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RE: Radioactive vinegar bottle ?!?!
0.05% by weight is the limit for licensing of source material. Below
that it is essentially exempt from regulatory oversight. Greater than
that and it qualifies as source material and would require a
radioactive materials license unless it met one of the specific
exemptions in 10CFR40.13(c).
Marty Bourquin
Marty.Bourquin@Grace.com
-----Original Message-----
From: liptonw@DTEENERGY.COM [mailto:liptonw@DTEENERGY.COM]
Sent: Tuesday, September 17, 2002 7:39 AM
To: DLT@CDRH.FDA.GOV
Cc: Bob.Westerdale@ametek.com; WKOLB@arinc.com;
radsafe@list.vanderbilt.edu
Subject: Re: Radioactive vinegar bottle ?!?!
NCRP Report No. 95, "Radition Exposure of the U.S. Population From
Consumer Products and Miscellaneous Sources," states, in paragraph
3.2.7.4, "Dental Products": "Porcelain teeth and crowns are composed
principally of feldspar minerals that contain cmall quantities (0.001
percent) of naturally occurring K-40. The practice of adding uranium
salts was initiated at least half a century ago when it was discovered
that small amounts of the element contributed a natural color and
fluorescence to dentures...Under regulations of the U.S. Nuclear
Regulatory Commission, neither domestic nor imported teeth and powders
may contain in excess of 0.05 percent by weight of uranium..."
I can't find this requirement in the regulations. Does anyone know
where it is?
The opinions expressed are strictly mine.
It's not about dose, it's about trust.
Curies forever.
Bill Lipton
liptonw@dteenergy.com
"Thompson, Donald L." wrote:
In regard to dental porcelain, FDA's Bureau of Radiological Health
published a report on the topic in 1976 which lead to an industry
standard on uranium limits and later to substitutes for uranium. Let
me know if you want a copy as I have one or two left.
-----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
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