Comments on: Walmart mishandled radioactive exit signs http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2009/11/05/walmart-mishandled-radioactive-exit-signs/ General interest observations and true web-log. Sat, 20 Mar 2010 05:58:10 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: GetSmart http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2009/11/05/walmart-mishandled-radioactive-exit-signs/comment-page-1/#comment-1598189 GetSmart Fri, 06 Nov 2009 05:37:07 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=61990#comment-1598189 Yep, if them terrorists got themselves a couple hundred thousand of them glow in the dark signs and then stole themselves a couple kilograms of weapons grade plutonium and got somebody that knew what they was a doing, and somehow put it all together <i>exactly</i> right, they might get themselves one of them there H-bombs. Or not. Yep, if them terrorists got themselves a couple hundred thousand of them glow in the dark signs and then stole themselves a couple kilograms of weapons grade plutonium and got somebody that knew what they was a doing, and somehow put it all together exactly right, they might get themselves one of them there H-bombs.
Or not.

]]> By: andrewsjp http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2009/11/05/walmart-mishandled-radioactive-exit-signs/comment-page-1/#comment-1598165 andrewsjp Fri, 06 Nov 2009 04:29:06 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=61990#comment-1598165 The signs use tritium that is radioactive. It is in the form of a gas inside the sealed glass tubes. If the tubes break, the gas escapes and dissipates quickly. There isn't enough radioactivity to be a health problem and the energy of the radiation is very weak. It is no big deal, that is why they are used. However, the NRC bureaucratic red tape is pretty extensive and requires training and special conditions for routine inventory and disposal. I suppose if you had a barrel full of these things and crushed them with a crowbar, you could get a significant exposure, but still not enough to hurt you. The BS that would follow you after that would hurt more. Retired HP The signs use tritium that is radioactive. It is in the form of a gas inside the sealed glass tubes. If the tubes break, the gas escapes and dissipates quickly. There isn’t enough radioactivity to be a health problem and the energy of the radiation is very weak. It is no big deal, that is why they are used. However, the NRC bureaucratic red tape is pretty extensive and requires training and special conditions for routine inventory and disposal. I suppose if you had a barrel full of these things and crushed them with a crowbar, you could get a significant exposure, but still not enough to hurt you. The BS that would follow you after that would hurt more.

Retired HP

]]> By: lightbulb42 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2009/11/05/walmart-mishandled-radioactive-exit-signs/comment-page-1/#comment-1598162 lightbulb42 Fri, 06 Nov 2009 04:02:57 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=61990#comment-1598162 If there were sixty companies cited why did Walmart get singled out for the headline? (Not that I'm a Walmart fan. My wife won't let me shop there.) If there were sixty companies cited why did Walmart get singled out for the headline? (Not that I’m a Walmart fan. My wife won’t let me shop there.)

]]> By: StoopidFlanders http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2009/11/05/walmart-mishandled-radioactive-exit-signs/comment-page-1/#comment-1598090 StoopidFlanders Thu, 05 Nov 2009 22:53:57 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=61990#comment-1598090 So, are radical islamic terrorists with plans for dirty bombs responsible for this crackdown on a rather innocuous product? First, they ruined home chemistry kits, then shampoo on airplanes, now this. So, are radical islamic terrorists with plans for dirty bombs responsible for this crackdown on a rather innocuous product?

First, they ruined home chemistry kits, then shampoo on airplanes, now this.

]]> By: Mac Guy http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2009/11/05/walmart-mishandled-radioactive-exit-signs/comment-page-1/#comment-1598050 Mac Guy Thu, 05 Nov 2009 20:57:46 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=61990#comment-1598050 FYI - Tritium is used for "glow-in-the-dark" applications, such as safety signs and night sights on firearms. FYI – Tritium is used for “glow-in-the-dark” applications, such as safety signs and night sights on firearms.

]]> By: xjonx http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2009/11/05/walmart-mishandled-radioactive-exit-signs/comment-page-1/#comment-1598049 xjonx Thu, 05 Nov 2009 20:56:11 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=61990#comment-1598049 While working in the utilities testing industry, testing a 20 megawatt generator, I was at the site for a safety briefing and orientation, 30 minutes of the 55 minute meeting was spent on the safe disposal of radio-active waste. At the end I said, "I didn't realize you had a reactor here. I thought that you were powered by natural gas. Why all the radiation instruction?""We are. The exit signs glow in the dark." I reply,"Well, if for some reason I find the need to start throwing away your signs, you have got a lot bigger problems that glow in the dark paint ending up in a land fill!" If they are so dangerous, why are they still sold? While working in the utilities testing industry, testing a 20 megawatt generator, I was at the site for a safety briefing and orientation, 30 minutes of the 55 minute meeting was spent on the safe disposal of radio-active waste. At the end I said, “I didn’t realize you had a reactor here. I thought that you were powered by natural gas. Why all the radiation instruction?”"We are. The exit signs glow in the dark.” I reply,”Well, if for some reason I find the need to start throwing away your signs, you have got a lot bigger problems that glow in the dark paint ending up in a land fill!”

If they are so dangerous, why are they still sold?

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