Unequal Lead

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11 years 4 weeks ago #32416 by OleCowboy
Unequal Lead was created by OleCowboy
Lets hope the Obama Amin never reads this or we will have a new class of protected minorities:

With regular lead available at about US$2,000 per metric ton, supporting a major archaeological operation might seem like a very expensive way to purchase lead. But therein lies the rest of the story.

Lead, offering as it does a convenient combination of density and formability, is the first line of defense for radiation shielding. However, newly smelted lead contains a radioactive lead isotope, Pb-210, which is generated in the decay of U-238. While the uranium and other radioactive elements are largely removed during the smelting process, the Pb-210 remains, producing a low-level radioactive decay (about 200 decays per kilogram per second) that restricts the ability of the most sensitive nuclear and particle physics experiments to function.

Pb-210, however, has a 22.3 year half-life. When lead bars have lain underwater for 2,000 years, all of the Pb-210 has decayed, leaving "Roman lead" (or old lead) with a radioactive level roughly 100,000 times lower than is found in new lead.

The use of old lead for shielding increases the sensitivity of our most delicate experiments by orders of magnitude, an increase that is crucial when looking for a reaction that sheds light on new physics. Lead recovered from roofs, old plumbing, and even stained glass windows has been used, but Roman lead from a shipwreck is the best you can find.

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11 years 4 weeks ago - 11 years 4 weeks ago #32418 by Siscowet
Replied by Siscowet on topic Unequal Lead
Interesting that you bring that up. Lead was a prized metal in Rome. It was used in plates, goblets, was a standard additive to their cosmetics. Tests of skeletal remains that could be identified as Roman citizens has found abnormally high levels of lead. Enough that many historians attribute long term lead poisoning as one of the factors in the decline of the Roman Empire. It is theorized that the insanity of the Emperor Caligula might have been caused by brain deformities from a high level of lead in his birth mothers system. It is known that fertility suffered a significant decline over the Roman Empire's history among those people who could be called Romans by birth.
Last edit: 11 years 4 weeks ago by Siscowet.

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11 years 4 weeks ago #32419 by OleCowboy
Replied by OleCowboy on topic Unequal Lead

Siscowet wrote: Interesting that you bring that up. Lead was a prized metal in Rome. It was used in plates, goblets, was a standard additive to their cosmetics. Tests of skeletal remains that could be identified as Roman citizens has found abnormally high levels of lead. Enough that many historians attribute long term lead poisoning as one of the factors in the decline of the Roman Empire. It is theorized that the insanity of the Emperor Caligula might have been caused by brain deformities from a high level of lead in his birth mothers system. It is known that fertility suffered a significant decline over the Roman Empire's history among those people who could be called Romans by birth.

Yes there are many indicators that could be true. Could lead be the reason why the society began to fail, bread and circuses became the standard (welfare of the time), the military because but a hollow shell of its once great self, the leaders became insane from the lead or was lead just an adjunct to the lust for power and a corrupt leadership.

Do we have lead pipes in the White House and Congress???? Maybe we should.

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11 years 4 weeks ago #32447 by jtallen83
Replied by jtallen83 on topic Unequal Lead

OleCowboy wrote: Lets hope the Obama Amin never reads this or we will have a new class of protected minorities:

With regular lead available at about US$2,000 per metric ton, supporting a major archaeological operation might seem like a very expensive way to purchase lead. But therein lies the rest of the story.

Lead, offering as it does a convenient combination of density and formability, is the first line of defense for radiation shielding. However, newly smelted lead contains a radioactive lead isotope, Pb-210, which is generated in the decay of U-238. While the uranium and other radioactive elements are largely removed during the smelting process, the Pb-210 remains, producing a low-level radioactive decay (about 200 decays per kilogram per second) that restricts the ability of the most sensitive nuclear and particle physics experiments to function.

Pb-210, however, has a 22.3 year half-life. When lead bars have lain underwater for 2,000 years, all of the Pb-210 has decayed, leaving "Roman lead" (or old lead) with a radioactive level roughly 100,000 times lower than is found in new lead.

The use of old lead for shielding increases the sensitivity of our most delicate experiments by orders of magnitude, an increase that is crucial when looking for a reaction that sheds light on new physics. Lead recovered from roofs, old plumbing, and even stained glass windows has been used, but Roman lead from a shipwreck is the best you can find.



Any idea what the civilian world would want with 100 year old lead?
Several years back I bought 5 10 pound ingots of lead at an estate auction for $2.50. They had a fancy mark on them from a foundry that had been closed before WWI. I sold them on ebay and got over $100 bucks for each one. I had heard that ancient lead was valuable but I didn't think 100 years would matter much, somebody thought it did!

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11 years 4 weeks ago - 11 years 4 weeks ago #32465 by MrMarty51
Replied by MrMarty51 on topic Unequal Lead
:silly: Been casting sinkers since I was about twelve or so. You think I`m OK ???? :side:
I been sort of stockpilingk lead. I hoping they do`n passalaw prohibitingk the posession of duh stufff, I be ina real deep pile a dooodooo if dey doooo. :cowboy: :sharkey: :busted: :rotfl:
I thinking somea it muz be at least fifty years old. It come fwum O~L teleeephone cable inskulations.
Still has a whooole bunch whut needs to be made into ingluts. :busted:
Last edit: 11 years 4 weeks ago by MrMarty51.

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11 years 4 weeks ago #32469 by Siscowet
Replied by Siscowet on topic Unequal Lead
It is more critical with younger people and women. Just wash your hands well when you handle it. And wear a paint respirator if you melt it. And make sure it is a well ventilated area.

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11 years 4 weeks ago - 11 years 4 weeks ago #32470 by MrMarty51
Replied by MrMarty51 on topic Unequal Lead

Siscowet wrote: It is more critical with younger people and women. Just wash your hands well when you handle it. And wear a paint respirator if you melt it. And make sure it is a well ventilated area.

I had a whole bunch of old roofing lead given to Me. I was melting it to make ingots.
I had the garage doors and windows open, the tar and whatever else was on that stuff was a melting, smoking and a burning off, the garage was full of smoke an fumes.
Do You suppose that did Me sum damagez ???? :banghead: :drool: :sick: :rotfl:

The neihbor was a fireman, the smoke was thick, He comes over and steps into the garage, explains that He thought I had a realk bad far a goingk in here and Hiz assssisstance was goingk tuh be in demand :busted:
I thought it was funny. :woohoo: :rotfl:
Whut iz thiz "Paint Respirator" thingk Youze iz speeeekingk uhv. :cowboy: :rotfl:
NOPE, NUTTIN duh mattur wit MEeEee
Last edit: 11 years 4 weeks ago by MrMarty51.

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11 years 4 weeks ago - 11 years 4 weeks ago #32473 by Siscowet
Replied by Siscowet on topic Unequal Lead
I wouldn't worry about the past unless you start to experience symptoms. Dizziness, blackouts etc. We all have been exposed, so don't worry too much, its not worth it. Paint respirators look like a partial gas mask. They have those canisters to filter air.
Last edit: 11 years 4 weeks ago by Siscowet.

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11 years 4 weeks ago - 11 years 4 weeks ago #32475 by MrMarty51
Replied by MrMarty51 on topic Unequal Lead

Siscowet wrote: I wouldn't worry about the past unless you start to experience symptoms. Dizziness, blackouts etc. We all have been exposed, so don't worry too much, its not worth it. Paint respirators look like a partial gas mask. They have those canisters to filter air.

I apologize, I kno this, I wuz juz makingk humor.
I do have several masks, I reallee shud start usingk them, I just figger that the damage is already dun, ai will start using them, from now on.
I always use a lot oif ventilation and sit upwind of the meltingk pots tho.
Been thoroughly doused with weed poisins an such, did a lot of painting when I wuz really young, working as a mechanic since I wuz ten, bathing in solvent until My arms wuz numb to the arm pits, breathed in a LOT of industrial types of parts cleanerz, totally covered in asbestos fittingk braking shoes and wurkin on brake components. I guess I shud start preservatingk whut I has left, huh. :cowboy:
Well, I guess I wuz working on trying tuh be a mahckanik.
Last edit: 11 years 4 weeks ago by MrMarty51.

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