Re[2]: scale source

["William CTR Kolb"<William.CTR.Kolb@faa.gov>]

     Fischer Scientific sold single pan Mettler ballances in the 50s that 
     contained radium. The B-5 and B-6 manufactured by Mettler from July 
     1954 to February 1957 and the M-5 manufactured from July 1954 to July 
     1960 contained Radium-226 impregnated "Ionotron" foils made by the 
     U.S. Radium Corporation. These foils were small rings 4 mm in diameter 
     with a 2 mm diameter hole. They were usually placed on the sapphire 
     release beam pins and on top of the brake pan. The rings were made by 
     sealing radium sulfate inside gold and silver foil. The active 
     material in each ring was no more than 3 µCi, making a total of 
     between 6 and 21 µCi per balance depending on the number used. If you 
     lift the top, you should be able to see the metal rings on the pins.
     
     bill
     william.ctr.kolb@faa.tov 
     
     
     
Most likely the source is an anti-static device containing Polonium-210, 
and normally those used in scales are less than 500 microcuries.
     
J. M. Greco, RSO
jgreco@kodak.com
     
     
     
     
     
Lori Powell <LPOWELL@ARS.USDA.GOV> on 11/04/99 09:23:23 AM
     
Please respond to radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu
     
To:   Multiple recipients of list <radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu> 
cc:    (bcc: Joseph M. Greco/497509/EKC)
Subject:  scale source
     
     
     
     
One of our researchers has discovered an old scale in their lab (20 
years) that was manufactured by Fisher that appears to contain some 
type of radioactive source.  They are getting readings on their GM 
survey meter.
     
Does anyone have any idea what this source might be?
     
Lori Powell
USDA/RSS
5601 Sunnyside Ave
Beltsville, MD  20705-5510
************************************************************************ 
The RADSAFE Frequently Asked Questions list, archives and subscription 
information can be accessed at http://www.ehs.uiuc.edu/~rad/radsafe.html
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
************************************************************************ 
The RADSAFE Frequently Asked Questions list, archives and subscription 
information can be accessed at http://www.ehs.uiuc.edu/~rad/radsafe.html
     

************************************************************************
The RADSAFE Frequently Asked Questions list, archives and subscription
information can be accessed at http://www.ehs.uiuc.edu/~rad/radsafe.html