Re: Radioactive substances in consumer products

[EStill@golder.com (Erik Still)]

     This question came up two years ago on RadSafe, and I happened to save 
     most of the responses.  The following is a compilation of responses 
     that provided apparently useful references.  I am not the original 
     author of any of these responses, so I don't have more information 
     than what I have provided below:
     
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     Read the article "Radioactive Consumer Products in the Classroom", by 
     J. Couch and K. Vaughn, in the Physics Teacher, Vol. 33, Jan. 1995, 
     pp. 18-22. It contains lots of good stuff about Fiestaware, 
     gas-lantern mantles, NoSalt, etc., etc. 
     
     Also, check Golnick, Basic Radiation Protection Technology, 3rd ed., 
     pp 163-166, and
     
     NCRP Report No. 93, Ionizing Radiation Exposure of the Population of 
     the United States, pp 29-34, as well.
     
     ********
     
     NCRP 56 and 95 are a good reference.  The report is entitled 
     "radiation Exposure From Consumer Products and Miscellaneous Sources.
     
     ********
     
     You may try to get a copy of "Radioactivity in Consumer Products" 
     NUREG/CP-0001 published in August of 1978.  There are chapters on 
     Radioluminous materials; mining, agricultural, and construction 
     materials containing radioactivity; Products containing radioactive 
     sources; misc products; and a panel discussion.
     
     ********
     
     The European Commission commissioned a report on consumer products, 
     the report was published in 1995.  The details are as follows:
     
     European Commission
     radiation protection 68
     Study on consumer products containing radioactive substances in the EU 
     Member States.   Contract No 89-ET-023    Report EUR 15846 EN ISBN 
     92-826-9000-8
     
     The report is 112 pages. It covers General Information; Relevant 
     legislation and Guidance; Evaluation of the collected information and 
     Material and Annexs plus references.
     
     The book is orientated to European Community Countries.   Consumer 
     Products listed are: radioluminuous paints, gaseous tritium light 
     sources; antistaic brushes, optical lenses, ceramic tiles and 
     tableware; dental products; glassware; fluorescent lamp starters; 
     electronic tubes/electric lights, incandescent gas mantles; ionization 
     chamber smoke detectors; irradiated gemstones; lightning Conductor 
     attachments; thoriated Tungsten welding electrodes; spa water; 
     building materials; and geological specimens.
     
     Official European Publications, if interested, can be obtained via 
     agents e.g.
     In USA - UNIPUB Lanham MD tel (800) 274 4888 fax (301) 459 0056 In Oz 
     - Hunter Publications tel (3) 417 5361 fax (3) 419 7154
     
     ********
     
     
     The following quote is from the Homer Laughlin China Company, original 
     manufacturer of Fiestaware. (Reference: Sharon and Bob Huxford, The 
     Collectors Encyclopedia 
     of Fiesta, 5th ed. (Collector Books, Paducah, KY, 1984), p. 26.) There 
     may be later editions of the book.
     
     "Before 1943 the colorant,14% by weight of the glaze covering the ware 
     was uranium oxide U308 with the uranium content being made up of about 
     0.7% U-235 and the remainder U-238...the colorant now used is depleted 
     technical grade U308 with the uranium content being made up of about 
     0.2% U-235 and the remainder U-238."
     
     A HPGe gamma spectrum shows the five characteristic low energy U-235 
     peaks nicely. The presence of U-238 can be deduced 
     from the strong gamma peak of its daughter Th-234.
     
     More details, including a Fiestaware gamma spectrum, are given in:  
     Jack G. Couch and Kelly L. Vaughn, "Radioactive Consumer 
     Products in the Classroom," The Physics Teacher, pp 18-22, 
     Vol. 33, Jan, 1995. (Work was done, in part, as a senior project by 
     Kelly, one of our 1995 HP BS graduates)
     
     ********
     
     A neutron goes into a bar and asks the bartender, "How much for a 
     beer?" The bartender replies, "For you, no charge." 
     
     Erik Still
     Senior Risk Analyst
     Golder Associates Inc.
     4104 148th Ave. NE
     Redmond, WA (USA) 98052
     estill@golder.com
     voice: (425) 883-0777
     fax:   (425) 882-5498
     http://www.golder.com
     
     ______________________ Reply Separator________________________________
     Subject: Radioactive substances in consumer products
     Author:  radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu at internet
     Date:    8/17/97 3:45 PM
     
     
     Schoenhofer
     Habichergasse 31/7
     A-1160 Wien
     AUSTRIA
     Tel./Fax: +43-1-4955308
     Mobiltel.: +43-664-3380333
     e-mail: schoenho@via.at
     
     Most people are not aware, that radionuclides are used in quite a 
     number of consumer products. I would be interested in any information 
     about usage of radionuclides in consumer products and as well in 
     legislation. My interest excludes Am-241 in smoke detectors, but even 
     the well know application in luminous dials of watches interest me 
     with respect to legislation in other countries on the use of Ra-226, 
     Pm and tritium. Is there any compilation available on nowaway use of 
     radionuclides in consumer products?
     
I expect that this issue will come up in my country in the near future. I 
do not want to scare anybody - just the other way round. I want to have the 
information in order to answer questions from the public and be able to 
compare to the situation in other countries.
     
Thanks in advance for your information.
     
Franz