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I was in a store recently in CA and I was all set to buy this beautiful silver tea platter for my partner, that is until the shop owner had told me it was made
by artmageddon 12y ago
I was in a store recently in CA and I was all set to buy this beautiful silver tea platter for my partner, that is until the shop owner had told me it was made with radium. I had decided not to get it as I wasn't sure if could be potentially dangerous. I feel that I have a pretty good understanding of radiation in general(having studied physics and being aware that we're exposed to it constantly by light), but was I paranoid and overreacting?
- chiph 12y agoDepends on the isotopes of Radium that were in it -- 226 Ra has a half-life of 1600 years, and 228 Ra has a half-life of 5.75 years. Without the ability to measure things, I think you made the safer choice.
- artmageddon 12y agoThanks, this definitely makes me feel better. Now that you mention it, how would you go about measuring it, anyway? Would a Geiger counter do the trick(by measuring the sievert readings) or would you have to examine it more closely with other instruments?
- chiph 12y agoFor just determining if it's safe to take home - a Geiger counter will do. It needs to be able to count alpha & beta radiation, which they all pretty much do. One would also help in checking for radioactive glaze used on Fiestaware plates. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiesta_(dinnerware)#Radioactive_Glazes http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiesta_(dinnerware)#Radioactive...