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Potential Uranium Exposure at Grand Canyon Museum Bldg
lake powell life ^ | 18 Feb 2018 | Dennis Wagner

Posted on 02/18/2019 1:41:02 PM PST by DUMBGRUNT

For nearly two decades at the Grand Canyon, tourists, employees, and children on tours passed by three paint buckets stored in the National Park's museum collection building, unaware that they were being exposed to radiation.

...One of the buckets was so full that its lid would not close.

...Stephenson said specialists apparently had no Geiger counter, so they drove to Utah to pick up a Ludlum meter, which also measures radiation output.

...As complaints escalated, Stephenson was fired. He turned to the Office of Special Counsel, a federal agency that protects whistleblowers, and his termination was stayed. It is unclear how that case was resolved, but within months, Stephenson had a new job with the National Park Service.

Stephenson said the uranium exposure saga developed while he was pursuing a racial-discrimination complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity office. Stephenson is African-American...

(Excerpt) Read more at lakepowelllife.com ...


TOPICS: Chit/Chat
KEYWORDS: arizona; grandcanyon; uranium
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In my misspent youth, I enjoyed rocks and fossils, somewhere I have a uranium sample!!!!!!!

We will certainly die. If the Illinois taxes don't kill us first.

1 posted on 02/18/2019 1:41:02 PM PST by DUMBGRUNT
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To: DUMBGRUNT

When I wad in Jr high we had a science trip to Oak Ridge National Labs. One of the highlights was you could give them something metallic. Then they would irradiate it and now you had a radioactive souvenir (The let you test with Geiger Counter!) to take back with you. Can you imagine that now?


2 posted on 02/18/2019 1:45:22 PM PST by Reily
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To: Reily

Are watches with radium on the hands still legal?


3 posted on 02/18/2019 1:48:40 PM PST by doorgunner69
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To: DUMBGRUNT

The most dangerous issue with Uranium is Radon gas being thrown off.
Since its heavier than air, it would all stay in the bucket.
More fake news.


4 posted on 02/18/2019 1:50:01 PM PST by Zathras
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To: doorgunner69

Good question! Don’t know!


5 posted on 02/18/2019 1:50:13 PM PST by Reily
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To: Zathras

I guess Radon wasn’t on your bucket list?


6 posted on 02/18/2019 1:51:38 PM PST by tet68 ( " We would not die in that man's company, that fears his fellowship to die with us...." Henry V.)
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To: tet68
I guess Radon wasn’t on your bucket list?

More proof that my tagline lives.

7 posted on 02/18/2019 1:57:17 PM PST by Ezekiel (The pun is mightier than the s-word.)
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To: DUMBGRUNT

This guy sounds like a professional malcontent, but you know what they say about broken clocks and all.


8 posted on 02/18/2019 1:59:44 PM PST by colorado tanker
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To: colorado tanker

detectable radiation (Geiger counter clicks) is NOT dangerous radiation. (Homes in the CO Mountains may get more radon exposure in their basement in two days than from this bucket in 6 months.)

Guy may be a malcontent, trading his race for money. Or he may have a legit complaint. I would not bet on it.


9 posted on 02/18/2019 2:04:48 PM PST by Robert A Cook PE (The democrats' national goal: One world social-communism under one world religion: Atheistic Islam.)
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To: Zathras

What if the radon gas in the bucket overflows?!


10 posted on 02/18/2019 2:05:39 PM PST by Trumpet 1 (US Constitution is my guide.)
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To: Trumpet 1; Zathras

MAGA would mix it with bleach and pour it on Jussie.


11 posted on 02/18/2019 2:07:37 PM PST by an amused spectator (Mitt Romney, Chuck Schumer's p*ssboy)
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To: DUMBGRUNT

Reminds me of an old I LOVE LUCY episode in which, while vacationing in Las Vegas, buys a geiger counter and goes uranium hunting, and she finds it at the same moment another man also finds it! And the fight was on...


12 posted on 02/18/2019 2:09:33 PM PST by Ruy Dias de Bivar
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To: DUMBGRUNT

The dumbass is strong with this article. Uranium ore primarily emits alpha particles, which only travel a few inches in air and are stopped by clothing or skin. Some gamma rays too, but a very small amount. Unless you ate or inhaled the stuff you’re good to go.

Ludlum is a manufacturer of detectors, most notably geiger counters.


13 posted on 02/18/2019 2:12:34 PM PST by Tijeras_Slim
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To: doorgunner69
"Are watches with radium on the hands still legal?"

Haven't been legal for a LONG time. Now they use tritium, which doesn't accumulate in bone, and which, if exposed, is excreted much more quickly. The treatment.....drink more beer.

14 posted on 02/18/2019 2:15:06 PM PST by Wonder Warthog (The Hog of Steel and NRA Life Member)
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To: doorgunner69

I have a watch with a tritium dial!

Worse I have had it for so long it does not glow as brightly as when new.
Tritium half-life is about 12 years.

Doomed.


15 posted on 02/18/2019 2:16:29 PM PST by DUMBGRUNT ("The enemy has overrun us. We are blowing up everything. Vive la France!")
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To: DUMBGRUNT

Years ago, way back in 1955, dad worked at the Rattlesnake Ranch Uranium mine outside La Sal Utah. One day we visited Dead Horse Point and there were uranium mining claim cairns all over the place. Last time I was there they were all gone. Wonder if any of us got exposed.

Best time of my young life.


16 posted on 02/18/2019 2:18:11 PM PST by Ruy Dias de Bivar
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To: DUMBGRUNT

My mineralogy professor told us stories about visiting uranium mines in the 50’s and holding a hunk of yellow cake ore in one hand while eating lunch with the other.


17 posted on 02/18/2019 2:18:57 PM PST by Rebelbase (If Trump walked on water the press headline would read, "TRUMP CAN'T SWIM".)
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To: Reily

Then they would irradiate it and now you had a radioactive souvenir (The let you test with Geiger Counter!) to take back with you.

Nice, all I received was an eighth-grade trip to Springfield Illinois on the train.

Do you still have it?
Is it still emitting above background?

Some guys get all the fun stuff.


18 posted on 02/18/2019 2:20:56 PM PST by DUMBGRUNT ("The enemy has overrun us. We are blowing up everything. Vive la France!")
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To: DUMBGRUNT

Tempest in a tea pot - in the early days, Russian workers dressed in paper suits and rubber gloves - if there were gloves available - moved processed uranium by hand ... most of them lived long lives.


19 posted on 02/18/2019 2:23:25 PM PST by PIF (They came for me and mine ... now it is your turn ...)
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To: Ruy Dias de Bivar

A uranium mine is far better than working in a candy factory!!!


20 posted on 02/18/2019 2:25:13 PM PST by DUMBGRUNT ("The enemy has overrun us. We are blowing up everything. Vive la France!")
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