User manual

The ionized molecules produced by the alpha bombardment,
neutralize the static electricity. Polonium’s halflife is 140
days, (half of its atoms decompose in 140 days). It is a
daughter product of radium D (halflife, 22 years) both of
which belong to the uranium 238 radioactive series.
GOLD JEWELRY:
Radium and radon are used to irradiate cancerous tissues in
the medical profession. Gold is sometimes used to encap-
sulate these highly radioactive materials. Some improperly
decontaminated gold has reentered the market in the form of
jewelry.
GLAZING COMPOUNDS:
Uranium oxide is sometimes used as a glazing material for
pottery and some types of jewelry.
GEMS:
Some gems have been treated in nuclear reactors, to enhance
their color. The neutron flux transmuted elements in some
gems, producing dangerous radioisotopes.
ANTIQUE COLORING:
Yellow uranium oxide was commonly used as a coloring
agent in old glass articles and pottery.
BACKGROUND RADIATION:
Background radiation is the normal radiation we are exposed
to 24 hours a day. An analogy of measuring background
radiation is measuring a light rainfall with a rain gauge in
which many drops add up to an accurate reading. Sources
include cosmic rays from outer space and very small amounts
of radioactive elements in building materials, soil, rocks, etc.
The level of background radiation will swing over a certain
range, over an hour’s time. For example, if the average back-
ground level in your area is 12 microroentgens/hr., you will
notice that for the majority of time your RM-60 will display
an average reading of 12, but occasionally the average will
rise about 3 to 5 microroentgens per hour, and at other times
it will fall about 3 to 5 microroentgen/hr.
Average background radiation levels range from about 5
microroentgens/hr. to about 25 microroentgens/hr., depending
upon the location and altitude. In a jet at 30,000 ft., back-
ground levels might reach about 300 microroentgens/hr. The
average American is exposed to 100 to 200 milliroentgens per
year.
A background level of 5 microroentgens/hr. X 24 hours per
day X 365 days per year would yield a yearly average of
43,800 microroentgens per year (43.8 milliroentgens per year).
A background level of 25 microroentgens/hr. would produce
a yearly average of 219,000 microroentgens per year (219
milliroentgens per year).
A typical chest X-ray might expose one to about 10 millirems
(10 millirem approx. equals 10 milliroentgen), therefore,
average background levels, over a year’s period, expose one
to a quantity of radiation equal to about 10 to 20 chest X-rays
a year.
ELEVATED BACKGROUND RADIATION:
If you notice an unusual increase of background radiation in
your area, the first thing to do is make sure the increase is not
due to gamma rays from something that has been brought into
the immediate vicinity of the RM-60, for example a large
quantity of bricks used in an addition to your house, or a new
concrete, tile or rock floor, etc. Place the back of the RM-60
flat against any such new potential source of radiation. If any
happens to be radioactive, the monitor’s reading will increase
to a greater extent, the closer it is moved to the radioactive
source.
After having ruled out any sources of radiation brought into
the immediate vicinity of the RM-60, to account for the
increase in reading, make sure the increase is not due to radon
gas. Radon gas is very heavy, and would tend to collect in
the lower areas of your house. The highly radioactive decom-
position products of radon gas are solids and collect on dust
particles. The dust particles collect on any air filter, therefore
if you have any radon gas in your house, any air filters, such
as furnace air filters, air conditioning filters, or air filters
mounted over your stove, will become radioactive as air with
radon gas passes through the filter (See "RADON GAS").
If the RM-60 cord is long enough, place the RM-60 outside
through a window or door. If you still have an increase in
radiation above your normal background radiation level, it is
likely not due to radon gas collecting in your house. Barring
a malfunction, an explanation for the increase in radiation
could be contaminated atmosphere in which case you might
want to call your local state agency such as your state emer-
gency management agency, state department of natural resour-
ces, the NRC regional office, etc. Check your telephone book
for emergency information.
RADIOACTIVITY IN BUILDING MATERIALS:
Many bricks, tiles, rocks, etc. are very slightly radioactive due
to very slight quantities of uranium or thorium and their de-
composition products (daughter products). Uranium and
thorium release gamma rays as they decompose.
Slight radiation from bricks, rocks, tiles, etc. is not as danger-
ous as radioactive dust, in that while radioactive building
materials expose you to gamma rays, floating radioactive dust
can lodge or adhere to inner body parts (although see
THORON GAS).
A house built of radioactive bricks, rocks, etc. can have
elevated levels of radiation inside the house. The more radio-
active brick, tile, rock, etc. used in the construction of the
house, the more radioactive the house will be. The increased
level can easily be detected with your RM-60. A house made
of brick or rock can have radiation levels two, or three times
higher than normal background radiation, which is equivalent
to receiving an additional quantity of radiation per year of
exposure, equal to perhaps 14 to 40 extra chest X-rays.
Children are somewhat more susceptible to the damaging
effects of radiation than adults.
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