Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Radioactivity released from burning gas lantern mantles.

J W Luetzelschwab, S W Googins

    Health Physics
    |April 1, 1984
    PubMed
    Summary

    Gas lantern mantles release radioactive thorium daughters during use. Gamma radiation measurements show significant amounts of radium, lead, and bismuth are released, depending on mantle age.

    Related Concept Videos

    You might also read

    Related Articles

    Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

    Sort by
    Same author

    Self absorption of alpha and beta particles in a fiberglass filter.

    Health physics·2000
    Same author

    Adsorption of 222Rn by open-faced and diffusion-barrier canisters at different conditions of temperature and humidity.

    Health physics·1994
    Same author

    Radon concentrations in five Pennsylvania soils.

    Health physics·1989
    Same author

    A field sampling unit that uses an ion-exchange resin to concentrate radioactive ions in river water.

    Health physics·1976
    Same author

    Ability of an ion-exchange resin to retain 137Cs in the presence of Ca2+ ions at fast flow rates.

    Health physics·1974

    Area of Science:

    • Radiochemistry
    • Environmental Science
    • Nuclear Physics

    Background:

    • Gas lantern mantles utilize thorium for incandescence.
    • Thorium decay series results in the buildup of radioactive daughters within the mantle over time.
    • These radioactive daughters can be released during the burning of lantern fuel.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To quantify the radioactivity released from gas lantern mantles during fuel combustion.
    • To investigate the specific thorium daughters emitted and their release rates.
    • To determine the influence of mantle age on the release of radioactive byproducts.

    Main Methods:

    • Measurement of gamma radiation emitted by thorium daughters.
    • Analysis of radioactive isotopes released during the initial hour of mantle burn.
    • Correlation of release amounts with mantle age.

    Main Results:

    • Significant quantities of radium (224Ra, 228Ra), lead-212 (212Pb), and bismuth-212 (212Bi) are released.
    • More than half of the 212Pb and 212Bi are released within the first hour of burning.
    • The amount of released radioactivity is directly dependent on the age of the gas lantern mantle.

    Conclusions:

    • Gas lantern usage leads to the release of hazardous radioactive daughters.
    • The age of the mantle is a critical factor determining the extent of radioactive release.
    • Further research is needed to assess the environmental and health implications of this radioactivity release.

    Related Experiment Videos