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uranium story

updated mon 21 sep 98

 

kathleen chase on sat 19 sep 98

Hi- While in college a few years back, I took a chemistry course thinking it
would really help me with my ceramics studies. (yes it did...) And much to =
my
amazement the instructor brought in a number of ordinary items, placed them =
on a
table,and then brought in a giger counter. The giger counter emitted a =
squeal
when the meter showed=22radio activity=22 present. Much to everyone's =
concern and
amazement, the fiesta-ware set it off as did the Big Ben alarm clock. When
asked why the reaction from the pottery, loud mouth obnoxious me replied, =
=22it's
stuff in the glaze.=22 I soon found out what stuff....And the instructor =
tried
(for years) to talk the person who lent him the pottery, to give him the =
entire
set, because it was =22radio active=22 according to the giger counter.
Isn't science wonderful? -Kathy Chase
It's now fall on Cape Cod, for a few days at least there has been no traffic
jams=21

Barney Adams on sun 20 sep 98

I have a gieger counter I hook up to my lap top. The smoke detectors give off
some small amount of radiation as do some of the older coleman lantern mantles.
I'm no expert so take anything I say with some reserve, but I think the danger o
radiation involves exposure and the specific form of radiation based on the part

emitted. The older glow in the dark radium waches werer dangerous because of
the close proximity to the individual for extended periods of time. kinda like
reading
a cone in the kiln.

Barney

kathleen chase wrote:

> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> Hi- While in college a few years back, I took a chemistry course thinking it
> would really help me with my ceramics studies. (yes it did...) And much to my
> amazement the instructor brought in a number of ordinary items, placed them on
> table,and then brought in a giger counter. The giger counter emitted a squeal
> when the meter showed"radio activity" present. Much to everyone's concern and
> amazement, the fiesta-ware set it off as did the Big Ben alarm clock. When
> asked why the reaction from the pottery, loud mouth obnoxious me replied, "it'
> stuff in the glaze." I soon found out what stuff....And the instructor tried
> (for years) to talk the person who lent him the pottery, to give him the entir
> set, because it was "radio active" according to the giger counter.
> Isn't science wonderful? -Kathy Chase
> It's now fall on Cape Cod, for a few days at least there has been no traffic
> jams!