What's New?
.	April Newsletter
.	April Journal

Upcoming Events
.	2010 Summer Professional Development School Internal Dosimetry 23 - 26 June 2010 Idaho State University, Pocatello, Idaho
.	International Conference on Radiation Protection in Medicine 1-3 September 2010 Varna, Bulgaria
.	2010 Meeting of the Air Monitoring Users Group 4-7 May 2010 Las Vegas, NV

20 March 2010

Answer to Question #3579 Submitted to "Ask the Experts"

Category: Environmental and Background Radiation — Antiques

The following question was answered by an expert in the appropriate field:

I have just found out that an old vase I have is slightly radioactive. Does this pose a threat to the health of my family? Should I get it checked out to see how much radiation is involved? If so, where do I look? As far as I know the vase was made between 1936 and 1941 and is a mucky yellow color. Also, what is the best way to keep the vase so it is safe for my family, if at all, or is it best to get rid of it? Is it safe just to throw in the bin or do you have to get rid of it in a special way?

Let me respond by saying that everything is radioactive to one extent or another. Some ceramics do have "elevated" levels of radioactivity, but "elevated" doesn't mean hazardous. The radioactivity associated with your vase might be high enough to be detected with a simple survey meter (such as a Geiger Mueller detector), or it might not. Even if it were, I have never encountered such an item that could be said to pose a hazard. To give a specific answer to the first part of your question: no it doesn't "pose a threat to the health" of your family.

To answer the second part of your question: I would not go to the trouble to have it checked unless it was simply out of curiosity and I had some free time to kill.

To answer the third part of your question: Display it in any way that you wish.

To answer the fourth part of your question: Dispose of it in any way you wish.

If you are still worried about its radioactivity, sell it. You might as well make some money from it. You might also consider having your home monitored for radon—the radiation doses from radon are far higher than anything you could get from your vase.

Paul Frame, CHP, PhD

Answer posted on 24 March 2004. The information and material posted on this Web site is intended as general reference information only. Specific facts and circumstances may alter the concepts and applications of materials and information described herein. The information provided is not a substitute for professional advice and should not be relied upon in the absence of such professional advice specific to whatever facts and circumstances are presented in any given situation. Answers are correct at the time they are posted on the Web site. Be advised that over time, some requirements could change, new data could be made available, or Internet links could change. For answers that have been posted for several months or longer, please check the current status of the posted information prior to using the responses for specific applications.