Are radium watches harmful?

Various clocks and watches are pictured with glowing numbers on their faces, due to radium’s glowing properties. Radium is highly radioactive. It emits alpha, beta, and gamma radiation. If it is inhaled or swallowed, radium is dangerous because there is no shielding inside the body.

How radioactive are radium watches?

But many of the so-called radium watches are still around today, considered antiques and even prized as collectibles. The watches are likely to emit as much radiation today as they did when they were first manufactured, but experts say that in reality, the risk to wearers is probably low.

Are glow in the dark watches safe?

By far the most common watch that you come across that’s glow in the dark is called a phosphorescent watch. Essentially the watch is coated in a paint which absorbs light and then re-emits it. These watches are completely harmless.

Are radium toys safe?

If they contained radium, they would not be. But they don’t. They contain photoluminescent pigment which is non-radioactive and non-toxic. You’ll be able to confirm this by observing that they get brighter when exposed to light, especially sunlight or fluorescent light.

How much radiation does a radium watch emit?

The average annual dose from naturally occurring radiation in the United States is about 3,000 µSv y-1. Thus, the risk to the wearer of a radium-illuminated watch due to gamma radiation is relatively low. So, why the concern for radium? The main concern with radium has to do with ingestion.

How can I tell if my watch has radium?

If it has luminous markers, and made prior to the 1960s, then the watch most likely has radium. After 1998, watches may have Swiss or Swiss Made on the dial, however by this time LumiNova was used instead of radium.

Is radium illegal to own?

Your possession of radium-containing watches and clocks for repair purposes, though only temporary, is subject to the general license provisions for self-luminous products containing Ra-226 contained in NRC regulations (10 CFR 31.12) or equivalent Agreement State regulations.

Why is radium toxic?

Most are due to gamma radiation, which can travel a long way through the air. Just being near high levels of radium is dangerous. Radium is a known cancer-causing substance. Exposure to high levels of radium can lead to higher chances of bone, liver and breast cancer.