Re: Radioactive gems circulating in Asia?

[Warren_Church@uml.edu (Warren Church)]

The color change appears to be permanent.

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> From: Theodore S Bohn <BST@inel.gov>
> To: Multiple recipients of list <radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu>
> Subject: Re: Radioactive gems circulating in Asia?
> Date: Wednesday, November 12, 1997 10:01 AM
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> Has it been noticed if the irradiated gems return to their original color
> upon decay?
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> novarso@franklin.lisco.com on 11/11/97 10:50:17 PM
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> Please respond to radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu
> 
> 
> To:   radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu
> cc:    (bcc: Theodore S Bohn/BST/LMITCO/INEEL/US)
> Subject:  Re: Radioactive gems circulating in Asia?
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Michael Willamson was right in saying that some gemstones might be
legally
> radioactive.  Here is an example of some test lots of white topaz that
was
> irradiated for 100 hours.     Activities in Bq/g
>           Lot #          1A   2B
>           Ta-182         13   71
>           Mn-54           5.5 11.3
>           Sc-46           2.8  8.5
>           Sb-124          2.1
>           Cs-134          2
> The above activities were measured several months after irradiation!  In
> the case of lot 2B almost one year would need to pass before the U.S.
> release level of 15 Bq/g would be reached.
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