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Merry Xmas all.
Don't swallow or inhale Alpha emitting paint , that is bad. As for gamma, the 
local granite in Cornwall emits plenty of radon , far above likely annual 
exposure to medical Xrays etc. Relax, have a good Christmas. There is no 
absolute safe dose of radiation of any sort. One hit in the right (wrong) DNA 
place may do it. With very good repair mechanisms , statistically unlikely.
Mars is another issue. Need to work on that if we want to go there.(I hope we do).
Don't sleep with your sextant. Not because of radiation danger. Your 
wife/partner may have other more serious concerns.
Best 
Francis

-----Original Message-----
From: NavList@fer3.com [mailto:NavList@fer3.com] On Behalf Of Brad Morris
Sent: 25 December 2019 19:16
To: francisupchurch@gmail.com
Subject: [NavList] Radium Infused Bubble Sextant

I agree with Frank, when he said:

Generally, the radiation in small instruments, like old sextants, is not a
> serious issue, mostly because the total exposure time is quite low (unless
> you sleep with your sextant under your pillow). It depends on the amount of
> Radium, but if it's comparable to an old watch or clock face, you should be
> ok.
>
> 
> 
>

I do have one very specific concern, which has not been addressed.
Ingestion.  Paint is not permanent.  It can and will degrade, producing
dust.  The degradation is neither enhanced nor inhibited by the addition of
radium.  As the radium infused dust moves about, it will migrate out of
your instrument, onto your hands and then into your body.  One can argue
that the amount is minuscule, yet no level of ingestion is safe.

So instead of keeping your radium safe in the garage, you store it in your
liver.  Instead of under your pillow, its in your internal organs.  Keeping
it in the garage is likely to *enhance* the dust and flake production, due
to the unequal thermal coefficient of expansion of the metal the paint is
applied to and the paint itself.

What possible benefit do we derive from a radium containing sextant as
opposed to one that is not so infused?  Risk v Reward:  what is the
reward??  How is the radium an enhancement that cannot be obtained
otherwise?

In my view, this is the safest method: Far, far away from me.  Being
reassured of your safety by some random science journalist for the NYT [we
never make fun of science journalists] or a fellow correspondent on NavList*
may not be the best approach.  *

I won't keep radium in my house.  If you think it safe, keep it in yours.

Brad


: 
http://fer3.com/arc/m2.aspx/Radium-Infused-Bubble-Sextant-Morris-dec-2019-g46578

   

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