Uranium glass

Uranium glass ( also referred to as Vaselineglas ) is a type of glass which contains uranium oxide as a colorant. These give the uranium glass light yellow (Anna - yellow) to light green ( Eleonoren - green) transparent shades.

To distinguish them from normal green glass and uranium glass holding the object under a black light. The yellowish to greenish uranium -VI oxide compounds ( sodium diuranate, uranyl compounds ) then begin to fluoresce.

Historical Development

The first production of uranium glass was already among the ancient Romans. Finds of corresponding mosaic dated to the 1st century. The uranium then used for the production was imported from North Africa. In the 17th and 18th century Chinese glassmakers worked on the production of uranium glass. However, it remained only for tests. In large amounts, uranium glass was produced until the 19th century. Besides Bohemian glassworks, France, Belgium, England and the U.S. were seen as centers of production. Alone in the Bohemian Joachimsthal until the year 1898 1.600 tonnes of uranium color were produced.

Health risks and precautions

With responsible use of the uranium glass immediate danger is to be feared, because usually the magnitude of directly emanating from uranium glass ionizing radiation can be expected to be relatively low. The radon decay product remains trapped in the glass.

For a health hazard by wearing necklaces with uranium glass beads are different views: on one hand it can be demonstrated that the hazards arising from the uranium glass Alpha radiation can due to their low penetrating power irradiate only the top layers of skin (epidermis) and there primarily the stratum corneum, the cells have already died. A possible development of skin cancer by radiation is therefore not to be expected in this cell layer. On the other hand, it should be noted that the stratum corneum at the neck is thinner than, for example on the hands and feet. Thus, a penetration of the radiation to depths with not yet dead skin cells can not be excluded.

In order not to favor the possible development of cancer, uranium glass necklace should only be worn on garments and never resting directly on unprotected skin. The ionizing effect of the emitted alpha radiation is kept away already by the thinnest of clothing from the skin.

The for the production of uranium glass dyes to be used, mainly the sodium diuranate, are not only radioactive but all of them highly toxic.