per Minute. This is the average number of times in a minute that a radioactive particle is detected. Naturally occuring background radiation is anywhere from 15-40 CPM. If it goes much higher then it would be a good idea to find out where the source is coming from. Radon in a basement can be above 900 CPM.
This Geiger Counter from GQ Electronics can detect Beta, Gamma and X-Ray. The radiation readings are displayed in CPM by default. The readings can also be displayed as uSv/hr, used mostly in reference to human exposure, and as mR/hr. There is a built in speaker, a headphone jack for courtesy in the field, a volume control, and a USB jack for built in battery charging and Windows computer data logging viewing.
I found this web site useful for more detailed information about the various types of radiation:
http://hps.org/publicinformation/ate/faqs/radiation.html
Click the picture below to Watch a Video of the GQ Geiger Counter picking up normal background radiation.
Materials Testing:
Some materials give off more radiation than others. When i first got the Geiger counter, I watched a video with someone using it to test radioactive rocks that he had mailed away for and received from a government agency for hobby testing? He had the rocks in glass cases, taking them out to test one at a time. I wouldn't recommend playing with radioactive rocks - unless you know how to take all the precautions.
A Geiger counter would also be useful when selecting materials for a new home building to be sure that the dweller is not living with - too many - more radioactive than normal materials. As an example, granite and marble do give off a little more than normal radiation when they decay. Other household sources of radiation can include televisions, computer monitors, toys, dinnerware, cigarrette smoke, and more.
From the GQ Electronics Website:
GQ Electronics Measured with the GMC-300:
- Normal Background Radiation: 20~40 CPM
- Public park granite table: 50~83 CPM
- Uranium glass bead 238U: 320 CPM
- Uranium ore 238U: 2905 CPM
- Standard 5uCi source: 26500 CPM
Source: http://www.GQElectronicsLLC.com
So why did I get a Geiger Counter?
One day I received a package from my local Nuclear Power plant and the Canadian government. They were upping the precaution levels and safety procedures for the sake of the people - good stuff. They sent along in the package tablets of Potassium Iodine for protecting someones thyroid from cancer for a couple days - just in case of a Fallout. My home and place of business was 10 Kilometers east of the Nuclear Power plant at the time. So I was curious to know more and wanted to be sure I knew the levels for myself, so I purchased the GQ Geiger Counter.
In the picture below you can see the package of Potassium Iodine Tablets mailed to me.
A couple years ago, someone I have known my whole life started working at a Nuclear power plant. His job at the nuclear power plant is to test the levels of radiation that the worker's bodies have built up from being exposed to higher levels of radiation than the body can effectively remove. He tests them on the way into the nuclear plant, then again on the way out. I asked him what they do when a worker has built up too much radiation. He said that back in the day they would 'send them to the bar for the day to drink and piss it out'. I asked what they do now for it, he said 'not much more', they get a few days off until their body radiation levels get back to normal.
Geiger counters can also be used to test food and water for radioactive contamination - especially when you are unsure of the source. Below is a picture of some of the information I received with the Potassium Iodine Tablets.
Be sure to read the Geiger counter Instructions for proper usage, care, and calibration information.
Have a great day! :)
Do Geiger Counters require any form of calibration? If so how often?
They usually come precalibrated, they recomend once a year, if it's for professional services that is often regulated, for this one if you have access to something with a known reading value you calbrate it then. This one has a user replaceable tube if it gets old. I added a sentence at the end of the post to address this - Thanks @preppervetuk :)
Aaah thanks man...
I'll have this post added to Sotall Directory in a few moments, but a fairly big question popped into my mind. I have plenty of tables in stock for my family. But when I looked at all the different Geiger counters on that page and the wide variations in price, it sort of over whelmed me. A post about the different "bells & whistles" could be very helpful (hint, hint)
I purchased the basic one because i wanted a general idea of what was going on with the air and suspicious food or objects. Hospitals, emergency responders, plant technicians, etc would want a more finely acurate geiger counter. I'll do a follow up post to help clear up decisions. Thanks @fernowl13 :)
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