[NHCOLL-L:1510] Fwd: Other: irradiation of mail - consequences for shipping biological samples

[Carla Cicero]

More on mail irradiation, posted on EvolDir:

> >> >Date: Wed, 20 Feb 2002 11:53:23 +0100
> >> >From: Christine Rohde <chr at dsmz.de>
> >> >Subject: irradiation
> >> >
> >> >Dear colleagues,
> >> >
> >> >it's me again re. irradiation of US mail. I have received very valuable
> >> >information from the German American Chamber of Commerce Inc.,
> >> legal dept.,
> >> >which was a good idea to contact! A response came from a lady who is
> >> >lawyer, so from a non-scientist source. The answer is in German, so I can
> >> >only inform you on the most important contents of the letter:
> >> >
> >> >The chamber tried to get in touch with persons involved in irradiation in
> >> >the USA. This was difficult. Furthermore, because of 11th September
> >> >information on irradiation of imports is kept secret for preventive
> >> >reasons. There are irradiation facilities in Washington, Ohio and New
> >> >Jersey. Only selected postal mail seems to be irradiated. Installation of
> >> >more irradiation facilities is planned, more or less covering
> >> the USA. The
> >> >locations are not known/kept secret. Again, it was confirmed
> >> that it is no
> >> >X-ray but high energy electron beam. The energy applied is a
> >> very high dose
> >> >of 8.000 up to 1 million rem.
> >> >
> >> >It is safer to use carriers which don't involve the US postal
> >> mail service
> >> >system. It is recommended to affix stickers saying "do not
> >> x-ray. If x-ray
> >> >is mandatory, do not ship". "Before x-raying do please contact sender
> >> >urgently". You should try to make everything as transparent as
> >> possible for
> >> >the American authorities, that means attaching lists of contents to your
> >> mail.
> >> >
> >> >No information has been given by the American airports. But it is certain
> >> >that no mass irradiation is performed, only for selected luggage/freight.
> >> >The criteria for selection are not known.
> >> >
> >> >Consequently, the best to protect our organisms when shipped to
> >> the USA is
> >> >transparence/declaration and warning stickers.
> >> >
> >> >I hope this helps a bit.
> >> >
> >> >Best regards
> >> >
> >> >Christine
> >> >**********************************
> >> >Dr. Christine Rohde
> >> >DSMZ-Deutsche Sammlung von Mikro-
> >> >organismen und Zellkulturen GmbH
> >> >Mascheroder Weg 1b
> >> >D-38124 Braunschweig
> >> >
> >> >Tel   +531-2616-220
> >> >Fax   +531-2616-418
> >> >Email chr at dsmz.de
> >> >Internet access DSMZ: www.dsmz.de
> >> >**********************************