Information about Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material (NORM)

What is NORM?

Some naturally occurring minerals contain uranium and/or thorium, and therefore emit ionizing radiation suitable as a test source for radiation detectors. If these minerals are not processed or refined they are considered NORM - naturally occurring radioactive material.

Test samples sold by Better Geiger are typically a small quantity of NORM, uranium ore, delivered in a plastic vial inside a plastic bag. With just a little bit of common sense these items are perfectly safe to own and handle. This page is intended to give more detailed guidelines for those who want more information on the topic generally and/or want to use an abundance of caution with a Better Geiger test source.

My detector is clicking like crazy, is it dangerous?

The amount of radiation emitted by Better Geiger NORM samples is relatively small, but still it is enough gives a strong response from a radiation detector far above typical background levels. Hearing a detector click rapidly does not always indicate a dangerous situation.

Note: cheap detectors that use a Geiger tube will give dramatically incorrect overestimated dose rate readings when measuring NORM! That is because those devices are calibrated to one specific source type (Cs-137), while NORM is emitting on average much lower energy levels, causing that type of device to overestimate dose. Furthermore, if a device is detecting beta particles from the test source, not just gamma, it will cause further overestimation. Generally speaking, to get an accurate dose rate reading beta particles should not be measured, regardless of the device type. Roughly 1-2 mm (1/16”) of metal or 3-4 mm (1/8”) of plastic is generally enough to block nearly all beta radiation. It is not uncommon for a cheap device to incorrectly show a reading 10x or 100x higher than reality when beta is not shielded.

A scintillator-based detector which is capable of energy-compensated dose measurement will give an accurate dose reading. A Geiger Tube device with an energy-compensated tube will also give accurate readings, but these are typically expensive and rarely owned by amateurs. Nearly all detectors available for $50-100 use traditional Geiger counters and therefore should be used with skepticism when it comes to measuring radiation dose.

How can radiation harm me?

There are two main radiation hazards to consider, internal and external. Internal includes when material emitting radiation is ingested or inhaled. The radiation can directly reach internal organs in that case. External is when radiation is when radiation is from emitted outside your body, but the radiation itself travels towards your body. If you are holding a source material in your hand, that is an external hazard. If you consume it, it becomes an internal hazard.

The main types of radiation to consider are alpha, beta, and gamma. Alpha and beta are generally not an external hazard because they either to not reach your body or do not significantly penetrate it enough to reach vital organs. In the case of NORM samples sold by Better Geiger, the source emits small quantities of all three radiation types. The alpha and beta are not a problem unless the source material is consumed. The gamma amounts emitted are very low such that the external hazard is nearly zero.

How do I protect myself from these hazards?

Despite the relatively low risks of the sources offered by Better Geiger, the basic radiation safety principle of “ALARA” (As Low As Reasonably Achievable) should be respected. The main options for mitigating external radiation hazards of radiation protection include time, distance, and shielding. Spending less time near a source reduces your exposure. Increasing distance from a source dramatically reduces rate of exposure. Adding shielding between you and a source reduces exposure rate as well. Shielding is generally not needed for the Better Geiger NORM source because levels are already so low, and with even slight effort to reduce time and increase distance levels become negligible. Lead is a toxic material, so handling it in the context of radiation shielding can at times introduces a new hazard without offering any significant value in terms of radiation protection. Cutting lead is particularly risky and not recommended at home!

To fully minimize external exposure, consider the following:

  • It only takes a few feet of distance for levels to drop to a negligible amount. Regularly handling the source or being close to it is fine, but it is better to keep a distance of a few feet or more most of the time. Places like garages or closets are good options for 24/7 storage.

  • Poor storage locations include under your pillow, in your wallet, or immediately next to a chair where you spend most of your time.

To fully minimize internal exposure, consider the following:

  • It is best to keep the source material in the packaging in which it was delivered (in the case of the Better Geiger source, this means inside a plastic vial which is in turn inside a plastic bag)

  • Store the material in a location where pets and children cannot access it. Even if the radiation risk is modest, rocks and heavy metal consumption is a bad idea.

  • If the container leaks or the material otherwise is loose, when possible wear nitrile gloves an N95 mask. Be sure to clean up any potentially contaminated area carefully and properly dispose of all loose material that is not easily returned to a container.

If you have further questions or concerns, use the contact form on this site to ask for advice!