-----Original Message-----
From: Bob Westerdale [mailto:Bob.Westerdale@ametek.com]
Sent: Monday, September 16, 2002 1:34 PM
To: Kolb, William (WKOLB)
Cc: radsafe@list.vanderbilt.edu
Subject: RE: Radioactive vinegar bottle ?!?!
Bill-
Thanks for the insight- The glass does seem to have an uncommon "opalescence" to it, I'll dig up a UV lamp and see what glows... As an aside, I remember reading somewhere that long ago dentures were made with a bit of Uranium (?) to enhance the natural appearance and glow ( perhaps the wrong term!) of the teeth. Doses to the users were said to be pretty high! Has anyone come across this? I inquired with a few local Dentistry associations, but received no valid responses.
Thanks!!!
Bob Westerdale
"Kolb, William (WKOLB)" <WKOLB@arinc.com> 09/16/02 12:36 PM
To: "'Bob Westerdale'" <Bob.Westerdale@ametek.com>, radsafe@list.vanderbilt.edu
cc:
Subject: RE: Radioactive vinegar bottle ?!?!
Bob,
Ivory glass or Custard glass was made with uranium oxide in amounts ranging
from 0.1 to 10 percent to obtain an opalescent to opaque white glass
beginning in the mid 1880s. One way to test for the deliberate presence of
uranium rather than tramp contaminants is to expose the glass to UV light.
It will glow a bright yellow green under both long and shortwave UV.
bill
ARINC
-----Original Message-----
From: Bob Westerdale [mailto:Bob.Westerdale@ametek.com]
Sent: Monday, September 16, 2002 10:48 AM
To: radsafe@list.vanderbilt.edu
Subject: Radioactive vinegar bottle ?!?!
Greetings Radsafers,
While clearing up some old broken glass I uncovered an unusual
white-glass souvenir bottle from the 1939 World's Fair, which I have come
to find out was originally filled with vinegar and sold by the A&P company
( foodstore).
Just by chance I happened to wave a survey meter at this bottle, and to my
surprise it was slightly radioactive- approximately .2 mR/hr with a
Victoreen Ion Chamber. I'd assume this manufactured this way
intentionally ( maybe?)-- any idea why? Glazing? ( ala Fiesta ware?)
I tried to take a spectrum ( EDS from about 3 keV to about 20 keV) but
couldn't see anything. Maybe a beta emmitter?
A couple sheets of paper don't seem to stop it, so I suspect no alphas are
present.
I found one pictured on EBay ( of course) for anyone who might be curious.
( no, it's not mine!)
Thanks,
Bob Westerdale
RSO, EDAX Inc.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=713600431