Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) conducted quantitative and qualitative surveys to document views and opinions of scientists and researchers with firsthand experience operating x-ray devices for a wide range of research applications. The goal of the study was to fill critical information gaps and identify misconceptions widely held among the research community regarding the transition from Cesium-137 irradiators to x-ray devices.

The survey instrument focused on three distinct yet interrelated areas that impact users' experience: operational impacts, including infrastructure needs, workflow, personnel management, and training, and regulatory compliance; research design and investigation impacts, including calibration, dosimetry, continuity of previous studies, development of new research agendas, and the outcomes for both; and funding impacts.

A key finding is that overall, the transition from Cesium to x-ray irradiators is not disruptive. In terms of operational impacts, the need for adjustments to infrastructure and retraining of personnel were commonly cited. Nevertheless, half of respondents that transitioned from Cesium-137 irradiators to x-ray devices indicated that they experienced no noticeable efficiency impacts on their research. Moreover, 40.9% reported that efficiency had increased. The survey data found comparable results with x-ray usage. Few respondents reported decreases and half indicated that irradiator usage had increased since transitioning to x-ray devices. A considerable number of respondents (46.5%) indicated the transition did not significantly impact their research and 16.3% described disruptions as “inconvenient but manageable.” What is more significant is that 31.3% considered the transition to have positive impacts on their research.​