The complementary nature of electron and gamma radiation for the sterilization of a wide variety of products

In applications of radiation processing, using the biological effects of radiation on living cells, electron and gamma radiation are in principle interchangeable. The choice between the two types of radiation can be made on the basis of technical and economical parameters, characterizing a specific application. As for the economical factors, determining the choice if both types of radiation are applicable under technical aspects, the average product density and the required irradiation capacity (annual quantity x dose) are the most important. It is shown that the availability of powerful electron accelerators in the 3 MeV range and above makes the radiation sterilization economically more attractive for low density products and very large irradiation capacities, in competition less to gamma radiation than to other sterilization methods. Thus, both types of radiation are really complementary in extending the radiation sterilization. (author)