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Mail Irradiation
RadTown USA Topics
This page provides an overview of how and why we irradiate mail in certain parts of the U.S.
On this page:
Overview
In October 2001, the deadly micro-organism anthrax was found in mail sent to various news agencies and to the offices of U.S. Congressmen. As a precaution, the U.S. Postal Service, with assistance from FBI and national public health experts, began irradiating mail to kill potentially present anthrax spores.
Irradiation of mail kills organisms in or on the
envelopes and packages, thereby protecting the recipient against
possible bacterial or viral releases from that mail. It
is a reliable sterilization method that can handle the large flows
of mail that come to Federal agencies.
Irradiating mail does not make it radioactive. The process is comparable to shining a flashlight on the mail – when the flashlight is turned off, mail does not glow, or radiate back the light it received. However, mail tends to be brittle and discolored and may have an unusual smell after it has gone through the irradiation process.
Remember
Irradiation does not make mail radioactiveIndividuals who handle large amounts of irradiated mail have complained of adverse health effects, including skin irritation; eye, nose, and throat irritation; headaches; and nausea. Initially, some workers mistakenly feared these symptoms were due to radiation. It was necessary to ensure they understood the basics of radiation science involved in the process and that the mail itself was not radioactive. The symptoms may have resulted from a combination of factors, including a dry environment, drying effects on the skin from handling irradiated paper, chemicals released from plastics in the mail, and the odor from the irradiated mail.
The irradiation process sterilizes mail by passing it through a high-energy beam--an electron beam or x-ray. This beam is ionizing radiation that delivers in a dose approximately 2 million times more potent than a chest x-ray. The beam penetrates deep into the mail to destroy germs and viruses and is capable of penetrating letter trays and packages.
To ensure that employees and visitors are not exposed to even low levels of radiation at the irradiation facilities, very thick concrete or lead-lined walls shield the exposure rooms. Radiation levels are closely monitored at these facilities to ensure that workers are safe.
Who is protecting you
U.S. Postal Service (USPS)
The USPS irradiates government mail and works to ensure that government workers receiving irradiated mail are not exposed to harmful levels of byproducts.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
HHS's Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) works with other agencies, such as the U.S. Postal Service, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), to investigate health concerns related to irradiating mail.
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) received requests for irradiation health hazard evaluations from the U.S. Postal Service, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, the Sergeant at Arms of the U.S. Senate, and the Chief Administrative Officer of the U.S. House of Representatives. In response to these requests, NIOSH conducted three health hazard evaluations on the handling of irradiated mail by postal employees, federal workers, and Congressional employees. The results showed no air-borne contaminants above accepted occupational exposure limits.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
One of the responsibilities of FDA is to protect the public health and safety by regulating the manufacture of products that emit radiation, which includes irradiation equipment.
U.S. General Services Administration (GSA)
GSA provides Guidelines on Opening Irradiated Mail to safeguard the health and security of federal employees.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
EPA provides federal guidance to protect postal workers and other radiation workers from harmful effects of irradiation. Federal and state agencies use federal guidance in developing radiation rules and regulations that protect radiation workers and the general public.
U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
OSHA protects postal workers from possible effects of irradiation by-products by testing irradiated mail to make sure it is safe to handle.
What you can do to protect yourself
If you handle irradiated mail, you can take a few precautions to minimize any potential health effects Irradiated mail is not radioactive or radioactively contaminated:
- Spread your mail out in a room that has good airflow to minimize the effects of byproducts that might still exist.
- Don’t enclose the mail in a box or a drawer. This may contain vapors given off by the mail within the enclosed space and make the problem worse.
- If you are prone to skin irritation, wear non-latex powder-free gloves when opening mail.
- After washing your hands, use moisturizer to help reduce dryness and irritation.
Resources
| Mail
Irradiation 7 March 2006. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency This page provides answers to some basic questions about mail irradiation. |
Latest
Facts Update
 29 January 2002. U.S. Postal Service This page gives information on mail irradiation and the role that the U.S. Postal Service plays in protecting their employees and the public. |
| NIOSH
Irradiation Mail Reports: USPS. 14 March 2002. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health This page gives information on NIOSH's investigation in response to worker health concerns about handling irradiated mail. (Mail that has been irradiated is not radioactive.) |
| Radiation
Basics – Radiation Shielding
21 September 2004. Health Physics Society This page discusses safety precautions taken by mail irradiation workers to avoid radiation exposure. |