Has anyone had any experience with gamma rayed skins,especially birds..australian taxidermist wishing to take birds skin home fro m trip to usa and want to know any effects it has on a specimen and if it is still mountable,,was going to use a bird tan on the skin prior to export from us,,,i am hoping to send a chicken or something to them to be done and see,,but any help would be most appreciated..thankyou regards Mark,
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This goes too far back in my military career for my liking, but if I RECALL, gamma radiation is actually astronomically fine solid traveling at light speed. When living tissue is exposed to gamma, it goes through so quickly, there is no "burn". "Burns" from gamma come when the tissues are inundated to point of destruction. It works like x-rays. To much can be deadly. On dead tissue, since the cells aren't reproducing anyway, they simply perforate while killing any small living organisms in the skin.
Mark,(& George)
Gamma radiation is a wavelength, just as light is. George is correct in that it has absolutely no effect on DEAD tissue. Gamma comes from what is known as a man-made "live" source for example, Iridium 192, Cobalt 60, Uranium 234, ect. They use Cobalt 60 in Cancer radiation treatment. I was a Industrial Radiographer (X-rayed welds) for bout 10 years. Now, as for having an effect on smaller organisms which may use a pelt or skin as a host, well, we would need someone one helluvalot smarter than me LOL. The exposure of the tissue to a Gamma source will have no effect nor will it become contaminated as many people are led to believe, so mount away. And to be quite frank, unless there is something that I am missing information wise, there is no gain to be had exposing the skin to the radiation. (Unless it's a Gov't thing). Hope this helps! Good luck.
Mac
I believe what you are thinking of are Alpha and Beta particles. Those who smoke inhale minute bits of radiation in the form of Alpha particles, if memory serves me correctly. Beta particles are solids that a piece of paper could stop. As for their origin, well, I'd have to beat my head on the table a bit more to see if I can rattle loose that part of my memory! LOL
Mac
Told you it'd been too long ago. LOL
...and Thank You for the Turkey Tail Info!
Mac