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22 March 2010

Answer to Question #6525 Submitted to "Ask the Experts"

Category: Environmental and Background Radiation — Water

The following question was answered by an expert in the appropriate field:

We have just moved our office to the third floor of our building. A guy came to the office with two sticks in his hands; later he made a report saying that the place where I'm sitting is the worst part, with the most radiation, and that the main cause is the underground water flow under the building. I now have to move my computer and everything to another side of the table. I wonder if you could tell me—would the water flow really cause radiation? The guy also sells mouse pads, rings, and stones that are supposed to be antiradiation. Is that true? Thank you and I await your quick reply!

You are quite correct in being concerned about your possible radiation exposure, but what you describe is bizarre and contrary to scientific knowledge. Ionizing radiation, which is what we are concerned with, can only be detected and measured with special equipment such as Geiger Mueller (GM) counters. It is not caused by underground water flow, and indeed items such as mouse pads, rings, and stones are not "antiradiation." It seems as if you have been given erroneous information. You do not need to worry about your radiation exposure. But we should be concerned about the person who has apparently misrepresented the radiation situation and furthermore is apparently attempting to profit from this misrepresentation through the sale of bogus "antiradiation" items.

I suggest that as a good citizen you advise your state office of radiation control (and if you tell me what state you reside in I will be pleased to provide you with its telephone number and a point of contact) of just what you have told us so the personnel there are aware of this individual. There may also be legal ramifications to what he is doing, but as I am not an attorney or familiar with the laws and regulations of your state, I cannot give you advice or even comment regarding legal matters. But your state office of radiation control would likely be able to help or advise in this regard, and again I urge you to contact them. The personnel are there to serve you and will do so at no cost to you.

Ron Kathren, CHP

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