Fiesta one more time

[keith varnado <kvarnado@premier1.premier.net>]

Just reorganizing my office when I came across an interesting 
article in the September 1992 HP Journal about the leaching
of uranium from glass and ceramic.

As a synopsis, there is BOTH uranium-containing glassware and 
ceramic glazes. During the early 20th century, uranium salts 
were produced as by-products of the radium extraction industry. 
Yellow sodium uranate was used in quantities of up to 25 weight 
percent to produce a yellow-green glass. As the atomic bomb era
moved foreward, the U.S. War Production Board largely prohibited 
the use of uranium for non-military use. When restricions were 
lifted in 1959, the use of uranium salts began again, largely for 
dinnerware, with a red-orange glaze. The production of the major 
variety (Fiesta) of uranium glazed tableware ended in 1972.

As far as leaching goes, the uranium-containing glass, under test 
conditions using 24 hour exposures with (1) deionized water and 
(2) 4% acetic acid solution(similar to household vinegar) 
represented most typical household uses. The uranium-containing 
glassware had minimal uranium leaching. The Fiesta, however, 
displayed relatively low 3.9-10.6 ug/liter uranium leachate with 
the water, but values of 470-31,800 ug/liter when tested with the 
acetic acid solution. With the amount of normal use of this 
dinnerware, I wouldn't recommend using acidic foods with the 
Fiesta but I wouldn't be overly concerned with health hazards 
arising from it.

Again, interesting article.



	Keith Varnado, CHP
	kvarnado@mail.premier.net