Re: [AV Media Matters] New Test Results

[jhartke@mscience.com]

No evidence of heating was observed for our samples irradiated at 40
kGy. Is there specific information available about higher doses used?
Anecdotal comments suggest that dosage may have been reduced following
complaints, but nothing specific has been offered.

J. Hartke
Media Sciences

gluk@loc.gov wrote:
> 
> In the interest of generating further comment on the science involved
in
> this testing, it should be noted that the Library of Congress has also
> received significant amounts of "melted" CD discs and jewel cases as a
> result of the USPS irradiation procedures that have been applied to
all
> incoming mail following the resumption of regular mail deliveries to
the
> Library (including the U.S. Copyright Office) in March 2002. As a
> previous post suggested, it is apparently the heat generated by the
> process that is largely responsible (although the temperature levels
> were lowered somewhat after the initial extreme damage was observed).
> 
> _______________________
> Gregory Lukow
> Assistant Chief
> Motion Picture, Broadcasting & Recorded Sound Division
> The Library of Congress
> 101 Independence Avenue, S.E.
> Washington, DC 20540-4690
> Phone: 202-707-5840
> Fax:  202-707-2371
> Email:  gluk@loc.gov
> 
> >>> jhartke@mscience.com 05/04/02 11:38:26 AM >>>
> Results we reported for CD discs were based on tests conducted in
> close
> coordination with the USPS and with one of the companies that
> irradiate
> mail under contract to the USPS. Electron beam energy and dose were
> comparable to those now in use for that purpose.
> 
> Information from Mr. Brothers is somewhat confusing. It seems to be
> second-hand and third-hand information, and is not confirmed by the
> controlled experiments we just reported. Media Sciences is not aware
> of
> any irradiation of mail that melts package contents, including CD
> discs
> and jewel cases? When did this irradiation occur? Was it U.S. mail or
> did it go through a different postal system?
> 
> J. Hartke
> 
> Peter Brothers wrote:
> >
> > Tape, as well as discs are being damaged by the irradiation now
> being
> > used
> > on mail.
> >
> > After giving a presentation at the National Archives in DC on
> disaster
> > recovery of magnetic tapes, I was approached by a government
> employee
> > who
> > asked if irradiation is likely to damage magnetic tape.  I mentally
> > reviewed
> > the studies that have been done by various agencies and industries
> over
> > the
> > years and answered, as most experts would, "No, irradiation is not
> > likely to
> > seriously damage magnetic tape".  And, unless someone does something
> > that
> > most experts wouldn't consider because it is obviously ridiculous,
> the
> > answer was correct.
> >
> > Of course, this government agency had recently received a number of
> > magnetic
> > recordings through the mail that had been melted.
> >
> > It was once safe to take magnetic media through airport security.
> They
> > have
> > now added magnetic wands that can erase media.  Irradiation has been
> > used in
> > the past to kill fungus on media.  They now irradiate in such a way
> and
> > with
> > such intensities that it melts the media.  Another method rumored to
> be
> > under consideration for treating media, on site, that is suspected
> of
> > anthrax contamination is a 50% chlorine solution.  I'm no
> > microbiologist, so
> > I can't fairly evaluate if this would kill the spores.  I do know of
> a
> > number of media, however, that don't stand a chance of surviving the
> > treatment.
> >
> > So, yes, there are a number of instances where media has actually
> been
> > melted by the irradiation now being used on letters and envelopes.
> > Strangely enough, unless they have changed the policy recently, they
> are
> > only irradiating envelopes- not boxes.  Go figure.  I guess they
> assume
> > anthrax spores don't like boxes.  Until they change the policy, you
> > might
> > want to consider shipping all your media in boxes.  It may be more
> > expensive
> > for single units but it's a real pain trying to play back melted
> tapes
> > or
> > discs.
> >
> > Peter Brothers
> > SPECS BROS., LLC
> > Tape and Disc Disaster Recovery
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Charles Repka [mailto:Charles.P.Repka@abc.com]
> > Sent: Friday, May 03, 2002 8:46 AM
> > To: AV Media Matters
> > Subject: RE: [AV Media Matters] New Test Results
> >
> > But the heat generated by other sterilization processes will
> absolutely
> > fry
> > the discs.  We have received a number of (promotional) CD here in
> our
> > office
> > that had been run through a sterilization process.  The discs
> heavily
> > discolored and warped beyond recognition.
> >
> > Charles Repka
> > >
> > >
> > > Tests conducted by Media Sciences in early 2002 on CD-ROM discs,
> > > recorded CD-R discs, and unrecorded CD-R discs indicate that
> electron
> > > beam irradiation of the type used to sterilize U.S. mail does
> > > not impair
> > > media interchange. See http://www.mscience.com/faq29.html.
> > >
> > > Regards,
> > > J. Hartke
> > > Media Sciences, Inc.

==^================================================================
This email was sent to: waiscool+av-media-matters@cool.conservation-us.org

EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?aaP8EW.bWciq7
Or send an email to: AV-Media-Matters-unsubscribe@topica.com

T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail!
http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register
==^================================================================