Scosche's RDTX-PRO for iPhone and iPod touch detects radiation

Scosche Industries produces a wide line of accessories for Apple products, ranging from iPad cases and flexible keyboards to screen cleaners and headphones. Now the company has developed and is selling the RDTX-PRO Radiation Detector and app for the iPhone and iPod touch.

Primarily designed for those who are affected by radiation from the disaster at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station in Japan, the US$329.99 device will be sold at Synexx in Tokyo beginning in September.

The RDTX-PRO can either be plugged into an iPhone or iPod touch via the dock connector or used as a standalone radiation alarm. When being used as a standalone alarm, the device runs on a single AA battery for up to 96 hours.

What's unique is that the device requires no calibration at all, but can still detect gamma radiation above 60keV with +/- 5 percent accuracy. The accompanying free radTEST app makes it easy to interpret the readings, showing simple green (safe), yellow (elevated), and red (dangerous) zones on a meter. A digital display is available for advanced users who wish to get exact radiation level readings, and the results can be shared via Facebook and Twitter or viewed on a Google Map.

Scosche is donating $10 of each sale to charities that are assisting people affected by the Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami, with a goal of $1 million within two years.