🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <1992Sep9.013437.27935@mtu.edu> cescript@mtu.edu (Charles Scripter) writes:
>
>In article <s7TFqB10w165w@iowegia.uucp>, quest@iowegia.uucp
>(Steve J. Quest) writes:
>
>> steinman@is.morgan.com (Jan Steinman) writes:
>> 
>> >   >Abstract: Alert!!! some compact flourescent light bulbs have radioactive
>> >   >materials in them.
>> 
>>         Can anyone tell me exactly what radioactive substance is 
>> used in these lamps?  I can assume the element is thorium, as that 
>
>Thorium, as this is very efficient at converting heat to white light.
>Incandescents use Thoriated Tungsten for the same reason.  Similarly,
>gas lantern mantles are "Thoriated" for the same reason.

This is a fascinating record of the loss of information due to partial 
quotes of an article as that original article is used to spawn other 
discussions and then comes back full circle to the original question.  

The *original* post that was quoted by Steinman from another article 
actually stated what material was used in the compact fluorescent bulb, 
since the material was listed on the packaging!  The material was not 
Thorium.  My memory says it was something like Pm-147 with a 2.6 year 
half-life.  This Promethium isotope is a beta emitter, and is used to 
provide ionization that makes the bulb light more easily. 

--
J. A. Carr                                    |  "The New Frontier of which I  
jac@gw.scri.fsu.edu                           |  speak is not a set of promises
Florida State University  B-186               |  -- it is a set of challenges."
Supercomputer Computations Research Institute |   John F. Kennedy (15 July 60)