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Radioactive Artifacts: Historical Sources of Modern Radium Contamination

2019; Elsevier BV; Volume: 50; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/j.jmir.2019.11.004

1939-8654

M. Donald Blaufox,

Nuclear Issues and Defense

Radium has been distributed in a wide variety of devices during the early part of this century. Antique objects containing significant amounts of radium turn up at flea markets, antique shows, and antique dealers, in a variety of locations. These objects include radium in devices which were used by legitimate medical practitioners for legitimate medical purposes such as therapy, as well as a wide variety of "quack cures." These devices may contain anywhere from a few nanocuries to as much as several hundred microcuries of radium. In addition to medical sources, a large variety of scientific instruments utilize radium in luminous dials. These instruments include compasses, azimuth indicators, and virtually any object which might require some form of calibration.In addition, the consumer market utilized a large amount of radium in the production of wrist watches, pocket watches, and clocks with luminous dials. Some of these watches contained as much as 4.5 μCi of radium, and between 1913 and 1920 about 70 gm was produced for the manufacture of luminous compounds. In addition to the large amount of radium produced for scientific and consumer utilization, there were a number of materials produced which were claimed to contain radium but in fact did not, further adding to the confusion in this area. The wide availability of radium is a result of the public's great fascination with radioactivity during the early part of this century and a belief in its curative properties. A number of objects were produced in order to trap the emanations of radium in water for persons to drink in order to benefit from their healing effects. Since the late 20s and early 30s the public's attitude towards radiation has shifted 180° and it is now considered an extremely dangerous and harmful material. However, even as late as the 1950s, there were still some items produced containing radioactivity which today would be unthinkable. The "Buck Rogers Mystery Ring" of the 1950s was activated with polonium. With the shift in public attitudes towards radioactivity, and increasing problems in disposal of radioactive materials, the disposal of radium presents a particularly perplexing problem. The radium which was produced in the early part of the century is still around in various forms and is extremely difficult to dispose of. All objects discovered claiming to contain radium should be taken seriously and should be properly surveyed. They then should either be stored in some area where the environment is protected from the radioactivity or if a very small amount of radium is present, they may be disposed of through one of several commercial sources. Any significant amount of radium is extraordinarily difficult and expensive to dispose of and there are only limited sites which will accept these materials. No clear cut, uniform mechanism for the handling of radioactive materials which turn up outside of the usual institutional sources, is currently in place. Radium has been distributed in a wide variety of devices during the early part of this century. Antique objects containing significant amounts of radium turn up at flea markets, antique shows, and antique dealers, in a variety of locations. These objects include radium in devices which were used by legitimate medical practitioners for legitimate medical purposes such as therapy, as well as a wide variety of "quack cures." These devices may contain anywhere from a few nanocuries to as much as several hundred microcuries of radium. In addition to medical sources, a large variety of scientific instruments utilize radium in luminous dials. These instruments include compasses, azimuth indicators, and virtually any object which might require some form of calibration. In addition, the consumer market utilized a large amount of radium in the production of wrist watches, pocket watches, and clocks with luminous dials. Some of these watches contained as much as 4.5 μCi of radium, and between 1913 and 1920 about 70 gm was produced for the manufacture of luminous compounds. In addition to the large amount of radium produced for scientific and consumer utilization, there were a number of materials produced which were claimed to contain radium but in fact did not, further adding to the confusion in this area. The wide availability of radium is a result of the public's great fascination with radioactivity during the early part of this century and a belief in its curative properties. A number of objects were produced in order to trap the emanations of radium in water for persons to drink in order to benefit from their healing effects. Since the late 20s and early 30s the public's attitude towards radiation has shifted 180° and it is now considered an extremely dangerous and harmful material. However, even as late as the 1950s, there were still some items produced containing radioactivity which today would be unthinkable. The "Buck Rogers Mystery Ring" of the 1950s was activated with polonium. With the shift in public attitudes towards radioactivity, and increasing problems in disposal of radioactive materials, the disposal of radium presents a particularly perplexing problem. The radium which was produced in the early part of the century is still around in various forms and is extremely difficult to dispose of. All objects discovered claiming to contain radium should be taken seriously and should be properly surveyed. They then should either be stored in some area where the environment is protected from the radioactivity or if a very small amount of radium is present, they may be disposed of through one of several commercial sources. Any significant amount of radium is extraordinarily difficult and expensive to dispose of and there are only limited sites which will accept these materials. No clear cut, uniform mechanism for the handling of radioactive materials which turn up outside of the usual institutional sources, is currently in place. This article was originally published in Seminars in Nuclear Medicine, Vol XVIII, No 1 (January), 1988: pp 46-64 This article was originally published in Seminars in Nuclear Medicine, Vol XVIII, No 1 (January), 1988: pp 46-64 RADIUM, which was used in a wide variety of objects during the early part of this century, is a source of radioactive environmental contamination which frequently is overlooked. Radium may be derived from a number of sources, not the least of which is material which was originally dedicated to a legitimate medical purpose. In a most entertaining volume published in 1937, Dr Robert B. Taft writes about "Radium Lost and Found."[1]Taft R.B. Radium Lost and Found. JNO. J. Furlong, Charleston, SC1938Google Scholar The introduction to this book describes the existence at that time of a group of people who were called "Radium Hounds" and who were charged with the responsibility of finding lost radium. This was particularly difficult in 1937 due to the lack of sophistication of equipment available to detect the radioactive sources During the early part of the century, the major reason for seeking lost radium was not necessarily the potential health hazard, but rather the intrinsic value of the material. A 100 mg specimen is characterized in Taft's book as being the average amount of radium owned by a physician. This amount of radium has a mass about equal to a quarter inch of graphite from a lead pencil, and at one time cost as much as $12,000. The preparation of 100 mg of radium by an analytic chemist working with a physicist, took 1 month and required raw materials consisting of ten tons of ore, three tons of hydrochloric acid, five tons of carbonate of soda, one ton of sulphuric acid, and ten tons of coal. All of this was processed in an electric furnace. A particularly illuminating statement is made in the introduction to this volume, where Dr George Pfahler states "The loss of radium not only involves money, but, as indicated above it involves danger to the finder, for if he picks this up and holds it in his hand or puts it in his pocket, or leaves it about where a child could pick it up and swallow it, it may result in a serious damage or even death." It is noteworthy that the health danger is mentioned in a context secondary to the monetary value of the material. Not only was there remarkably little concern of the danger of radium, but there was an almost religious belief in its curative properties. Dr Taft himself recalls in the preface that the stimulus for his book was produced by an event several years prior to its publication in which 75 mg of radium was lost from his office. The material was found the next day in the trash. He also writes about finding 25 mg serendipitously in a trash dump in North Carolina. As a result of these experiences, Dr Taft embarked on an effort to collate materials relating to radium loss and the results of his efforts are shown in Table I adapted from his volume,[1]Taft R.B. Radium Lost and Found. JNO. J. Furlong, Charleston, SC1938Google Scholar which cites the owner, city, amount, avenue of loss, whether or not the materials were found, and the instruments and searcher used. It is remarkable that as of 1937, a total of more than 1 gram of radium was completely lost and unaccounted for in this incomplete and casual survey. Where or when this missing radioactivity did or will turn up is anyone's guess.Table 1A Listing of Lost RadiumOwnerCityMgAvenue of LossFoundInstrumentsSearcher–MO–SewerYes–Owner–Kansas City, KN6–No–Owner–Pittsburg, KN3SewerNoElectroscopeOwner–Pittsburg or Windfield5–No–OwnerDr J.T. MurphyToledo30SewerNo–OwnerDr J.T. MurphyToledo–Stolen (?)No––University of MichiganAnn Arbor, Ml–FloorYesElectroscope–University of MichiganAnn Arbor, Ml–Broken needlePart––University of MichiganAnn Arbor, Ml10–No––University of IowaIowa City–DumpYesElectroscopeLappUniversity of IowaIowa City–Trash basketYesElectroscopeLappUniversity of IowaIowa City–Trash containerYes––Dr L.J. MenvilleNew Orleans50–Yes–ElliottDr L.J. MenvilleNew Orleans15–No––Dr L.J. MenvilleNew Orleans20–No––Dr W.H. Van AllenSpringfield, MA–PatientYesElectroscopeVan AllenDr W.H. Van AllenSpringfield, MA–FloorYesElectroscopeVan AllenBaker SanatoriumLumberton, NC–Wax MouldYes–MurphyDrs Martin & MartinDallas, TX.6Thrown awayNo––Drs Martin & MartinDallas, TX6.4–NoElectroscopeOwner––50Garbage75%ElectroscopeKnowlton––20GarbageYesElectroscopeKnowlton––50SewerNo––Dr F.A. CoughlinProvidence, RI50IncineratorYesSpinthariscope–Morrisania HospitalNew York–IncineratorYesElectrometerBraestrupKings County HospitalNew York30Drain pipeYesCounterBraestrupDr W.W. WatkinsPhoenix5FloorNo–––Scranton, PA50HospitalYesElectroscopeWeatherwaxMoe HospitalSioux Falls, SD25PigYesElectroscopeBuchtaSheboygan ClinicSheboygan, Wl50LaundryYesCounterRovnerRadium & X-Ray InstituteCalgary, Alberta50SewerYesCounterMcGuffinHuron Road HospitalCleveland10RubbishYesCounterBeasleyKeith & KeithLouisville10DrainYesTaft CounterOwnerKeith & KeithLouisville50SewerNo––Keith & KeithLouisville50SewerNo––Keith & KeithLouisville10FloorYes–OwnerLocal InfirmaryLouisville50Furnace35 mg––Dr Wright ClarksonPetersburg, VA50StoveYesTaft CounterOwnerDr Lomax GwathmeyNorfolk, VA10OfficeYesCounterTaftDr H.W. GrimmPittsburg5OfficeNoCounterTaftDr C.C. PhillipsCharlotte, NC–OfficeNoCounterTaftDr F.P. BoswellMontgomery, AL50StolenPart––Dr Norman Titus––ClosetYesWillemiteOwner–Detroit10Mirror FrameYesVictoreenCorrigan–Detroit–Trash barrelYesVictoreenCorriganDr Harold SwanbergQuincy, IL.66AshesYesCounterOwner––100Stolen (?)NoCounterSwanbergNorton InfirmaryLouisville50FurnaceYes–KeithDr W.G. HerrmanAsbury Park, N J50Theft (?)NoElectroscope–Dr Albert ColeIndianapolis100AshesNoElectroscope–Dr Dewell Gann, JrLittle Rock, AR–SewerNo–––MO50SewerNo–Owner–MO25SewerNo–Owner–MO5ExplodedPart–OwnerDr C.D. CleghornMacon, GA50SewerNoElectroscope–Dr C.D. CleghornMiami, FL50FurnaceNo–––Rochester, NY50FurnaceYesElectroscopeMiller–Philadelphia25DressingYesElectroscopeMiller–Oklahoma City50GarbageYesElectroscopeMiller–Richmond, VA–Furnace70%ElectroscopeMiller––50SewerNoElectroscopeMiller––25ToiletNoElectroscopeMiller––25Furnace80%ElectroscopeMiller–––Wash tubNoElectroscopeMillerRoper HospitalCharleston, SC10HospitalYesNoneRudisillUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia1RubbishYesCounterLocherDr Sanford WithersDenver–Cuff TrousersYesElectroscope–Dr Sanford WithersDenver–RoofYes––Dr Sanford WithersDenver200SewerYesElectroscope–Dr Sanford WithersDenver–ExplodedPart––University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia50StreetYes–PancoastUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia25FloorPartFluor scopePancoastUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia10TrashyesElectroscopePendergrassUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia–BedPart––The ClinicLewis ton. ID25FloorYesElectroscopeJohnsonUniversity of IowaIowa City10ExplodedPartCounterKerrHarper HospitalDetroit5FloorNo–WitwerMunicipalMonroe. NC25DumpYesElectroscopeTaft––20?Dump (?lNoElectroscopeTaftDr R.B. TaftCharleston. SC75TrashYesElectroscopeOwnerDr Robert DraneSavannah, GA50SewerNo–OwnerDr Robert DraneSavannah, GA–Dental mouldYesNoneOwnerDr Curtis BurnamBaltimore50DumpYesElectroscopeOwnerDr Albert SoilandLos Angeles75ToiletYesElectroscopeOwnerDr Albert SoilandLos Angeles3Waste basketYesNoneOwnerHoward Kelly HospitalBaltimore600MCFurnaceYesElectroscopeGlasserCleveland ClinicCleveland–FurnaceYesElectroscopeGlasserCleveland ClinicCleveland–FloorYesElectroscopeGlasserPeople-s HospitalAkron, OH5–YesVictoreenClasserDrs Hill & ThomasCleveland–FurnaceYesElectroscopeGlasser––50IncineratorYesCounterGlasserGallinger HospitalWashington, DC25TrashYesCurtías Det.–Dr G.E. PfahlerPhiladelphia100DumpYesElectroscopeWeatherwaxVanderbilt Uni. HospitalNashville, TN50Trash barrelYesVictoreenOmbergDr S.S. MarchbanksChattanooga, TN50SewerNoElectroscope–Dr S.S. MarchbanksChattanooga, TN35SewerNoElectroscopeInsurance companyDrs Newell & NewellChattanooga. TN35DumpNoElectroscopeInsurance companyDrs Newell & NewellChattanooga, TN5DumpNoElectroscopeInsurance companyNewell SanatoriumChattanooga. TN45FurnaceYes–AllenNewell SanatoriumChattanooga, TN5–––––Philadelphia50AshpileYesElectroscopeWeatherwaxPhiladelphia50AshpileYesElectroscopeWeatherwax–Philadelphia200DumpYesElectroscopeWeatherwax–Philadelphia10FloorYesCounterWeatherwax–Philadelphia10FloorNoElectroscopeWeatherwax–Philadelphia10–NoElectroscopeWeatherwax–Nanicoke, PA40DrainYesCounterWeatherwaxData from Taft.[1]Taft R.B. Radium Lost and Found. JNO. J. Furlong, Charleston, SC1938Google Scholar Open table in a new tab Data from Taft.[1]Taft R.B. Radium Lost and Found. JNO. J. Furlong, Charleston, SC1938Google Scholar Recently in New Jersey, a large amount of contaminated radioactive earth was discovered at homesites built on the grounds of what was thought to be an old watch factory. A satisfactory solution to the disposal of this material has only recently been found, after causing major environmental problems. Similarly, in recent years alerts have been put out for radioactive gold, which was waste material and had been utilized in the manufacture of rings. The ring story is a particularly alarming one. Spent radon seeds made of 24 K gold, which was contaminated with lead 210 and bismuth 210 (radon daughters), were used to make and repair jewelry as a cheap source of gold. According to the FDA drug bulletin[2]Skin lesions and radioactivity in jewelry.FDA Drug Bull. 1981; 11: 3-4Google Scholar as of January 1981, 12 cases of dermatitis and other problems had been reported in the state of New York. Forty-seven radioactive rings were located in New York and Pennsylvania, and at least two squamous cell carcinomas of the finger were reported. Thirty to 40-radon generators were in operation in the United States at one time and the problem may be widespread. Radiation dose rates from this jewelry ranged from 2 to 900 mR/hr, and problems may persist for 20 years or more after exposure. These large quantities of radioactive material left over from various manufacturing processes, were not even considered by Dr Taft I have recently encountered a most unusual descendent of medical radium, which was brought to my attention in 1983. Around that time, a New York antique dealer received a letter from an individual in Massachusetts which stated the following: "I have an antique small metal box containing some radioactive radium and medical instruments used by a famous physician in Vienna around the turn of the century for treatment of cancers. The radium is supposed to have been refined by the Curie's, kindly let me know if you are interested." I followed up this offering by speaking to the person involved and asking him to send me some snapshots of the box. The materials included some paper, which contained a powder in a package of very friable paper about the size of a dollar bill, and what appeared to be molding wax for therapy with radium and a small metal container. The nature of the box and its contents were identified for me by an elderly radiotherapist. He remarked, "We used to store those under the hospital steps." The box and its contents were the property of a great uncle of the individual in Massachusetts, who was "a respected physician in Vienna around the turn of the century." Upon this individual's death, the sister came into possession of materials and had learned that it apparently had been received directly from Madame Curie. Believing it to be quite valuable, because of its historic origin, she placed the packet which contained powered radium in a safe deposit box in a bank, where it remained for 20 or 30 years. Fortunately, the individual who came in possession of it after his mother died, had some familiarity with radioactivity and was able to store this at his place of work. He measured it with a survey meter and reported obtaining a reading of 3R per hour, with the B Shield opened, and. 1R per hour with it closed. These readings were at a distance of a couple of feet. I advised the person in question to contact the proper authorities in Massachusetts to arrange for disposal of the materials. He apparently was unable to obtain any help and, according to my last contact with him, was storing the materials at his place of work. I have tried to follow-up on this several times, but have been unable to obtain a reply. It appears that the safe deposit box was not surveyed for possible contamination. Other sources of "legitimate" radioactive materials which are to be found within the environment, are summarized nicely in the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP) Report 56,[3]Radiation Exposure from Consumer Products and Miscellaneous Sources, NCRP National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements: Washington, DC, Nov 1, 1977, Report No. 56Google Scholar "Radiation Exposure from Consumer Products and Miscellaneous Sources," published in August 1977. In that publication, it is stated that among the 45 million wrist watches sold in the United States between 1971 and 1972, nine million had luminous hands or dials. Until about 1963, radium-226 was used as the activating agent in most of the luminous watches sold in this country. At that time, they estimated that as many as ten million watches containing radium were still in use in the United States and that clocks containing radium were still being distributed. Estimates for radiation dose equivalent rates range from .5 to 3.3 millirem (mrem) per year per device and individual dose equivalent rates as high as 310 mrem per year were given for a wearer of a wrist watch containing 4.5 μCi of radium. Pocket watches provided an even higher radiation dose equivalent rate of about 60 mrem per year per μCi of radium. The annual absorbed dose of the skin direcly under the face of a pocket watch could be as high as 165 rad and it was estimated that 20,000 people in the United States carried these watches, each of which contains approximately .1 μCi of radium. Antique pocket watches and clocks, as well as wrist watches, have become major collectables and are being auctioned and sold at antique markets continually. Another source of potential radiation exposure is luminous clock faces. Radium also was commonly used for instrument panel illumination in airplanes, as check sources in survey meters, and more recently in smoke detectors in homes. Another source of information about these sources of contamination is in the publication "Radioactivity in Consumer Products. ''[4]Moghissi A.A. Pasas P. Carter M.W. Radioactivity in Consumer Products. US Nuclear Regulatory Commission, 1978Crossref Google Scholar Dr Holm (p 118) points out in this report that radioluminosity was the most important phenomenon associated with consumer products and radium. Alpha particles were counted using zinc sulphide screens which were incorporated into spinthariscopes, which are discussed later. Between 1913 and 1920 about 70 g of radium were produced by refineries in Pittsburgh and a considerable amount of this was used to make luminous compounds. Luminous dials were vital to early aviation when electrical systems were not present on aircraft. Even in the 1920s many homes lacked electricity and luminous dials were essential. Early luminous dials contained as much as 100 μg of radium per gram of phosphor. Luminous chains for switches, luminous rings to attach to chamber pots, and luminous paints were commonplace. California orange fiesta dinnerware (1920 to 1930) used uranium oxide to achieve its color (20,000 dpm of alpha activity per set). The Buck Rogers Mystery Ring of the 1950s contained polonium. Lightening rods containing radium were manufactured in quantity. Military uses of radium were as widespread as were the commercial products for the luminescent light sources. Herman[4]Moghissi A.A. Pasas P. Carter M.W. Radioactivity in Consumer Products. US Nuclear Regulatory Commission, 1978Crossref Google Scholar (p 294) reports on two objects tested in the 1960s. An azimuth indicator scale which was used in the turret of an armored vehicle was examined by a variety of techniques. The beta-gamma dose rate at one foot from the center of the scale was calculated to be 6 mrem/h. The dose rate on contact with the scale was estimated to be 100 mrem/h. After one week 13.6 nCi of radon were leaked from the scale (see the articles by Hendee and Doege). Herman also describes the storage of 38,000 wrist compasses with luminous dials purchased by the military in 1953. One of the cartons containing 100 compasses contained 267 nCi of radon gas (see Table 2) when tested.Table 2Survey of Packing Material Wrist Compasses Containing RadiumLocationMeasurementSurface of wooden crate5 mr/h–beta-gammaSurface of "tar paper" sealed package8 mr/h–beta-gammaInterior surfaces of sealed wrapper4.5 nCiOuter surfaces of waxed waterproof wrapper2.2 nCiOuter surface inner carton4.5 nCiInside surface of carton13.5 nCiSurface of individual compass boxes4 nCiWrapping of individual compass4.5 nCiWipe Tests of Wrist Compasses Containing RadiumDry WipesWet WipesCompass No.Beta (pCi)Alpha (pCi)Beta (pCi)Alpha (pCi)12517150482352512826345238937436281193052714102266603515434746251504082719992494627107241052281132411361812833124528132371372571564914512916347154635932116462511925174726172681864439518194326133392051351343421252114336224532269136233425632024331014990Average:43 ± 1228 ± 9132 ± 4040 ± 26Data from Moghissi et al (p 298).[4]Moghissi A.A. Pasas P. Carter M.W. Radioactivity in Consumer Products. US Nuclear Regulatory Commission, 1978Crossref Google Scholar Open table in a new tab Data from Moghissi et al (p 298).[4]Moghissi A.A. Pasas P. Carter M.W. Radioactivity in Consumer Products. US Nuclear Regulatory Commission, 1978Crossref Google Scholar Radioactivity in commercial scientific instruments and particularly in old scientific instruments, provides another interesting and often unsuspected source of radioactivity. Antique scientific instruments with luminous dials are of particular concern because they are frequently polished down with buffing wheels to expose the brass surface which is attractive and saleable. In this process, the paint on the instrument is removed, exposing the buffer to inhalation or ingestion of the associated radium-226. This particular threat was recently reviewed in an article by Anthony R. Constable.[5]Constable A.R. Radioactivity in Scientific Instruments.Bull Scientific Inst Soc. 1987; 12: 9-10Google Scholar ∼ In his review, he points out that if all the radium in one single World War II Army compass were ingested by a single person (unlikely though it may be), it could exceed the maximum permissable body burden by 50 times. Among the more common scientific instruments, the Crook's spinthari scope contains a small amount of radium, probably in harmless amounts, and is a most interesting device.[6]Blaufox M.D. Antique Hazards: "A Latter Day Encounter with Radium.J Nucl Med. 1983; 24: 79-82PubMed Google Scholar I will return to this later. The entire area of scientific instruments encompasses within it a smaller and fascinating source of radioactive materials which are likely to be encountered in the environment, namely, radioactive materials which were sold to be used as medical cures. A large number of radioactive sources are available in the form of devices which were thought to be curative in their properties because of radioactivity they contain. I have encountered a large number of these items in my medical antique collecting which deserve some mention and which represent varying degrees of hazard. In 1983, a person who fortunately was associated with a Radiology Department and was clearly aware of what he had, offered me (and I subsequently purchased it) an early American stoneware jug which had the label on it "Revigator Radium Ore, Patented 7/16/12, Trademark The Radium Ore Revigator Company, 260 California Street, San Francisco, California. ''[7]Eisenbud M. Environmental Radioactivity. Academic, San Diego1973Google Scholar The instructions on the jar were "fill jar every night, use hydrant or any good water, drink freely when thirsty upon arising, and retiring, average 6 or more glasses daily, scrub with stiff brush and scald monthly." The radiation reading inside of this stoneware jug was 5.2 mR per hour and outside the reading was about 1 to 2 mR per hour. The Revigator originally contained a cone of radioactive ore which was placed in the crock. The water then would sit with it, presumably absorb the emitted radon, and was to be drunk on a regular basis (Fig 1). In 1984, I came across a much more dangerous example of a device with the same basic purpose. An antique dealer located in a busy area of New York City, offered me an instrument which was labeled "Radiumator, the standard radium emanator, guaranteed to contain real radium," manufactured by the North American Radium Company. This device [7]Eisenbud M. Environmental Radioactivity. Academic, San Diego1973Google Scholar was examined by me with Drs L. Rao Chervu and Paul Goodwin, and was estimated to contain somewhere between 100 to 300 μCi of radium. It originally functioned as a source through which air was pumped in order to absorb the radon emanating from the radium and force it into a glass of water. The radioactive water was to be drunk. To the best of my knowledge, this relatively large amount of radium currently is still residing in the shop of the antique dealer with whom I consulted (Fig. 2). It is particularly disturbing to note that in seeking out the proper agency responsible for supervising the disposal of this material, there was no clearcut line of responsibility and, in fact, the dealer, since he was not licensed, was not under the jurisdiction of the Office of Radiation Control. The latest source, to which I believe the problem had been referred, was the Occupational Safety and Health Unit of the Department of Labor of New York State. Letters from me to that office have remained unanswered. Another potentially large source of radioactivity was brought to my attention in the form of a device in the possession of another antique dealer in Westchester County in New York. That source was shown to me last summer and I promised to return sometime during the year to survey it. About April I received a hysterical phone call from the owner telling me that a friend had brought over a makeshift radiation detector and that he had measured a dose rate of "100 rad per hour," a couple of feet from the source. I assured the owner that this could not be a correct reading and that the units were not even correct but that I would come up and check it out. The device is called a "Radiorem Outfit" and originally consisted of eight bottles in a simple box, of which five are still present. The bottles contain a brown solid material in the bottom, which is radioactive, and they are filled with water. The stoppers are frozen and we have been unable to check the contents directly without danger of breaking the bottles. The directions read "Stand the 8 bottles in a row, with the ring marker on the first one. Put one rod in each bottle. Fill them all to the brim with water and press in the stoppers so that air is excluded. Drink 2 bottles every day, one during or after each morning and evening meal, drink slowly from the bottle to avoid shaking. Refill and replace it in line and put the ring on the next bottle each time. After four days the eighth bottle will be reached and thereafter each one in turn will contain a charge of radium emanation equal to that of the stronger natural radioactive springs. Made by the Radium Therapy Corporation." The radiation from the box and its contents (Fig 3) was almost immeasurable at a few inches. The outfit was marketed by Schiefflin and Company, New York. This legitimate pharmaceutical