Why is fiestaware radioactive

The uranium-bearing orange variety was discontinued in when the government placed wartime restrictions on uranium. Production resumed in when the restrictions were lifted and continued until In , the company reintroduced the Fiesta line, but the orange color could not be duplicated with the new lead- and uranium-free glazes.

Other brand names that used uranium-based pigments included Caliente, Early California, Poppytrail, Stangl and Vistosa, according to the federal Food and Drug Administration. For consumers, the uranium in Fiesta ware poses health issues that differ from those associated with radon gas.

The ionizing radiation from uranium can be a cancer hazard, depending on its strength, duration and distance from the body. If ingested, uranium is chemically harmful to the kidneys. A study by the U.

Fiestaware made between and may be radioactive. Fiesta first started selling colored dinnerware in Most Fiestaware and colored ceramics made by other companies contained uranium oxide from until In , uranium was needed for weapons for World War II, so manufacturers stopped using it in ceramics. Homer Laughlin, the company that makes Fiesta, resumed using uranium in its red glaze in the s.

However, this was depleted uranium, which was less radioactive than the original material. The use of depleted uranium in Fiestaware ended in Fiesta dishes made after do not contain uranium and are not radioactive. Modern Fiesta is different in other ways, too. But is this a harmful level? Research indicates that eating high acid foods like tomato soup, coffee, and lemonade off these dishes can release some of the radioactive elements into your food.

But, for collectors there is less of a problem with displaying the items or using them occasionally. According to one calculation, the radioactivity leached into food from Fiestaware, if it were the only dishes you used for a whole year, would result in 40 mrem of radioactivity annually , though there are certainly other ways of calculating the radiation exposure. The U. However, there might be radon from other natural sources, most likely the soil. The radiation levels you are detecting are simply negligible; although detectable, they are not harmful.

Fiestaware has been studied quite extensively. Yes, we can detect such low levels, but the emissions are too small to pose any sort of risk.

It is highly unlikely, if not impossible, for any individual to receive enough radiation from such a product that could be harmful. The ORAU website has a very detailed discussion of Fiestaware and its history, along with calculations and estimates made by numerous professionals. I hope my answer is satisfactory.