Radiation

There are a number of radioactive elements that occur in nature. In some cases, these can be deposited in fossil and subfossil specimens, causing the specimens to become radioactive. Naturally-occurring radioactive materials are generally not subject to regulation and these specimens do not emit enough radiation to have harmful effects on the timescales that are usually involved in the workplace. Nonetheless, it is important to be aware of the potential for radioactivity in fossils and take steps to avoid unnecessary exposure. Specimens of unknown origin should have their mineral components identified by scientific analytical methods; radioactive samples can also be identified using Geiger counter. 

The following precautions should always be used when dealing with radioactive specimens:
•    Limit the specimen size to reduce the amount of radiation emitted.
•    Store the specimen in a sealed, transparent, and labeled container so it may be identified without extra handling.
•    Store in a ventilated mineral storage cabinet; if high levels of radioactivity are present, use lead containers to provide an additional barrier
•    Do not smoke, eat, or sleep near the specimens.
•    Limit exposure to dust from radioactive specimens, especially during preparation.
•    Do not store specimens in areas of heavy traffic where people spend a lot of time working. 
•    Staff spending significant amounts of time working with radioactive specimens are recommended to wear radiation badges which record the amount of radioactive exposure.  The badges are sent in to the supplying company once a month to interpret data and determine the safety of working with the museum’s collection. 

The following resources offer expanded information on dealing with radioactive specimens:
•    Several of the National Park Service Conserve O Gram leaflets listed in the section on Security, Fire and Curatorial Safety and Natural History Specimens provide specific information on pertinent to fossil and geological specimens.  Of particular interest are:
•    2/1 Hazardous Materials Health and Safety Update 1993
•    2/10 Hazardous Materials in Your Collections 1998
•    11/2 Storage Concerns for Geological Collections 1998
•    11/10 Radioactive Minerals 2006
•    11/11 Health and Safety Issues with Geological Specimens 2006
•    The Mineralogy Database website offers a section on “Radioactivity in Minerals,” including a table of radioactive minerals.
•    The Society of Mineral Museum Professionals website offers two reports produced by museums on the proper handling of geological collections. 
•    The first report on “Radioactive Specimens in Museum Collections” was produced by The Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Pittsburgh, PA. 
•    The second report on “Procedures for Management of Radioactive Mineral Specimens (1996)”  was produced by the Colorado School of Mines Geology Museum, Golden, CO.
 

Radon

Radon is a naturally-occurring radioactive gas that is emitted by specimens that contain uranium salts. It is colorless and odorless. In poorly-ventilated and confined spaces, radon can build up to levels that, with long-term exposure, can lead to serious health issues. These conditions rarely occur in the workplace and there are no legal limits for workplace exposure. Nonetheless, there are a number of simple steps that should be taken to reduce the potential risk.
•    Bag specimens
•    Outfitting storage areas with radon detection equipment.
•    Labeling storage areas with hazardous materials signage.
•    Keeping storage area well-ventilated to prevent the build-up of radon gas.
•    Wearing a respirator and/or using an effective vent system if working for a prolonged time with minerals that may emit radon.

Radon meters and wipe tests can be used to detect and measure radon in storage areas and work surfaces.  There are two types of radon monitors
•    Single use “passive” monitors – these costs about $30 (including the mail-in test)
•    Electronic programmable monitor – these monitors cost about $120 and provide real-time and long-term testing with alarms.  They can be placed anywhere and are recommend for any lab and/or storage area.

The following resources offer expanded information on dealing with radioactive specimens:
•    Several of the National Park Service Conserve O Gram leaflets listed in the section on Security, Fire and Curatorial Safety and Natural History Specimens provide specific information on pertinent to fossil and geological specimens.  Of particular interest are:
•     2/1 Hazardous Materials Health and Safety Update 1993
•     2/5 Fossil Vertebrates as Radon Source: Health Update 1993
•    2/10 Hazardous Materials in Your Collections 1998
•    11/2 Storage Concerns for Geological Collections 1998
•    11/10 Radioactive Minerals 2006
•    11/11 Health and Safety Issues with Geological Specimens 2006
•    McCullough, Gavin.  “Radon Hazards, Detection, Mitigation.”  National Park Service website.  On-line.
•    Air Monitoring Guide by Dennis Ertel gives information on how to conduct and evaluate air quality tests.  The document is available in the Health and Safety section of the American Institute for Conservation’s website.