[CH] USPS Irradiating Seeds

Bob Batson (rcb@kc.rr.com)
Wed, 12 Dec 2001 10:31:09 -0600 

         Seeds at Risk from U.S.P.S. Anti-Anthrax Irradiation

   The U.S. Postal Service has begun irradiating the mail to
inactivate anthrax spores, saying publicly that doses of as much as 20
kiloGrays are being used. Unfortunately for garden seed traders used
to slipping a few seeds into a napkin for padding and mailing them
first class to fellow enthusiasts, 20 kiloGrays of radiation generally
can be expected to kill seeds.
   In October 2000, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced
its approval for irradiating seeds to be used for sprouting in order
to reduce populations of harmful microbes (in particular, Salmonella
and E. coli O157:h7) on the seed surfaces. The FDA limits the maximum
radiation dose to eight kiloGrays, noting that some seeds might not be
able to sprout if exposed to a radiation dose somewhat less than that
maximum.
   Perhaps the best way to be sure shipped seeds arrive in good (that
is, viable) condition is to use United Parcel Service or another
commercial alternative to the U.S.P.S.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Reprinted with permission from the December 2001 _HortIdeas_.
Copyright 2001 by Greg and Pat Williams. HORTIDEAS (ISSN 0742-8219) is
published monthly by Gregory and Patricia Y. Williams, 750 Black Lick
Road, Gravel Switch, KY 40328 U.S.A. Annual subscription rates: U.S.,
$25.00 periodicals or $27.00 first class; Canada and Mexico, $32.00;
Overseas, $30.00 surface mail or $42.00 air mail. Single issues: North
America, $2.50 each; Overseas, $3.00 each, surface mail, or $4.00
each, air mail. The email address for HORTIDEAS is: gwill@mis.net.
_HortIdeas_ is now on the world wide web at
http://www.users.mis.net/~gwill/hi-index.html.
-- 

Bob Batson                            L 39 12 14 N 94 33 16 W
rcb@kc.rr.com                         Kansas City
TCS - Mystic Fire Priest              USDA Zone 5
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Under the most controlled conditions, the experimental apparatus
will do exactly as it pleases.