Re: Use of unsealed thorium

[DOUG TURNER <turners@earthlink.net>]

Some manufacturers use thorium in the constuction of aluminum oxide grinding
wheels.  Tungsten welding TIG rods are sometimes thoriated also. Doug Turner

At 01:29 PM 5/13/96 -0500, you wrote:
>I should have said that probably the best unknown use of Th, for the average
>consumer, is as mantles for (Coleman) gas lanterns. I've used these, in the
>plastic envelopes in which they're sold, as check sources for alpha
>scintillometers. They don't come any cheaper, or more rugged, and there are
>no licensing headaches.
>Anyone, of course, can buy one in any Army/Navy or camping store, take it
>home, and, more than likely, burn it down inside their tent. Here note that
>the inhalation ALI for Th-232 (Class Y) is 0.003 uCi, where that for Pu-239,
>which gets all of the press, is 0.02! Go figure.
>
>