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I'm radioactive.

73.11.171.6
Posted on February 13, 2021 at 14:38:54
scrbblkng
Audiophile

Posts: 65
Joined: May 3, 2001



I was using this vintage record cleaning brush, judging from the style i am going to assume late 60's. (Anyone know more specific?) what is interesting is the warning of radioactivity. I am going to assume after audiophiles began having two-headed offspring the process was discontinued. Anyone have experience with this? In spite of the warning i could not resist touching the bristles, are my days numbered?

 

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RE: I'm radioactive. , posted on February 13, 2021 at 15:02:29
rivervalley817
Audiophile

Posts: 4247
Joined: June 15, 2020
 you are now amongst the walking dead

see the link for more than you'd ever want to know

it was nice almost knowing you!

[kidding]

 

Po-210 has a half life of 140 days..., posted on February 13, 2021 at 15:29:47
John N
Audiophile

Posts: 1108
Joined: May 10, 2000
 There's none left

 

RE: I'm radioactive. , posted on February 13, 2021 at 15:59:37
pictureguy
Audiophile

Posts: 13731
Location: SoCal
Joined: October 19, 2008
 If you are curious about just HOW big a dose you got?
Try crossing the Border into Mexico.

Wife had a Thyroid treatment with and Extremely Low Dose. I don't remember the half-life but about a week or so after the treatment, she about caused an international incident.

They have incredibly sensitive equipment at the border for detection of radioactivity........

Than you'll KNOW......
Too much is never enough

 

RE: I'm radioactive. , posted on February 13, 2021 at 16:10:56
rivervalley817
Audiophile

Posts: 4247
Joined: June 15, 2020
 I've neither exposure or curiosity

it's an interesting story though

why not talk to 'scrbblkng', the fellow who posted about it?

just follow the link

regards,

 

RE: I'm radioactive. , posted on February 13, 2021 at 19:39:23
Phil_S
Audiophile

Posts: 1035
Location: Washington DC
Joined: July 17, 2003
 Haven't seen one of those in half a century. My dad was a photographer, among other things, and we used it to remove dust from 35MM B&W negatives before enlarging and producing 8X10 prints.

 

RE: I'm radioactive. , posted on February 13, 2021 at 19:57:07
rivervalley817
Audiophile

Posts: 4247
Joined: June 15, 2020
 hope your Dad didn't carry it around in his watch pocket for the first 14 months after he bought it

I remember those making a stir in, I think it was, Mechanics Illustrated

I miss seeing those in the various waiting rooms like 'back in the day'

cheers!

 

RE: I'm radioactive. , posted on February 13, 2021 at 23:33:03
scrbblkng
Audiophile

Posts: 65
Joined: May 3, 2001
 Would this once radioactive brush be made of horsehhair or is it synthetic?

 

Look at the fibers with a microscope or magnifying glass. If , posted on February 14, 2021 at 00:00:22
alaskahiatt
Audiophile

Posts: 5804
Joined: December 9, 2000
Contributor
  Since: November 1, 2005
 the fibers come to a point, they are usually natural bristles. It the tips are sawed off or flat, they are usually artificial.

 

That can come in handy at night..., posted on February 14, 2021 at 04:40:58
ghost of olddude55
Audiophile

Posts: 15957
Joined: July 14, 2017
 when you gotta get up to pee. Feet glow in the dark...

The problem is not that there is evil in the world, the problem is that there is good. Because otherwise, who would care?

 

Saves money on condoms as well. nt, posted on February 14, 2021 at 08:27:02
viridian
Audiophile

Posts: 6546
Location: Portland, Oregon
Joined: May 26, 2005
Contributor
  Since: February 1, 2012
 Nt

 

That reminds me of this that I saw at a "Nuclear" Museum in Albuquerque, NM: ..., posted on February 14, 2021 at 10:06:51
J. S. Bach
Audiophile

Posts: 9232
Location: Chester, SC
Joined: November 28, 2001
Contributor
  Since: June 29, 2004
 ...












They also had this:




Later Gator,
Dave
Find more about Weather in Chester, SC

 

Of course., posted on February 14, 2021 at 10:13:02
ghost of olddude55
Audiophile

Posts: 15957
Joined: July 14, 2017
 Because who wants to do the nasty with a guy who has a radioactive schwannsteiger?

The problem is not that there is evil in the world, the problem is that there is good. Because otherwise, who would care?

 

RE: I'm radioactive. , posted on February 14, 2021 at 11:04:37
dadbar
Audiophile

Posts: 1663
Location: 01930
Joined: June 29, 2003
Contributor
  Since: March 25, 2006
 I used to use one of these same brushes in the dark room when I was in grad school...enlarging electron microscopy images. Nice stroll down memory lane.

Po 210 is a pretty weak alpha emitter. Won't penetrate skin so it's not much of a radiation hazard. With a 136 year half life, it will be useable for many lifetimes.

 

RE: I'm radioactive. , posted on February 14, 2021 at 11:31:18
cactuscowboy@bresnan.net
Audiophile

Posts: 7630
Location: Powell, Wyoming
Joined: July 23, 2007
 I used them as well for dusting off negatives. Probably still have one or two buried in a drawer full of photography paraphenalia.

 

Is it Steuerpimpel or schwannsteiger? nt, posted on February 14, 2021 at 12:06:26
alaskahiatt
Audiophile

Posts: 5804
Joined: December 9, 2000
Contributor
  Since: November 1, 2005
 nt

 

Whee did you get the 136 year half life?, posted on February 14, 2021 at 12:09:51
John N
Audiophile

Posts: 1108
Joined: May 10, 2000
 It is an alpha emitter so there is no risk if you don't eat it

 

RE: I'm radioactive. , posted on February 14, 2021 at 12:14:53
rivervalley817
Audiophile

Posts: 4247
Joined: June 15, 2020
 'for dusting off negatives'

but no banding effects from interacting with the film's actinic radiation?

I would have thought any such exposure should be avoided

I remember comments or warnings against exposure to old wristwatch radium dials ... maybe that was an old urban legend though

regards,

 

RE: Whee did you get the 136 year half life?, posted on February 14, 2021 at 12:30:22
rivervalley817
Audiophile

Posts: 4247
Joined: June 15, 2020
 I believe it's 138 days ... maybe that's what he meant & still wouldn't carry one around in my watch pocket

 

RE: That reminds me of this that I saw at a "Nuclear" Museum in Albuquerque, NM: ..., posted on February 14, 2021 at 12:53:20
boboli
Audiophile

Posts: 993
Location: Phoenix Arizona
Joined: May 12, 2005
 Very cool museum.

 

Depends on if you dress on the left, or the right. nt, posted on February 14, 2021 at 13:02:01
viridian
Audiophile

Posts: 6546
Location: Portland, Oregon
Joined: May 26, 2005
Contributor
  Since: February 1, 2012
 Nt

 

Pimpel? Hey, man, it's not the size that counts..., posted on February 14, 2021 at 13:34:15
ghost of olddude55
Audiophile

Posts: 15957
Joined: July 14, 2017
 it's how you use it.

The problem is not that there is evil in the world, the problem is that there is good. Because otherwise, who would care?

 

RE: Look at the fibers with a microscope or magnifying glass. If , posted on February 14, 2021 at 16:25:57
scrbblkng
Audiophile

Posts: 65
Joined: May 3, 2001



From the best closeup i can muster i am going to assume synthetic?

 

How is that helpful?, posted on February 14, 2021 at 18:08:24
Goober58
Audiophile

Posts: 1791
Joined: November 15, 2016
 I guess if you want to pee on your feet.

 

radioactive. , posted on February 14, 2021 at 19:57:20
hifitommy
Audiophile

Posts: 15129
Location: canyon country califiornia, orig from buffalo ny
Joined: June 9, 2000
 the isotope used for thyroid treatment is I-131 with an 8 day half-life which makes it detectable for about just over two months. the thyroid traps it and the beta particles kill the thyroid cells either completely or maybe halfway to reduce hyperthyroidism.

hyperthyroidism is really not good for you as your heart can beat at ~140bpm.

I-131 is also used to treat thyroid cancer but in a very large dose. and that is given after the thyroid is surgically removed. the large dose is to kill the remaining thyroid cells which are very likely to be cancerous. even with a total thyroidectomy via surgery, some cells can remain. dosing the few remaining cells is like shooting a fly with a shotgun.

i am a retired nuclear medicine technologist and assisted in many of those procedures.
...regards...tr

 

RE: radioactive. , posted on February 14, 2021 at 20:19:58
pictureguy
Audiophile

Posts: 13731
Location: SoCal
Joined: October 19, 2008
 I didn't know the half-life of what the wife was treated with. I don't remember now, how LONG they said to stay away from the border......
But she DID get a vanishinlgly small dose. Even by such standards.

Thanks for the 'pro' information. I know wife didn't remember for 10 minutes what the Dr. said except to don't cross to Mexico for (??) days. That' place lit up like a Christmas Tree......
Too much is never enough

 

Your glowing feet will stand beside you and guide you..., posted on February 15, 2021 at 13:42:56
ghost of olddude55
Audiophile

Posts: 15957
Joined: July 14, 2017
 Through the night with a light from...below.

The problem is not that there is evil in the world, the problem is that there is good. Because otherwise, who would care?

 

RE: Whee did you get the 136 year half life?, posted on February 15, 2021 at 21:20:47
dadbar
Audiophile

Posts: 1663
Location: 01930
Joined: June 29, 2003
Contributor
  Since: March 25, 2006
 My bad....misread the unit value.

 

RE: Whee did you get the 136 year half life?, posted on February 15, 2021 at 21:38:18
rivervalley817
Audiophile

Posts: 4247
Joined: June 15, 2020
 that's what I told John, I figured that your typing outran the thought

stay warm!

regards,

 

I just cannot tell for sure from that photo. You might be correct, as, posted on February 16, 2021 at 23:48:00
alaskahiatt
Audiophile

Posts: 5804
Joined: December 9, 2000
Contributor
  Since: November 1, 2005
 most natural fiber brushes have irregular lengths. Your brush fibers all appear to be the same length, i.e., they are cut off to the same length.

 

throw it away , carefully., posted on February 17, 2021 at 12:41:08
beach cruiser
Audiophile

Posts: 5111
Location: so cal
Joined: September 24, 2003
 no exposure to that kind of stuff is smart, and that even goes for this brush , with what used to be considered a benign level of radio activity. Today the understandings are more advanced , and all exposure is best limited, and no longer is any exposure considered benign.

MY brother owned southwestern optics, and used one of those brushes, saying it was the most effective for dust removal when working on glass. The brush was old, but so hot that the box it came in had burned brown under the location of the radioactive strip over the years, , as though it had been exposed to heat.

I warned him not to mess with it, he said it was so low level as to be harmless, disagreeing with my warnings. He died from cancer, probably from breathing in dust from the mildly irradiated carborundum used to work the optical glass at the kit peak optical lab, a national science site that made optics as commissioned by the government.. the radio active treatment of the polishing grit was to make at the abrasive surface harder.

He had a group photo from work, every single optical worker in the photo was either dead from lung or stomach cancer, with two from alcoholism. He was the last guy alive in that picture, probably because he designed and supervised, and only worked on very difficult , or large, fabrications.

Why look for health problems, throw it away. I use a zerostat, a small gun shaped device the generates ions to release static electricity by squeezing a piezo electric element.

 

active. , posted on February 17, 2021 at 12:57:51
hifitommy
Audiophile

Posts: 15129
Location: canyon country califiornia, orig from buffalo ny
Joined: June 9, 2000
 i am surprised and alarmed that the treating doctor didn't caution you and your wife in a better fashion. the urine and excreta would have remained radioactive for at least a week. then the trapped radioactivity within the thyroid gland remains to finish the job of killing off cells to reduce hyperthyroidism for several weeks and only is completely gone after ten half lives which is 80 days.

it is relatively safe to be treated for hyperthyroidism but for the MD to minimize it that way is unresponsible on his part. at any rate, i am happy that things worked out well for your wife.
...regards...tr

 

RE: active. , posted on February 17, 2021 at 13:41:02
pictureguy
Audiophile

Posts: 13731
Location: SoCal
Joined: October 19, 2008
 I was not party to the doctor consultation about radiation, half life or any effects.

In retrospect? I with I HAD attended.

I DO know that the dose given was very small as such things go....I'd have to try to find out just how large a dose was administered.
Too much is never enough

 

How about smoke detectors?, posted on February 17, 2021 at 14:03:01
Brian H P
Audiophile

Posts: 780
Location: Oregon
Joined: December 18, 2012
 They use Americium-241, with a half life of 432 years.

Then there's Thorium-232 in gas lanterns, and significant levels of Radium in antique luminous clock faces.

Back in 1994, a boy scout collected large quantities of all of the above, and tried to build his own breeder reactor. He got worried when the radiation could be detected from a block away. See link.

 

RE: active. , posted on February 17, 2021 at 15:26:07
hifitommy
Audiophile

Posts: 15129
Location: canyon country califiornia, orig from buffalo ny
Joined: June 9, 2000
 probably ~15milliCuries of I131. while relatively small in dose, it still warrants caution.
...regards...tr

 

Sorry about your brother. , posted on February 19, 2021 at 09:48:56
jusbe
Audiophile

Posts: 5871
Location: North Island
Joined: April 4, 2000
 Agree with your advice too.


Big J

"... only a very few individuals understand as yet that personal salvation is a contradiction in terms."


 

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