Disposal Of 'radioactive Watch'.

[kidley]

This is much to do about nothing (ive heard that some where before) we breath radon gas in every day in some parts of the country, much much more than that watch will give off .

 

C & P

 

There are a number of important radon hotspots in the UK. The most noticeable one is Cornwall in the south-west where the average UK background dose is 7.8 mSv, nearly three times the national average. This is due to the presence of igneous granite, which naturally contains more uranium (10-20 parts per million) than other rocks.

Radioactive areas tend to be hilly, where igneous rocks have been forced to the surface or left behind by the erosion of softer sedimentary rocks (the Chiltern Hills are particularly radioactive, for example). The Yorkshire Dales sit on top of an underground deposit of pink granite called the Wensleydale Granite that lies underneath the Askrigg Block, and the Peak District features many granite outcroppings.

 

http://wordpress.mrreid.org/2011/12/28/radiation-in-the-uk/

[Pettytom]

1 hour ago, kidley said:

This is much to do about nothing (ive heard that some where before) we breath radon gas in every day in some parts of the country, much much more than that watch will give off .

 

C & P

 

There are a number of important radon hotspots in the UK. The most noticeable one is Cornwall in the south-west where the average UK background dose is 7.8 mSv, nearly three times the national average. This is due to the presence of igneous granite, which naturally contains more uranium (10-20 parts per million) than other rocks.

Radioactive areas tend to be hilly, where igneous rocks have been forced to the surface or left behind by the erosion of softer sedimentary rocks (the Chiltern Hills are particularly radioactive, for example). The Yorkshire Dales sit on top of an underground deposit of pink granite called the Wensleydale Granite that lies underneath the Askrigg Block, and the Peak District features many granite outcroppings.

 

http://wordpress.mrreid.org/2011/12/28/radiation-in-the-uk/

You should sprinkle a little radium on your cornflakes every morning then.

 

See how that turns out.

[Phanerothyme]

 

But in all seriousness, you've probably encountered the biggest health risk from this watch out of all of us:

 

Quote

"The study found that 30 radium dial watches, when kept in a poorly ventilated space the size of "a typical boxroom" (UK-speak for a small bedroom or storage room) produced radon levels a whopping 134 times the recommended maximum safe level. In addition the study says, " ... three of the watches in poor condition gave rise individually to radon concentrations – when kept in the same poorly ventilated room – well in excess of the threshold where Public Health England would recommend remediation." Occasionally folks have pointed out on various watch forums that radium's decay products (such as radon) pose a potential hazard, but this is the first study I'm aware of that shows that radon from radium dials can accumulate to such previously unsuspected high levels.

"https://www.northampton.ac.uk/news/wwii-military-watches-potentially-pose-serious-cancer-risk/

[Phanerothyme]

duplicate post

Edited September 10, 2019 by Phanerothyme

[kidley]

On 09/09/2019 at 22:48, Pettytom said:

You should sprinkle a little radium on your cornflakes every morning then.

 

See how that turns out.

I breath radon in every day, i live in a town that radon leaks out of the ground into your house, i dont know anybody thats suffered any ill effects.

  so i may sprinkle some on my cornflakes every morning, in a manner  

Edited September 10, 2019 by kidley
spelling

[Pettytom]

Just now, kidley said:

I breath radium in every day, i live in a town that radium leaks out of the ground into your house, i dont know anybody thats suffered any ill effects.

  so i may sprinkle some on my cornflakes every morning, in a manner  

Are you sure that you haven’t confused Radium with Radon?

[kidley]

4 minutes ago, Pettytom said:

Are you sure that you haven’t confused Radium with Radon?

you are very observant yes i did, thank you for noticing it. i will rectify the mistake.  

[Pettytom]

7 minutes ago, kidley said:

you are very observant yes i did, thank you for noticing it. i will rectify the mistake.  

No worries. Enjoy your cornflakes 😀

[Chez2]

On 01/09/2019 at 21:19, Pettytom said:

I’ve tried to dispose of school radioactive sources on a few occasions. It isn’t cheap, or easy.

 

I’d be inclined to leave well alone. If you bin it, it could well break and expose someone to radioactive dust. The risk from that is probably quite low, but I wouldn’t be queuing up to breathe radium dust. 

 

You’ve got four choices really.

 

Leave in the lead lined bag in a safe place.

Sell it to a collector.

Bin it.

Contact one of the specialist chemical waste disposal companies.

 

The first two choices would be where I would go. The last one is likely to cost quite a bit and will probably generate a fair bit of admin.

Its not expensive, we have done low level chemicals and sources for colleges. Very few waste contractors can carry even low level radiation which is low enough for the kids to use or low enough to be able to move as non hazardous. If you have anything else, get in touch.

 

I am not suggesting disposal of the watch. I'm sure someone would want to buy it.

[mad-dad]

Quote

 

True story this. When I was about 6 or 7 years old I was given a knackered old watch that had belonged to a long-dead relative. I noticed that the hands shone in the dark, so, being an inventive sort of child I decided to scrape the green paint off the hands and glue the resulting powder to the headlights of my newly acquired Dinky (I think) Mersey Tunnel Fire Service Land Rover. What a bedside table ornament that was.