Answer to Question #224 Submitted to "Ask the Experts"

Q

Is there any company in Montreal, Canada, that uses x rays in an industrial purpose (sterilization of food, construction, . . .)?

A

As I understand the question, there are two possible types of facilities:

1. Industrial radiography and
2. Industrial accelerators used to generate x rays for processing.

I am sure that there are several suppliers of industrial radiography in Montreal. The one that I am aware of is X-Per-X (514-255-1679). In Canada there are only two groups who routinely supply high-energy photon--CIC in Laval Quebec (close to Montreal) and Isomedix in Whitby, Ontario. Both of these groups supply gamma rays from ⁶⁰Co.

Considering that food processing was specifically mentioned and taking into account some reticence by the food industry about ⁶⁰Co for processing, I would assume that the questioner meant specifically that he/she wants information about x rays. I am aware of only two groups capable of producing x rays for processing in Canada. They are Acsion Industries in Pinawa, Manitoba, and Iotron Industries in Port Coquitlam, British Columbia. Both of these groups routinely supply high-energy electrons in the 9 to 10 MeV energy range. Both of these suppliers' beam energies exceed the 5 MeV allowable by the Codex and, therefore, neither are capable of x-ray-processing food for human consumption.

Lately there has been a lot of activity within Canada in disinfecting pet food, particularly dog chews. Whether high-energy x rays are allowable for processing pet food is a matter for discussion. Both these suppliers can generate x rays for other industrial processes. Acsion has done radiography in the past, but is not routinely in that business.

John Barnard, PhD
Director of Facilities, Acsion