[PADG:1597] Re: irradiated mail

["Eliza Gilligan" <gilligane@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Ellen-  

please put this summary in the Abbey Newsletter!  We would like to get this information out to as many people as possible.  Yes, irradiation is only happening to a few DC zip codes but I think this could affect libraries every where.

thanks
eliza

Eliza Gilligan
Book Conservator
Preservation and Exhibition Services Department
Smithsonian Institution Libraries
SISC Rm 2H7
Washington, DC 20560-0806

(202) 357-1486

gilligane@xxxxxxxxxx

>>> abbeypub@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 02/15/02 10:29AM >>>
Eliza - I would like to put this report in the Abbey Newsletter, because it
is a matter of general concern, and many readers do not read the DistList
regularly or at all.  OK?

Ellen McCrady


>On January 28, 2002 the Smithsonian Institution Libraries hosted a meeting
>with representatives from the US Postal Service, Titan Corporation, CLIR,
>and several federal libraries in the Washington DC area.
>
>What follows is a list of the participants and a summary of the discussion.
>
>****************
>
>Summary of Irradiation of Library & Archives Materials Meeting
>January 28, 2002  Dillon S. Ripley Center, Smithsonian Institution
>
>Present
>Pete Allen, Sales Team Leader, U.S. Postal Service
>Thomas Edwards, Manager of Government Relations, U.S. Postal Service
>Susan Frampton, Head, Preservation and Exhibition Services Department,
>Smithsonian Institution Libraries
>Eliza Gilligan, Conservator, Smithsonian Institution Libraries
>Doris Hamburg, Head of Preservation, National Archives & Records
>Administration
>Kaylyn Hipps, Association of Research Libraries
>Darren McKnight, Chief Technology Officer, Mailsafe-Titan Corporation
>Robert Mohrman, Acting Chief, Library, Walter Reed Army Medical Center
>Andrew Robb, Senior Photo Conservator, Library of Congress
>Lu Rossignol, Head, Acquisition Services, Smithsonian Institution Libraries
>Irene Schubert, Chief, Preservation Reformatting Division, Library of Congress
>Abby Smith, Director of Programs, Council on Library and Information Resources
>Laurie Stackpole, Chief Librarian, Naval Research Library
>Sarah Stauderman, Preservation Manager, Smithsonian Institution Archives
>Susan Tarr, Executive Director, Federal Library and Information Center
>Committee
>Charles Tumosa, Senior Research Chemist, Smithsonian Center for Research
>and Materials Education
>Dianne van der Reyden, Senior Paper Conservator, Smithsonian Center for
>Research and Materials Education
>Savannah Schroll, Public Information Officer, Smithsonian Institution
>Libraries, Recorder
>
>Agenda:  to gather information about the irradiation process and U.S.
>Postal Service plans regarding government mail, so that affected federal
>libraries and archives can react and plan accordingly.  Provide a forum to
>express concerns over the current and long-term effects of irradiation of
>collection materials.
>
>U.S. Postal Service
>Thomas Edwards and Pete Allen
>
>The Office of Science and Technology Policy and the Office of Homeland
>Security were the government entities that determined if the mail is to be
>treated for bio-hazards, the most effective point is when it is processed
>by the U.S. Postal Service (USPS).  These same Offices also chose
>irradiation as the most effective method for neutralizing those
>bio-hazards.
>
>At this time, all mail directed to the White House, Congress and the
>Library of Congress (as part of the Capitol complex) is being irradiated.
>
>
>For zip codes beginning with 202-205, all first class mail and flats are
>being irradiated.  At present, parcels, boxes and packages are not being
>irradiated; however, new technology using an x-ray irradiation process has
>been developed and will soon be implemented for these larger items.
>
>The USPS realizes that irradiating all mail is not the optimal solution,
>but until they can put a more balanced system in place, they will continue
>with the current program for treating the mail.  They are working with
>industry and the Department of Defense to develop new methods of detection
>and sanitization.
>
>Mail Safe- Titan Corporation
>Darren McKnight
>
>Irradiation dosage levels are set by the USPS, as the client, in
>consultation with the Department of Defense.  They determined what would
>kill the most virulent known strain of anthrax and then increased that
>dosage by several orders of magnitude.  When this process began, there was
>very little information available on what it would take to neutralize
>anthrax.  The USPS went with a high dose as a precaution, and will
>evaluate the possibility of a lower dosage as more research is completed.
>
>When the irradiation system was implemented, there was a tremendous amount
>of mail to be bundled and processed, with "maximum throughput" of
>backlogged material as the goal.  Large bundles of mail were processed and
>received a higher irradiation dose.  Bundles of mail, gathered by hand,
>were not uniform in size and therefore, neither were the irradiation
>dosages received.   Since the initial phase of the project, bundle size
>has been standardized: 2" - 3" bundles are put into 5 ½" letter trays and
>circulated on a conveyor belt.  The bundles travel past the electron beam
>twice, and are exposed on both sides.
>
>The actual dosage materials receive depends on how thick the bundles or
>packages are; how slowly they pass on the conveyor belt under the electron
>beam or x-ray machine; whether they are irradiated twice or exposed on
>both sides; and human error.
>
>Side effects of the irradiation process include:
>
>* The amount of heat produced. As the dosage increases, so does the
>temperature.  The current dosages are producing temperatures up to 130°
>Celsius.  These temperatures desiccate paper and cause most of the
>apparent damage to the mail.
>
>* The potential for the creation of carbon monoxide and ozone gases as
>chemical reactions take place within the irradiated materials.  This side
>effect can be particularly serious for materials inside plastic shipping
>bags.
>
>Open Forum
>
>High temperatures produced during the irradiation process cause the
>"visible" damage.  Lowering the dosage will lower the heat of the process,
>but not eliminate it altogether.
>
>More significantly, in addition to the damage caused by heat, is the
>unseen damage caused by the irradiation. The irradiation process imparts a
>tremendous amount of energy to the items being irradiated.  This energy,
>while neutralizing bio-hazards, also acts as a catalyst for chemical
>reactions, causing accelerated deterioration of paper and other materials.
>
>Action steps proposed at the meeting included:
>
>* If possible, use a post office box outside of the affected zip code areas.
>
>* Qualify and quantify the damage seen within your library or archive, to
>support the concept that collection material is at risk.
>
>* Determine the percentage of your collection that is at risk - both
>visible and inherent - from irradiation, and the costs associated with
>that risk.
>
>* Contact the Homeland Security Office, USPS (and hopefully the White
>House, who is setting policy concerning irradiation of mail), outlining
>the consequences of loss of collection materials and the costs associated
>with the replacement, staff time, resources, legal stewardship, lawsuits,
>etc.
>
>* Collect samples of expendable material to send to Titan for testing, to
>determine effects of future procedures.
>
>Participants agreed to form a small working group to gather information on
>current and expected damage and related costs.  Members to include: Susan
>Frampton, Doris Hamburg, Andrew Robb, Irene Schubert and Abby Smith.
>Susan Frampton agreed to collect samples from participants for testing by
>Titan.  Susan Tarr agreed to serve as a conduit to gather information from
>and distribute information to the broader federal library community.
>
>
>
>
>
>Eliza Gilligan
>Book Conservator
>Preservation and Exhibition Services Department
>Smithsonian Institution Libraries
>SISC Rm 2H7
>Washington, DC 20560-0806
>
>(202) 357-1486
>
>gilligane@xxxxxxxxxx 



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