Surge in demand for radiation detectors in Singapore

Local company QT Instruments, one of the few companies here that sell the specialised equipment, said sales tripled in the weeks after the March 11 disaster. It sold all 20 of the dosimeters it had in stock within a week, and has orders for 100 more from various local companies.

Dosimeters - which can range from the size of a pen to the size of a person's palm - are typically used to measure a person's exposure to radiation. They cost between $400 and $600, with most small enough to be either worn or carried in pockets. They are different from Geiger counters, which measure airborne radiation and cost thousands of dollars.

A Geiger counter is about the size of a brick and is used to measure larger areas. Sales of Geiger counters at QT Instruments have also increased, with up to five counters ordered every day.

ORIGINAL SOURCE