Re: Use of unsealed thorium

[Les Fraley <les@lamar.ColoState.EDU>]

On Mon, 13 May 1996 Ccja@aol.com 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.
> 
Coleman lantern mantles have also been used in handmade cloud chambers 
that use absolute EtOH.  They work great IF the mantle is an older one, 
say 15 to 20 years old.  Newer ones were made differently, however, and 
dissolve in EtOH - not so good.  I have heard, but not confirmed, that 
the mose recent mantles do not contain Th.