Nite Glow Rings

Radiation is relative. There are are three main types of radiation Alpha, Beta and Gamma. They all can be deadly in large enough quantities under the right circumstances, but are safe when contained in appropriate ways.

Alpha radiation has the least amount of energy and can be stopped by a piece of paper or skin. Beta particles have more energy and are stopped by aluminium foil or glass. Gamma is the most penetrating and requires quite a bit of lead to stop, and is the most dangerous.

The good news is that tritium vials contain beta radiation which is stopped by the boroscilicate glass vial and is unable to be detected by a radiation meter in contact with the glow ring. (I've tried it) So they are very safe, you get more radiation from a banana than the glow rings. Yes, bananas are radioactive, they contain small amounts of a naturally occuring radioactive potassium. This potassium releases small amounts of Beta radiation. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Actually we are exposed to small amounts of radiation every day and every time you fly on an airliner you receive much larger doses of radiation, than you do on the ground.