RE: RE k-40

["Algutifan, Elizabeth K. (ELB) " <elb@bechteljacobs.org>]

Conrad, it's funny you should mention refractory brick: Someone just asked
me about that subject. Do you have a reference that discusses emissions from
refractory brick? 

Thanks,
Elizabeth Algutifan, CHP

> -----Original Message-----
> From:	Sherman, Conrad [SMTP:ShermaC@ttemi.com]
> Sent:	Thursday, August 17, 2000 8:04 PM
> To:	Multiple recipients of list
> Subject:	RE k-40
> 
> Elizabeth
> 
> In reference to your post on glass screens;  Just so you are not
> surprised;
> the same phenomena occurs with porcelain as in toilet fixtures, ceramic
> tile, refractory brick (maybe from k-40), bags of fertilizer, people, and
> so
> forth.
> 
> I once discovered the highest source of radiation in a room was in rolls
> of
> newsprint bound for the sunday San Francisco paper (Yes Virgina, your
> paper
> is ever so slightly contaminated).  I was puzzled until I saw that it was
> being shipped from somewhere north of Hamburg.
> 
> 
> Conrad Sherman
> 
> Date: Thu, 17 Aug 2000 09:43:31 -0400 
>   From: "Algutifan, Elizabeth K. (ELB) " <elb@bechteljacobs.org> 
>   To: "'RADSAFE@ROMULUS.EHS.UIUC.EDU'" <RADSAFE@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu> 
>   Subject: The VDT Problem Solved (I think) 
>   Message-ID:
> <811396C72B51D1119F8F0000F803D6D8104F2955@exchange10.ctd.ornl.gov> 
> 
>   A couple of weeks ago I asked for advice on what was causing elevated 
>   readings to show up on regular old computer monitor screens. The answer
> was 
>   so simple it was right under my nose (literally!) - K-40. Those of us
> not 
>   working in the glass industry, and that probably includes most of us on
> this 
>   listserv, may not be aware that many glass manufacturers use potash, or 
>   potassium carbonate, as an alkali ingredient in the glass mixture.
> Alkali 
>   serves to lower the melting point of the silica or whatever they use as
> the 
>   main ingredient. So, just as a banana is radioactive, so are many of our
> 
>   computer screens! I hope I haven't planted a new fear in society by 
>   revealing this information. But maybe it'll give all the activists
> something 
>   new to focus their radioactive worries on for a while. 
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