Radioactivity released from burning gas lantern mantles.

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.