this post was submitted on 11 Dec 2024
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My wife collects uranium glass. It’s mostly safe. Most uranium glass has very little uranium in it and that is mostly sealed away within the glass. However, like lead crystal glass, very very very tiny amounts can leach out over time and end up in food or drink. The amount that can leach out like this is not going to cause any problems for you. Still, wash before and after use to further minimize contamination and don’t used chipped or scratched glass that could shed larger particles.
I wouldn’t use them as my every day plates but for special occasions it’s a fun conversation starter.
"what the fuck is this"
"it's uranium"
sounds like a fun conversation indeed
I am guessing, much like with people who manufactured glowing things using radium in the 20th century, the workers who make this stuff are at far greater risk than those who eat off of it.
Probably, the dangerous part is working with the powders before melting. I haven’t looked into it much but uranium was a common glass ingredient until the government grabbed it all to make bombs.
Radium Girls
(great all-girl punk band name if it hasn't been used already)
Excuse my ignorance but what is washing gonna do? Also did you tried using a geiger counter?
Mostly the emissions are alpha particles which can't even pass through paper but CAN fuck you up if the source ends up inside your body. So washing is to remove any small particles that may have been abraded off, same reason you can't use it if its ever chipped or scratched.
Alternatively: Don't eat off Uranium cookware?
That's ... way too much "mostly" for my taste.
Mostly safe like X-rays are mostly safe. Do it once in a while and you won’t have a problem but if you have to stand next to the machine 30 times a day, you should probably not.