Re: U pencil

[FRAMEP@ORAU.GOV]

A long while ago, someone requested information about a pencil he had
found/purchased. The pencil had a clear plastic capsule at one end that
contained uranium.  No answer, at least on radsafe, followed. I just
received  relevant info, courtesy of some fine folk at the NRC:

The pencils are about 8", long. The plastic capsule, between the wood of
the pencil and the eraser,  was about 1.5 ". On the plastic were the
words "Actual sample of uranium ore, the start of nuclear power, AEC
License # C-3569". 

The pencil was made by the Kingston Pencil Company of Chatanooga
Tennessee  from 1956 to 1960. The capsule contained 1.5- 2.5 grams of
gray ore. The uranium content varied tremendously: from real low grade
material, say 0.1% up to a more respectable 2%. The pencils were
printed with a slogan suited to the company buying the pencils from the
Kingston Pencil Co e.g. "Chicken Delight's conduction method has done
for the food business what uranium ore has done for the AEC"

In New York, the Department of Health recommended that local health
departments try to get the pencils withdrawn from circulation. In
response, the Erie County Health Dept ordered 500 pencils confiscated
saying that they "posed a significant hazard if ingested by a child" .

In at least one  instance, it seems that a child chewed off the eraser and
swallowed some of the ore. The eraser served to plug one end of the
capsule, so biting it off freed the ore. Aside from the Erie Co Health Dept,
everyone else apparently agreed that the only problem was bad PR.

Let's hope hope the originator of the question is still on the list.

And happy birthday to Wilhelm Rontgen!

Paul Frame
Professional Training Programs
ORISE
framep@orau.gov