Re: Household radioactive materials?

[BFLOOD@SLAC.Stanford.EDU (Bob Flood)]

Another memory jogged - there was a time in the 30's to 50's when phosphate
slag from various maunfacturing processes was used to make building blocks.
Some turned out to be unacceptably radioactive.


> I just remembered something else to add to the list. At Fairchild AFB in
> Spokane, WA, there were a number of the base houses which had been insulated
> with phospho-gypsum insulation.  There was some concern that the radium in
> this material might increase the radon emanation rate in the houses, but I
> believe that testing of the houses showed this wasn't the case. Admittedly,
> this is kind of stretching it for an example of a "household radioactive
> material."
>
> Also, the energy-saving "compact fluorescent" lamps indicated in a previous
> posting can contain Kr-85; I have one from Phillips whose box says it contains
> 15 nanocuries.
>
> Bruce Pickett
> The Boeing Company, Seattle, WA
> shea136@kgv2.bems.boeing.com
>
>
>
Bob Flood
Unless otherwise noted, all opinions are mine alone.
(415) 926-3793
bflood@slac.stanford.edu