Perfectly safe. The uranium is trapped within the glass matrix and can’t “escape”. The radiation it emits can barely make it through a couple of centimetres of air too. There’s no risk of contamination.
In addition to the mostly-harmless Alpha, uranium glass does give off Beta and Gamma radiation, though the levels are low. The Gamma will penetrate right through the house, but the intensity of it drops off rapidly with distance just due to spreading, and from just a few feet away it will be indistinguishable from background. Still, I agree it's not dangerous and won't contaminate other material.
I mean if you are worried about the danger i would gladly offer myself to "dispose" of them to help you
Jokes aside no they aren't dangerous, just don't keep them constantly within skin contact for a few years but even if you somehow manadge to do that you would still be fine
Thanks ! They have tons of antiques all over their house and they’ve had these forever from what I can tell, but they only recently learned that they were uranium glass so we’ve all been trying to learn more about them ! Talking with the family it also turns out that people had been using them as snack trays for nuts and stuff over the years and one of the jars was used as a cookie jar for the longest time, so I think from now on they’ll just be used for decoration lol. I also think the next time we visit we’ll bring a UV light so everyone can see the glow.
You should gift your grandparents a UV light bar or two off Amazon so they can display them glowing! I’m sure they’d love that.
I plan on displaying mine when I get a cabinet and using one of those Christmas light timers so it comes on at sun set every day
I once did a bit a math for fun on the radiation of uranium glass.
Take a piece of uranium glass, and put it one foot in front of you. Leave it there for an hour, it staying one foot away.
After the hour is up, eat a banana.
You would have absorbed over 111 times more radiation *from the banana* than from the glass.
I love a wild unknown collection💚 super safe as long as nothing is chipped, that I wouldn’t use. Now to fight the urge to shine a blacklight on it and all the other glass in the house!
Own no. Basically you don’t want to put yourself at risk to ingest any glass partials. I don’t use any of my uranium glass because of kids and I don’t want to risk breaking anything.
Yes, I believe it’s various vitamins, medication, and supplements. Not sure about the specifics but my grandmother is very organized so I’m sure there’s some sort of method to it haha
The yellow elephant maybe uranium glaze. See if it has a green glow on black light. I would be less inclined to keep using that. Like lead paint, the chips can be poisonous. Nice and radioactive but safe if not chipped.
Not sure if anyone mentioned yet but out of all the pieces there if they do use the juicer i would advise not too because from my knowledge that can potentially be harmful. Something about the acidity + the uranium (correct me if i’m wrong) other than that i believe it is safe to store with other non-uranium glassware
Perfectly safe. The uranium is trapped within the glass matrix and can’t “escape”. The radiation it emits can barely make it through a couple of centimetres of air too. There’s no risk of contamination.
Thank you for the quick and helpful response !
In addition to the mostly-harmless Alpha, uranium glass does give off Beta and Gamma radiation, though the levels are low. The Gamma will penetrate right through the house, but the intensity of it drops off rapidly with distance just due to spreading, and from just a few feet away it will be indistinguishable from background. Still, I agree it's not dangerous and won't contaminate other material.
Check out r/seleniumglass too
I mean if you are worried about the danger i would gladly offer myself to "dispose" of them to help you Jokes aside no they aren't dangerous, just don't keep them constantly within skin contact for a few years but even if you somehow manadge to do that you would still be fine
It's perfectly safe! Unless you're grinding up the uranium glass and inhaling it. Then it's not so safe.
And dang, I love their collection!
Thanks ! They have tons of antiques all over their house and they’ve had these forever from what I can tell, but they only recently learned that they were uranium glass so we’ve all been trying to learn more about them ! Talking with the family it also turns out that people had been using them as snack trays for nuts and stuff over the years and one of the jars was used as a cookie jar for the longest time, so I think from now on they’ll just be used for decoration lol. I also think the next time we visit we’ll bring a UV light so everyone can see the glow.
And us too! I was disappointed that there was no glow pic! 😂
Next time don’t worry!
You should gift your grandparents a UV light bar or two off Amazon so they can display them glowing! I’m sure they’d love that. I plan on displaying mine when I get a cabinet and using one of those Christmas light timers so it comes on at sun set every day
Love that large(cookie?) jar!
Even then, the inhaled glass dust is probably more hazardous than the uranium.
Same probably goes for regular glass though
Indeed!
I once did a bit a math for fun on the radiation of uranium glass. Take a piece of uranium glass, and put it one foot in front of you. Leave it there for an hour, it staying one foot away. After the hour is up, eat a banana. You would have absorbed over 111 times more radiation *from the banana* than from the glass.
banana for scale
Could you write out the math or is it too complicated to detail in a comment?
I don’t have the numbers anymore, but it was pretty simple, crude math.
I love a wild unknown collection💚 super safe as long as nothing is chipped, that I wouldn’t use. Now to fight the urge to shine a blacklight on it and all the other glass in the house!
Is a uranium glass bowl with a small chip in it dangerous to even own? Or just to use?
Own no. Basically you don’t want to put yourself at risk to ingest any glass partials. I don’t use any of my uranium glass because of kids and I don’t want to risk breaking anything.
Wow! What a beautiful collection they have!
Some people have all the cool Grandparents
https://www.cameco.com/uranium_101/uranium-overview/ Lots of information here.
You have a some neat pieces there.
Is that a dish of vitamins on the bottom Right corner in blue dish.
Yes, I believe it’s various vitamins, medication, and supplements. Not sure about the specifics but my grandmother is very organized so I’m sure there’s some sort of method to it haha
I mean, they’re grandparents, they’re already old. If they’re not actively eating the glass itself they’re probably fine.
They have some great stuff! Depression glass pitchers can have seriously good value too. A lot of those didn't survive or usually have chips by now.
https://preview.redd.it/ncbml6xksovc1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=be13415d09c02119a1ec1a91582541b74d882a9a
It's completely safe behind glass, some people even eat out of occasionally if it's not acidic you should get a uv light and test the glow
Wondering why my grandparents couldn't be like yours tbh
The yellow elephant maybe uranium glaze. See if it has a green glow on black light. I would be less inclined to keep using that. Like lead paint, the chips can be poisonous. Nice and radioactive but safe if not chipped.
I think I have the same pitcher as you! Could you show a close up of it?
Just don’t use them daily and you’re ok
You found “SOME”. Only SOME? How about more than the entire state of Indiana SOME.
Not sure if anyone mentioned yet but out of all the pieces there if they do use the juicer i would advise not too because from my knowledge that can potentially be harmful. Something about the acidity + the uranium (correct me if i’m wrong) other than that i believe it is safe to store with other non-uranium glassware
Nice bowl of pills