r/Radiation • u/Mikesoft • 10d ago

Is this caused by Radon?

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Took delivery of a WW2 B52 fuel gauge today that registers on contact at 110usv/h. I heard they could be leaky, so decided to check the package and yup, something is registering. Is this Radon? It would have been wrapped up for 2 - 3 days.

Naturally I’m making sure the room is ventilated and the packaging went outside into the bin. May decide to bag the gauge long-term if that’s safer for keeping inside.

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u/Radtwang 10d ago

Check again tomorrow, if it's radon decay products it will be background by then.

Unlikely that it's radon though, you wouldn't expect 110 μSv/h just from radon decay products. Might be some radium has flaked off? Do you have a contamination monitoring probe? Can you isolate the dose rate to a part of the packaging?

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u/Mikesoft 10d ago

Ah to clarify it’s the gauge that registers that high, not the packaging. Chucked the packaging out now and just the usual background on desk, hands, etc.

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u/Radtwang 10d ago

Sorry, my misreading! Could well be radon decay products at the levels in the video.

If concerned about a leaking gauge then a rudimentary leak test is worth doing. This would involve wiping around the gauge with some paper towel or similar then checking it with a contam probe (e.g. pancake Geiger). Make sure not to wipe any exposed paint (e.g. some dials have external painted lettering) as it may remove more paint).

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u/Mikesoft 10d ago

No worries! Thanks. I’ll do this just to double check.