ARCHIVE: e-Digest Statistics about: Radioactivity
Artificial Sources of Radiation
Products
A number of consumer products are available which contain radioactive materials. Some products such as smoke detectors use the radioactive properties to function. Gas mantles used to use the incandescent properties of the material, in this case thorium, which is naturally radioactive and many watches and clocks use radioluminescence, usually promethium-147 or ³H. Individual doses are usually near zero, but a recent study has found that the leakage of tritium from some modern plastic watches could give an annual dose to the wearer of up to 0.02 mSv. Doses from products could be up to 0.1 mSv for a few individuals but the average annual individual dose is estimated as 0.0001 mSv.
Further Information:
- Key Facts:
- Artificial sources
- Occupational radiation
- Medical
- Fallout
- Products
- Direct shine
- Discharges
- References, further reading and links to other resources:
- [1] Hughes, J S, National Radiological Protection Board (1999). Ionising Radiation Exposure of the UK Population: 1999 Review, NRPB-R311. TSO.
- [18] Food Standards Agency, Scottish Environment Protection Agency (2002). Radioactivity in Food and the Environment, 2001 (RIFE-7) FSA/SEPA.
- Internet Links:
- National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB)
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Page last modified: 16 September 2003
Page published: 10 September 2003