[ RadSafe ] Radium

[Cheng Kit-man]

The "faint blue coloured luminescence" might have been due to cerenkov
radiation emitted from the fast moving beta particles in hygroscopic radium
compounds.  The same is observed in high activity caesium-137 salts, as
described by the victims of the Goiania Incident of 1987.

On the other hand, the colour of radioluminescence depends on the chemical
composition of and impurities in the phosphors used in the radioluminescent
paints.

K M Cheng
Radiation Health Unit
Department of Health, China Hong Kong

-----Original Message-----
From: radsafe-bounces at radlab.nl [mailto:radsafe-bounces at radlab.nl] On Behalf
Of Bailly, Helen A
Sent: Monday, November 12, 2007 10:17 PM
To: Brennan, Mike (DOH); radsafe
Subject: RE: [ RadSafe ] Radium

 

I am not sure about the faint blue colored luminescence, most of the
radium painted items I've ever seen have had a greenish or yellowish
tint to their luminescence, and as I understand it the luminescence in
most old radium paints actually came from the reaction between the
radium and the zinc in the paint.  This is not to say that that there is
no blue luminescence.

 

The main reason I reply however, is to caution against believing
everything you read on Wikipedia.  Wikipedia is editable by anyone who
looks at it and there is not a screening or verification process, so if
it is edited by a knowledgeable person, as is often the case you are
good, but there is no way of knowing if that is the case.

 

Read Wikipedia with a grain of salt.  

Life is short - Break the rules!  Forgive quickly!  Kiss slowly!  Love
truly! Laugh uncontrollably!... And never regret anything that made you
smile.

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helen Bailly

Radiation Dosimetry Records Unit

CFA-690                  

Mail Stop 4147

(208) 526-5261

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-----Original Message-----
From: radsafe-bounces at radlab.nl [mailto:radsafe-bounces at radlab.nl] On
Behalf Of Brennan, Mike (DOH)
Sent: Thursday, November 08, 2007 12:34 PM
To: radsafe
Subject: [ RadSafe ] Radium

 

The Wikipedia entry on radium says that, "Radium is luminescent (giving

a faint blue color),..."  Does anyone here know if that is true?  I have

been under the impression that the luminescence in radium painted items

was from phosphorescent chemicals in the paint that absorbed energy from

ionizing radiation and re-radiate in the visible spectrum.  There are

other things in the article that I have questions about, too, but I

should be able to answer them with references I have here.

 

What do people here think of Wikipedia?  I have found it to be a useful

source for many topics, though I've also seen content that seems to have

an agenda, or that is "everyone knows" type stuff that is wrong. 

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