Dangerous Luminous Paint off Wartime Aircraft Instrument Dia

[Beany_bot]

Its Radium - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radium" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

All said and done not that harmful at the levels you might encounter unless, like you said you are ingesting it everyday.

[THE MOLE]

i would say dont lick the clock fingers and you should be fine

tm

[stargazer]

When I was still at school in 1970 we used a geiger counter on luminous paint and was told it was radium making it click.

We were learning about radioactivity in either chemistry or physics.

I bet the 'elf n safety' have banned stuff like that now in schools ?

[neil79]

i remember being in science class in the 70s and the teacher had a huge glass box of mercury and we were all playing with it rolling it around with our fingers, and throwing it around etc, sounds very dodgy looking back, and no one washed their hands after, don't think that would happen now!!

I bet you weren't the only one sticking things in mercury in the 70's, i think thats why he died !...He did some great music tho ! .......sorry

[Beany_bot]

i remember being in science class in the 70s and the teacher had a huge glass box of mercury and we were all playing with it rolling it around with our fingers, and throwing it around etc, sounds very dodgy looking back, and no one washed their hands after, don't think that would happen now!!

I bet you weren't the only one sticking things in mercury in the 70's, i think thats why he died !...He did some great music tho ! .......sorry

oh thats such a bad joke!!!!! and his music was rubbish by the way

His music was some of the best this earth has ever seen!

[Beany_bot]

His music was some of the best this earth has ever seen!

sorry beany, just personal taste, now the FACES they were a proper band no fiddling about remixing getting every note perfect AND LIVE WOW!!
sorry about this how it got from aircrafts i don't know lol[/quote]

True mate true different tastes are good


but........try this one " onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

or this one " onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
sorry for going OT

[RRPG]

The type of radiation emitted by the paint is alpha particles. These are the biggest and slowest of the types of radiation and are, thankfully, stopped by glass. So long as you are careful with any dials you find there is nothing to worry about. As I precaution I would wash your hands after cleaning them and keep them in a glass cabinet. If you need to move them, do so with a pair of tweezers. Above all, don't lick them !!! Alpha emitting material is the least dangerous type of radiation, with beta and gamma being far more penetrative and dangerous. The only time this kind of material is particularly nasty is if you ingest or breath it in.

In short, the dials are relatively safe so long as you treat them with all the respect a radioactive material deserves.

Cheers

RRPG

(Pharmacist )

[Boxface]

You need to wear a hat made from tin foil when ever you look at the time fella

[Beany_bot]

The type of radiation emitted by the paint is alpha particles. These are the biggest and slowest of the types of radiation and are, thankfully, stopped by glass. So long as you are careful with any dials you find there is nothing to worry about. As I precaution I would wash your hands after cleaning them and keep them in a glass cabinet. If you need to move them, do so with a pair of tweezers. Above all, don't lick them !!! Alpha emitting material is the least dangerous type of radiation, with beta and gamma being far more penetrative and dangerous. The only time this kind of material is particularly nasty is if you ingest or breath it in.

In short, the dials are relatively safe so long as you treat them with all the respect a radioactive material deserves.

Cheers

RRPG

(Pharmacist )

Radium, in its varying forms can actually produce Alpha, Beta and Gamma particles.
Primarily though it is indeed Alpha decay that Radium emits.
I wouldn't go as far to say that Alpha is the least dangerous though as dose for dose it is far more dangerous that gamma if handled incorrectly (case in point: Litvinenko).
Alpha radiation is the most destructive form of ionizing radiation.
Alpha particles will actually be stopped in 5mm of air let alone glass so if handled safely and keeping your exposure to "as low as reasonably practicable" you should be OK.

Assistant Radiation Protection Supervisor

[Wansdyke44]

If you are digging up this type of thing from a dump site then it is going to be in the air you breath isn't it? Breathing the dust in is going to be far more dangerous than touching it?

[RRPG]

Radium, in its varying forms can actually produce Alpha, Beta and Gamma particles.
Primarily though it is indeed Alpha decay that Radium emits.
I wouldn't go as far to say that Alpha is the least dangerous though as dose for dose it is far more dangerous that gamma if handled incorrectly (case in point: Litvinenko).
Alpha radiation is the most destructive form of ionizing radiation.
Alpha particles will actually be stopped in 5mm of air let alone glass so if handled safely and keeping your exposure to "as low as reasonably practicable" you should be OK.

Assistant Radiation Protection Supervisor

Thanks for that.......my knowledge is a little rusty As a matter of interest, my brother works for the HSE in virtually exactly the same roll as you !



RRPG