Measurements of Radioactivity in an Industrial Dial Painting Room

Abstract

The radiations from radioactive substances can cause severe and lasting damage to living tissue and their effects may, in extreme cases, be lethal. These radiations are divided into three classes, viz. alpha-, betaand gamma-rays, which are given out by radium and thorium and other radioactive elements during their disintegration. Industrial hazards arising from the use of radioactive materials occur mainly among those workers engaged in the luminous dial painting industry and the causes of injury are: (1) ingestion of solid luminous compound by inhalation of dust or due to slovenly working habits ; (2) inhalation of radon (radium emanation); and (3) irradiation of the whole body by gamma-rays from any accumulation of active material. The effects of the radiations and their physical characteristics have been dealt with by Browning (1944) and G. D. Rochester (1944) and will not be described here as, in this article, it is intended to deal mainly with the practical detection of these radiations and certain aspects of the methods for protection from them. Since this work was completed J. C. Jones and M. J. Day (1945) of Middlesex Hospital have given the results of many tests of the type to be described hereunder. It is gratifying to find that the results obtained by us agree, in order of magni tude, with those of Jones and Day. Although the work dealt with here is less exhaustive it is offered as a confirmation, by a different technique of measurement, of the results of Jones and Day.