The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority

Who would have thought that kettles, face creams and watches could pose a radiation hazard? Yet these radioactive curios are among the items in storage at RSRL Harwell awaiting disposal, some dating back to early last century. 

Two of the more unusual objects are kettle-like vessels, known as 'radium emanators', for the making of 'radium tea'. The kettles date back to the early 1900s, soon after the 1898 discovery of radium by Marie and Pierre Curie, when people regarded the element as having health-promoting properties. 

Radium was used in all sorts of potions, lotions, face creams, powders and ointments, because people thought it was good for you. In one sense, this was true, as radium was used in the treatment of tumours – known as "Curie-therapy". Other radioisotopes are an important part of modern medical procedures for the diagnosis and treatment of conditions, including cancers. But, with our greater understanding of the hazards of radiation, no-one would today think about patting radium powder onto their cheeks or drinking a cup of radium tea. 

The Radium-226 source inside a radium emanator decays to the radioactive gas, radon. This, in turn, decays through a chain of solid radionuclides to stable lead. The radon gas is said to 'emanate' from the radium, and the water becomes contaminated with the radon daughter chain. Not what we would today regard as a nice cuppa! 

One radium emanator removed from a waste can in the remote handling cells at Harwell, was – extraordinarily – found to still contain a full glass of water. A second, dated 1911, has Russian writing on the front plate. 

Consumer products containing radium continued to be sold later on in the 20th century. Such items – luminous watches and clock faces, lightning conductors, and smoke alarms – are also handled at Harwell. 

As our knowledge grew, these items were withdrawn from the public. Some may still be in existence, probably lying undiscovered in attics and cupboards. 

When people come across these historic items, they are sent – formerly through the National Disposal Scheme and more recently through companies like Safeguard International – to the solid waste facility at Harwell where they are prepared for disposal. Finding curiosities like radium emanators reminds us of how radioactivity was regarded in the past and how far our understanding has advanced.