I ran an experiment of packaging bee equipment and having it irradiated
with Cobalt radiation.  As an engineer, I investigated it fairly fully
before performing.  My process came to about $10/deep box with frames.

 

A couple points that I think worth mentioning are that Cobalt radiation
is absorbed by water as in the containment pool and for that reason it
is not a good method for any equipment containing honey or even honey in
a large block.  The other point is that it is like taking a shotgun with
very small BBs and shooting the equipment and contained bacterial/fungal
spores.  With sufficient dosage, density of BBs is such to destroy any
spores above a certain size with a very high probability.
Unfortunately, continual exposure of equipment also blasts small micro
pores throughout and does weaken the equipment, not much one time
through but does build up.   I have often wondered what the effect is on
plastics of plastic frames and foundation since some radiation and
materials can interact and change the properties of the materials.

 

Raymond J. Lackey  -  Sweet Pines Apiary
Master Beekeeper  -  Eastern Apiculture Society/OSU 1995
Phone:(631)567-1936  FAX:(631)262-8053  Cell: 631-707-1544
mail: 1260 Walnut Avenue, Bohemia, NY 11716-2176
web page: http://www.tianca.com/tianca2.html
email home: [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]> 
email office: [log in to unmask]
<mailto:[log in to unmask]>  

 


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