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This event happened back in the eighties and there have been changes to warning symbols in response to this and similar incidents. ISO 21482 specifies an extre

by rm445 5y ago

This event happened back in the eighties and there have been changes to warning symbols in response to this and similar incidents. ISO 21482 specifies an extremely scary-looking radiation symbol [1], to be placed inside such equipment (radiography/radiotherapy etc) as a last-ditch warning. The message might well get through even to a barely-literate scrap thief. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hazard_symbol#Ionizing_radiation_symbol https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hazard_symbol#Ionizing_radiati...

gus_massa 5y ago
Some idiots are using the extremely scary-looking radiation symbol (or something too similar) to sell soda, for example https://www.amazon.com/-/es/Radioactive-Mulberry-Marciano-Individual-botella/dp/B01H5VYBPG https://www.amazon.com/-/es/Radioactive-Mulberry-Marciano-In... IIUC this is just water with sugar and a fluorescent dye, not radioactive material (except the natural amount of radioactive deuterium and potassium, that is not enough to make it glow). (I think I saw something like this here in Argentina, but I don't remember the name and I can't find it in Google. But this example is very similar to what I remember from the ads.)
- EForEndeavour 5y ago
  The familiar trefoil symbol has been used in all kinds of places, including that soda. The "extremely scary" symbol is the fourth image in the Wikipedia page OP linked to: > It depicts, on a red background, a black trefoil with waves of radiation streaming from it, along with a black skull and crossbones, and a running figure with an arrow pointing away from the scene. The radiating trefoil suggests the presence of radiation, while the red background and the skull and crossbones warn of danger. The figure running away from the scene is meant to suggest taking action to avoid the labeled material. The new symbol is not intended to be generally visible, but rather to appear on internal components of devices that house radiation sources so that if anybody attempts to disassemble such devices they will see an explicit warning not to proceed any further.
- xwdv 5y ago
  In popular fiction other idiots make up stories where people gain superpowers from radioactive events. I have no confidence future generations won’t think the same.
  - Apocryphon 5y ago
    That was only because radiation was considered novel and marvelous over fifty years ago. Times have changed and now it is considered banal and hazardous.
- kragen 5y ago
  Yes, the RAD-60 energy drink here in Argentina is packaged in a bottle made to look (superficially) like a radioactives containment vessel, with the radioactivity symbol on it: http://rad-60.com.ar/ http://rad-60.com.ar/ Probably there should be some sort of liability for people putting hazard labels on things that aren't hazardous. Ever looked at an MSDS for sodium chloride?

by rm445 5y ago

gus_massa 5y ago

Some idiots are using the extremely scary-looking radiation symbol (or something too similar) to sell soda, for example https://www.amazon.com/-/es/Radioactive-Mulberry-Marciano-Individual-botella/dp/B01H5VYBPG https://www.amazon.com/-/es/Radioactive-Mulberry-Marciano-In... IIUC this is just water with sugar and a fluorescent dye, not radioactive material (except the natural amount of radioactive deuterium and potassium, that is not enough to make it glow). (I think I saw something like this here in Argentina, but I don't remember the name and I can't find it in Google. But this example is very similar to what I remember from the ads.)

EForEndeavour 5y ago
The familiar trefoil symbol has been used in all kinds of places, including that soda. The "extremely scary" symbol is the fourth image in the Wikipedia page OP linked to: > It depicts, on a red background, a black trefoil with waves of radiation streaming from it, along with a black skull and crossbones, and a running figure with an arrow pointing away from the scene. The radiating trefoil suggests the presence of radiation, while the red background and the skull and crossbones warn of danger. The figure running away from the scene is meant to suggest taking action to avoid the labeled material. The new symbol is not intended to be generally visible, but rather to appear on internal components of devices that house radiation sources so that if anybody attempts to disassemble such devices they will see an explicit warning not to proceed any further.
xwdv 5y ago
In popular fiction other idiots make up stories where people gain superpowers from radioactive events. I have no confidence future generations won’t think the same.
- Apocryphon 5y ago
  That was only because radiation was considered novel and marvelous over fifty years ago. Times have changed and now it is considered banal and hazardous.
kragen 5y ago
Yes, the RAD-60 energy drink here in Argentina is packaged in a bottle made to look (superficially) like a radioactives containment vessel, with the radioactivity symbol on it: http://rad-60.com.ar/ http://rad-60.com.ar/ Probably there should be some sort of liability for people putting hazard labels on things that aren't hazardous. Ever looked at an MSDS for sodium chloride?