Another Great AEC handbook
Posted: Tue Feb 23, 2010 1:38 pm
"Laboratory Experiments with Radioisotopes for High School Science", AEC, Samuel Schenberg, 1958 (revised)
This a small 59 page tome in 6" X 9" pamphlet form that was designed to inspire and instruct High School teachers in developing a Nuclear isotope program for their high schools in the 50's.
Lots of Isotopes were offered as with all the Atoms for Peace programs to students and teachers alike. All experiments are done with open 10ml solutions of 10uCi of P32 and I131. There are also uses with solutions of Cs137 and Tl204.
Appendix II covers worries about radioacivity and hazards with P32 and I 131. I quote.........
"It is the considered opinion....that no health hazard is involved (to the student or the teacher) in carrying out laboroatory experiments with radioactive Iodine 131 and Phosphous 32 in amounts not exceeding 10 uCi."
more.......... synopsized by me and quoted in spots.
The case of a total spill of the entire contents of 10uCi of I 131 on a students clothing is treated in detail. They assume the idiot student would have a circular spill spot of area of ~10 cm sq. and that the area would dry out and be resting directly against the skin .....
"The student would receive a dose rate in the germinal layer of the epidermis of 6 rads per hour, with the contaminated cloth against the skin. The cloth would have to remain in contact with the skin for 10 days to product an appreciable reddenning of the skin, resembling a mild sunburn."
They felt, (hoped), that the student would not wear the same clothing for days on end and conclude regarding concentrated spills on clothing that......."no skin burn could possibly result from extremely careless handling of 10uCi of I 131."
In proceeding on to P32 they note the beta rays are much more penetrating and a similar accident would produce visible reddening in a few days on continuously worn, unwashed clothing. But all is well, for they noted that such a spill of the entire contents would alert a teacher as there would be nothing left for experiment in the class.
It is stated that the material might be handled with little more care than that afforded corrosive acids. Disposal of used liquid waste materials was suggested to be down a lab drain with plenty of water to flush it fully from the classroom plumbing. Contaminated paper should be carried in a marked container to the furnace room and burned or sequestered and allow to decay and disposed of normally with other paper wastes.
A full quote......."Ingestion of the material - If by accident a student or teacher drank all the 10 ml solution containing the full 10uCi of I 131 no noticable harm would result"......"Accidental ingestion of a full 10 uCi of P32 can also be considered harmless".
What a time to be alive or aglow.
There are plenty of experiments, (20 in all), with most being biological in nature though a simple GM counter is constructed along with a cloud chamber and spintharioscope. In one place, it is suggested that you scrape some of radium paint off of an old defective or disused watch or clock face or hands for use in experiment.
An interesting look back at the good old days when the atom was our best friend and the nuclear genie would light a pathway into a bright future for us all.
Richard Hull
This a small 59 page tome in 6" X 9" pamphlet form that was designed to inspire and instruct High School teachers in developing a Nuclear isotope program for their high schools in the 50's.
Lots of Isotopes were offered as with all the Atoms for Peace programs to students and teachers alike. All experiments are done with open 10ml solutions of 10uCi of P32 and I131. There are also uses with solutions of Cs137 and Tl204.
Appendix II covers worries about radioacivity and hazards with P32 and I 131. I quote.........
"It is the considered opinion....that no health hazard is involved (to the student or the teacher) in carrying out laboroatory experiments with radioactive Iodine 131 and Phosphous 32 in amounts not exceeding 10 uCi."
more.......... synopsized by me and quoted in spots.
The case of a total spill of the entire contents of 10uCi of I 131 on a students clothing is treated in detail. They assume the idiot student would have a circular spill spot of area of ~10 cm sq. and that the area would dry out and be resting directly against the skin .....
"The student would receive a dose rate in the germinal layer of the epidermis of 6 rads per hour, with the contaminated cloth against the skin. The cloth would have to remain in contact with the skin for 10 days to product an appreciable reddenning of the skin, resembling a mild sunburn."
They felt, (hoped), that the student would not wear the same clothing for days on end and conclude regarding concentrated spills on clothing that......."no skin burn could possibly result from extremely careless handling of 10uCi of I 131."
In proceeding on to P32 they note the beta rays are much more penetrating and a similar accident would produce visible reddening in a few days on continuously worn, unwashed clothing. But all is well, for they noted that such a spill of the entire contents would alert a teacher as there would be nothing left for experiment in the class.
It is stated that the material might be handled with little more care than that afforded corrosive acids. Disposal of used liquid waste materials was suggested to be down a lab drain with plenty of water to flush it fully from the classroom plumbing. Contaminated paper should be carried in a marked container to the furnace room and burned or sequestered and allow to decay and disposed of normally with other paper wastes.
A full quote......."Ingestion of the material - If by accident a student or teacher drank all the 10 ml solution containing the full 10uCi of I 131 no noticable harm would result"......"Accidental ingestion of a full 10 uCi of P32 can also be considered harmless".
What a time to be alive or aglow.
There are plenty of experiments, (20 in all), with most being biological in nature though a simple GM counter is constructed along with a cloud chamber and spintharioscope. In one place, it is suggested that you scrape some of radium paint off of an old defective or disused watch or clock face or hands for use in experiment.
An interesting look back at the good old days when the atom was our best friend and the nuclear genie would light a pathway into a bright future for us all.
Richard Hull