COTS Isotopes

Focus on substances found in commercial products. Things easily obtained at local stores and/or online.

Radioluminescent Paint

Am-241

Can be found in ionization smoke detectors. Modern units typically contain 1 uCi max. However, some older models contain much more such as the Pyrotronics F3/5A (80 uCi)

"each detector contains only a tiny amount of americium-241, which is sealed in a gold matrix “to make sure that corrosion does not break it down and release it.”" (source)

http://large.stanford.edu/courses/2011/ph241/eason1/

• "a typical modern detector contains about 1.0 microcurie of the radioactive element americium, which is equivalent to 37 kilobecquerel (37,000 decays per second), or 0.33 micrograms of americium oxide (AmO2)"
• "The average quantity of americium per detector has decreased from 3 microcurie in 1978."

Element 95 and method of producing said element

• Pu/Am chemistry
• Patent: 637,484: separating Pu/U
• Am specific chemistry starts about column 7

Commercial AmBe sources for oil exploration (neutrons measure water content)

H-2 (Deuterium)

Deuterium lamps contain a very small amount

H-3 (Tritium)

Powerless exit signs can contain several Ci (yes, whole number) to make them glow for a few years

Vendors:

• Exit Light Co: Power Free Tritium Exit Signs
• betalux
• BX-10-WH $150 each

Heist

• "Fifteen thousand missing tritium exit signs at 20 trillion picocuries each means that 300 quadrillion picocuries of tritium"
• Pico: e-12
• Trillion: e12
• 20 Ci each
• 20 * 15,000 = 30 kCi
• To put in perspective:
• Household smoke detector: 1 uCi

2015: 25mm x 3.5mm Tritium filled glasses on eBay for about $16 shipped

Torch

• Wonder how much are in these?
• NSN 6260-99-965-3582

Po

Above: source

5 mCi source can be rented for ESD stuff

Sources:

• http://www.amstat.com/products/nuclear/nuclespot-alpha-ionizer/

Ra-226

Smoke detector

Smoke detectors can have a small amount. IIRC mine had 0.05 uCi (0.5?)

Watch

"The estimated dose from a watch containing 4.5 uCi of radium, a very large amount, would be 310 mrem per year to the gonads."

[Radioluminescent Paint] indicates watches can have up to 5 uCi with averages much lower (0.36 uCi peak in the 60's)

Th

Welding rods

• "By weight...1 or 2 % thorium oxide (thoria)...up to 4 %, have been used
• yellow: 1 %
• red: 2 %

How to make thorium dioxide

• Place in H2O2
• Takes two weeks to dissolve W, leaving TO2 at bottom
• Filter

Pu

Most commonly in some russian smoke detectors. Less common includes the RTGs and specialty radiation detectors

Arco NU-5F

Above: Pu-238 pacemaker (source)

Plate reads:

 ARCO MEDICAL PRODUCTS CO.
 Pacemaker NU-5F Serial No. 001
 Caution: Radioactive Material
 PLUTONIUM 238 < 8 Curies
 Notify Civil Authorities if found.