Omega

RADIUM on dials - how dangerous is it?
May 17 2008,04:15 AM

Hello to all,

I do not know if this subject has already been discussed on this forum? Does anybody know about the danger of  OLD Radium on vintage watch dials.
As you can see from the picture, sometimes the Radium breakes off from the numbers in very small  parts (or even dust). If you open the watch for
repair/service purpose and you breathe in some of the Radium dust...   how dangerous will it be? Is there a risk of cancer?  How effective is the radiation
of Radium dust after 70 years...
I am not a hypochonder, but I would like to enjoy my watches for some more years...

Has somebody already read / heard about the risks?
If somebody knows, please let me know!

have a nice weekend

Erich

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LOL, Erich
May 17 2008,05:02 AM

I love your sense of Humour!
I won't be afraid of that,til you don't sniff or eat the Radium powder, there is nor risk for your health.LOL
BUT, as for your watch, I absolutely love it!
I'm considering buying the re edition of this watch, one of the nicest Pilot watch, IMHO.
Congrats, and thanks as it's the forst time I see a pic of the original model.
Best.
nicolas
PS: If you're not conivinced I can easily help you, and send you my deatils for you to send me the watch...LMAO

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Hi Nicolas
May 17 2008,05:31 AM

I love your sense of humour too! Nice idea to send you the watch ...LOL
I think you should not buy the re-edition, always try to find the real thing!
It will take some time by sure as they are becoming scarce... but nobody knows -
maybe I may find one for you here in good old Europe some time.
Have a nice weekend!
Erich

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With pleasure, Erich,
May 17 2008,06:38 AM

It will be with pleasure if you can find one for me in Europe!
Thanks a lot for thinking of it!
Best, my friend.
Nicolas

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i had the re-edition and its great, but erich is right, the real thing is best
May 17 2008,10:38 AM

the new one however is far easier to maintain. if i'd known you wanted one Nicholas you could have had mine, but now its gone.

Graham

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Sad that we spoke tooo late about yours, Graham
May 17 2008,10:51 AM

Indeed if I knew...And it should have been a bigger pleasure for me, to buy a watch from a friend...

Best.

Nicolas

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Radium
May 18 2008,07:27 AM

As you can see from the picture, sometimes the Radium breakes off from the numbers in very small  parts (or even dust). If you open the watch for repair/service purpose and you breathe in some of the Radium dust...   how dangerous will it be?

This is an impossible question to answer, but there is a health hazard. The danger level depends on how much you inhale, where it stays stuck in your body, how often you do it, etc..

Is there a risk of cancer?  

Yes

How effective is the radiation of Radium dust after 70 years...

Still the same as when the watch was made

I am not a hypochonder, but I would like to enjoy my watches for some more years...

So don't open them ;-)

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Heeerm, Erich, finally, don't send it to me! LOL [nt]
May 18 2008,07:34 AM

No message body

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I was afraid of that!
May 18 2008,13:28 PM

Dear Dr. Strong,

thank you very much for your input! Obviously you took my questions seriously!
are you a medical DR.? or is it just a nickname?

Your answers sound quite logical to me - I had just the same concerns - this was the reason why I asked
these particular questions...

Sometimes I can´t avoid to open the watches in order to replace wrong hands, clean off some dust from
the dials, handle with spare lumed hands, etc.
I will be much more cautious when doing this in the future and maybe I will wear a dust-protection mask
for these works.

I think the greatest risk is for the bronchial tubes and lungs -depending on the size of the particles and
how deep they are able to protrude.
I think in the nasal cavity or in the pharynx larger dust particles may stick to the mucus - maybe it is easier to get rid of them when
blowing the nose or when coughing...

thanks a lot and kind regards
erich

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Treat it with respect and you should be fine.
May 18 2008,19:18 PM

Hi erich

Just treat it with respect. Wash you hands afterwards and do not ingest it. You should also "clean down" your work area as welll.

Good Hunting

Bill Sohne

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Erich
May 19 2008,05:01 AM

I work as a research engineer in a nuclear research laboratory; I am not a specialist in health hazard but I have some basic knowledge.

The question of the effects contamination is very complicated...it is like smoking: you know it is not good for your health and it migh provoke a cancer....but the exact level of danger is very hard to determine.

In any case you have spotted the main danger here and I am sure you can figure out how to minimize the risks of contamination.

     Cheers

          Jeff

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Thank you Jeff!
May 19 2008,11:29 AM

...for your valued input!

regards
erich

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