Natural uranium mostly emits alpha particles. It’s dangerous if you eat or inhale it, but the wood in the nightstand drawer is going to be enough to block them.
Paper and skin can stop alpha particles. Glass, plastic, or a little bit of metal can stop beta. It’s gamma that will get you, often because of what the gamma does through the material, knocking off new particles as it exits.
The uranium in one of these kits probably had the same potency as the radium pendants you can buy now. It’s fine as long as it stays in its container and never gets inside your body.
Natural uranium mostly emits alpha particles. It’s dangerous if you eat or inhale it, but the wood in the nightstand drawer is going to be enough to block them.
Paper and skin can stop alpha particles. Glass, plastic, or a little bit of metal can stop beta. It’s gamma that will get you, often because of what the gamma does through the material, knocking off new particles as it exits.
The uranium in one of these kits probably had the same potency as the radium pendants you can buy now. It’s fine as long as it stays in its container and never gets inside your body.
Of course gamma will get you, she beat cancer countless times. Gamma is badass.
Bruce Banner approves this message.