1950s Toy That Included Actual Uranium Ore Goes On Display At Museum

hypnosec writes: The Gilbert Atomic Energy Lab — dubbed the world's most dangerous toy — has gone on display at the Ulster Museum in Northern Ireland. The toy earned the title because it includes four types of uranium ore, three sources of radiation, and a Geiger counter that enables parents to measure just how contaminated their child have become. The Gilbert Atomic Energy Lab was only available between 1951 and 1952 and was the most elaborate atomic energy educational kit ever produced. The toy was one of the most costly toys of the time, retailing at $50 — equivalent to around $400 today.

Comments

Stunned

[tiberus]

So, I missed this having been born in the late 60s but, at least I was able to have my unsuspecting parents purchase proper chemistry and electronics kits for me. I could stick us out of the house or create and electric fence to keep the cat of my room at night. When I tried to give my son the same opportunity, the offerings that were readily available were either so limited or so expensive as to be useless or prohibitive and useless. Then over the last several years, I've heard tell of kinds taking chemistry lab in high school with very little lab and almost no chems. Just how many rads we talking here?

Re:Stunned

[ledow]

Have worked in a school where the children weren't allowed bunsen burners, and had to simulate chemical reactions / explosions on computer software.

It's honestly NOT that unusual.

Re:Overstatement

[rogoshen1]

What you said about lead based paint on toys is probably true -- they are more dangerous. But also more mundane, no one would bother reading an article about how a pseudo-dangerous toy from 1950 is stashed in a museum over in Ireland.

My guess is that the 'most dangerous' toy would be a marble. Probably offed more kids than any other, combined. (and no, not an atomic marble!)

Re:Perhaps it wouldn’t pass today’s ..

[BarbaraHudson]

The radiation from granite counter-tops, while low level, is a concern because of the resulting radon

New York State Health Department research scientist Michael Kitto, PhD, says only a small fraction of the granite samples he has tested have emitted radon at levels that were over those considered safe.

But he added that a few of his samples showed levels that were high enough to alarm him.

“I wouldn’t have them in my house,” Kitto tells WebMD.

Rice University physics professor William Llope, PhD, found potentially dangerous levels of radiation in some tested samples of granite used in countertops.

. Not all granite is the same.

Re:Perhaps it wouldn’t pass today’s ..

[ColdWetDog]

Dozens of places in Colorado have the same kind of rock. Gold Hill or Jamestown, both just west of Boulder have hot spots from gold / tungsten / uranium mines that will kick a Geiger counter on moderate sensitivity. Still not very dangerous unless you fall head first on the rock, but fun to show the tourists.

Re:Perhaps it wouldn’t pass today’s ..

[Mashiki]

I was going to say something similar. Radon is nasty stuff, ask people living in parts of Michigan where they need to have mandatory venting in houses for it. There's even a few places here in Ontario where radon venting is mandatory in your house, most of the southern part of the province has 50-800m of limestone over the bedrock and that's not enough to prevent seepage.