New Mexico fairgrounds emptied after low levels of radiation found

CNN ^ | 11/18/06 | CNN

[melt]

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (CNN) -- About 500 people were evacuated from the New Mexico State Fairgrounds Expo as a precaution Saturday evening after low levels of radiation were detected, police said.

A Geiger counter registered the presence of radiation after two objects were discovered at the 236-acre fairgrounds in the heart of Albuquerque, said Lt. Juan Martinez, a spokesman for New Mexico state police.

[ARealMothersSonForever]

Because the article called it a pipe bomb. Duh.

[Migraine]

A granite countertop is detectabe with a Geiger counter.

So... we can pretty much take certain levels of radiation for granite?

My theory is that it's those dadgum tamales they serve there; that'll light ya up!

[IYAAYAS]

"The objects, one appearing to be a pipe bomb and another that appeared to be a paint can". Factoid- most paint cans do not show much more than background. I have never personally checked a pipe bomb with a Geiger counter."

A lot of pipe bombs could be lead pipe, if the devices are lead cylinders with radioactive contents it would need to be a mostly beta or gamma radiation source. That would rule out smoke detector or lamp filament type things.

[Hazcat]

Beta will not make it through lead. Gamma would but only if the source were strong enough. (US Amry 54E (NBC)1983)

[ARealMothersSonForever]

All plumbing pipe today is galvanized steel. Lead actually is much too soft for waterpipes. Lead jacketing has pretty much been done away with, except in some sewerage applications. No matter, any explosives mixed with radioactive material equals a dirty bomb.

[Strategerist]

No matter, any explosives mixed with radioactive material equals a dirty bomb.

So an M-80 strapped to a piece of granite is a dirty bomb?

[ARealMothersSonForever]

According to my wife, yes. She really gets bent if we light them indoors, as well.

[BurbankKarl]

Did they check the Churro machine?

[martin_fierro]

WTF

[CedarDave]

Isn't New Mexico one of the states that we've tested bombs in?

One above ground (Trinity) and two below ground (SE NM and NW NM)

[COEXERJ145]

Gasbuggy and Gnome.

I've seen both of the sites.

[Frank_Discussion]

Holy fudge.

[brytlea]

Alb. is not that close to White Sands. In fact it's a pretty long way, hundreds of miles.
susie

[brytlea]

You've been there? My Mom used to work out at the test track when they were doing the sled tests, way back when.

[Centurion2000]

The objects, one appearing to be a pipe bomb and another that appeared to be a paint can, were found under a car parked near the fairground's fine arts building, Martinez said. One object was marked "nuclear" and the other, "cobalt," he said.

Police believe the radiation was coming from Cobalt 57, a material used in the medical and plumbing industries. Cobalt-57 is a radioactive poison used in biological research. A bomb squad unit and hazardous materials teams were searching the area for any additional devices. (

Sounds like someone found a radiological dirty bomb.

[COEXERJ145]

I visited the Trinity and Gnome sites in March/April 2004.

Visited the Gasbuggy site in August 2005.

[brytlea]

Oh, way after we lived out there. :)
susie

[Mrs. Polifax]

I'm a long time lurker and learner here.(I have never posted before)
My son was at this fair grounds tonight.
He called us several hours ago to tell us they had to evacuate the building he was in.
He travels with a Christian organization that puts on Christian youth concerts around the country. When he was talking to my husband earlier he was told they(the authorites I imagine) smelled gas so they were told to turn off their cell phones.
He just called us back to say they had to pack up and were leaving, the event was called off. He pretty much said the same things the article said.
I guess this happening(bomb and nuclear waste news) will be buried somewhere on page 16b of tomorrows paper. Wonder how much of this stuff we never do hear about.

[UpAllNight]

--Beta will not make it through lead...(US Amry 54E (NBC)1983)--

True. But woe be it to the person that designs a lead shield for beta thinking he is protected from radiation. BSNE 1977

[Frankss]

Actually, modern plumbing is still made of cast iron,brass, copper,glass,plastic of various types, galvanized steel as you said, stainless steel and even lead. Further, lead is used as tubing proper (old buildings) and also as a seal for the cast iron. Gas pipe is similar to plumbing pipe except it is NOT galvanized