Milton Markey on wed 6 dec 00
Hi Janice!
Unless the uranium is very old (pre-1960's), I think it's illegal to posses
certain grades of the mineral, in the USA. There are strict laws concerning
this. I recommend that you check out what is and what isn't legal, with
regards to uranium.
You can detect uranium using a geiger counter, or perhaps a more modern
detector. All uranium is radioactive; hence, it's a health hazard. I don't
recommend using it in glazes or in clay recipes.
Indeed, if HazMat takes uranium, give it to them. No need to subject yourself
or others to known hazards.
Best wishes!
Milton NakedClay@AOL.COM
Jan McQueary on wed 6 dec 00
After several encounters with studios where uranium was used and stored,
I am looking for information on how uranium may or may not contaminate
clay studios and equipment and what are testing and cleanup procedures.
It used to be easy to get and I am sure that there is a lot more of it
out there just sitting in jars in unused corners of older studios.
For example - does it contaminate the kilns it is fired in (gas and
electric) as lead does when it volatilizes? How about other types of
equipment - like a ball mill or scale. With lead one can clean up with
TSP to help bind and pick it up - how is uranium cleaned up?
What about the storage of uranium in a studio? Once the jar has been
taken away by the hazardous waste guys is that the end of it?
Thanks for any information you may have-
Jan McQueary
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Jan McQueary on fri 8 dec 00
Thanks for the helpful replies on the uranium question. Odd materials
may turn up when you overhaul an old studio, or when people move or
retire, and it's good to know what you are dealing with.
And by the way - for other types of toxic stuff - a lot of jurisdictions
sponsor clean-up days or toxic waste round-up days once or twice a year.
(On these days we can also drop off clothing and fabric and building
materials for redistribution and recycling.) Make use of these
opportunities to get rid of nasty stuff you aren't going to use, as well
as old paint, insecticides and garden chemicals, acids, whatever. In our
case its a drive up thing - you hand it over - they sort it into drums.
Some of that stuff is actually recycled. Here, if we don't want to wait
for the special day, we can call ahead and drop off stuff at the waste
water treatment plant.
Jan McQueary
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