Uranium Oxide

[Lynn Dobbs <LDOBBS@gwm.sc.edu>]

Looking for RADSAFE answers to odd question of the week:
Our ceramics department has located a 10 pound bag of uranium oxide
used in glazes.   The caller was QUITE concerned after reading all kinds
of "information" on uranium on his listserv group dealing with pottery and
ceramics.  (He was told the stuff was illegal to possess and that atomic
warheads are made from it.)  Naturally, he is EAGER to rid his
department of this menace.  Question- How do we dispose of 10 pounds
uranium oxide?  (John Mccormick- are you out there?)   How do we ease
this individual's fear that he has been around this "bomb-making" material
for years?   I did explain the use of uranium oxide in the Fiestaware and
that seemed to calm him down a bit.
Thanks for all responses.
PS.  I have searched the RADSAFE archives for all the information on
fiestaware and pulled some of that out for the guy.  Hopefully it will help.

Lynn Dobbs
Lynn.Dobbs@sc.edu
Univ. of South Carolina- Radiation Safety Office
"Waiting on Hurricane Fran"