To the gamma pallet irradiator

I have an answer to my question, which amount of gamma radiation expressed in kGy is equivalent to the dose of 200,000 r in the manuscript by Cole et al (and that killed 100% of all bedbugs). It's 2 kilogray (2 kGy).

Because Grey et al. did not explain the absolute number of bedbugs killed, we agreed with the salesperson from the irradiation plant, that we would be using 6 kGy for our personal belongings. Apparently, prices increase with greater amounts of gamma radiation.

I've loaded the first 50% in a minivan, and brought it to the irradiation plant last Friday. We were quit well prepared: one of the disadvantages of a pallet irradiator are the limitations of the pallet size: 1,00 m (w) x 1,20 m (l) x 1,85 m (h).

Therefore, we had searched on the internet for boxes for our belongings that could fit exactly on a pallet (prices ranged between 60-90 euro's per pallet / cage). For books, 40 cm x 50 cm x 30 cm was OK. What we did not take into account, were some loose parts that will never fit into a box, e.g. wooden poles of our table, long parts of a locker, a trolly, etc etc. Instead of using a pallet that was covered with shrinking foil, we were given metal cages to put our stuff in. The cage was then covered with shrinking foil.

Besides the size limits of a pallet, gamma irradiation has several other disadvantages. First, transparent glass / plexi glass becomes brown-coloured. Everything that contains electronic equipment will be destroyed. And porcelain was not advised to be irradiated as well.

The time of gamma irradiation depends on the logistics of the plant; we were told that we could get our stuff within four days. I look forward to the first of july, to see if my DVD-player still works.