Hi all took Aircraft Compass to work and Geiger counter switched on 12 foot from compass and the odd click (background radiation) as it was brought closer the clicking rammed up and directly above was going crazy! brought in a more sensitive machine you can read Gamma & Alpha – Compass was giving off 10 Micro-severts per hour, this equates to 20 Severts which is the U/K,s Maximum Adult dose rate! which if you can imagine a sphere of 18 – 24 inches around the Compass you as a person would Absorb this added 20 Severts on top of natural absorption from being in the Sun But you would in effect have to have this Compass literally up close to your person the whole time to accrue this dosage!

So if in a cabinet and 18 – 24 inches away you should be getting minimal absorption, like if it where in a Museum you would be O/K.

The main problem with these is if the Paint is breaking down and you inhale the dust! this then leads to Cancers! of the respiratory tract possibly stomach? if paint is O/K as was this one everything is fine But! DO NOT use abrasive to clean as this will through up dust!

All the best and thanks Edgar for the heads up billy