Letters Received to Editor, June 23, 1925

REOFIVEOT JUN 24 1925 June 23, 1925 RADIUM DEATHS UNITED STATES To the Editor: In the face of the controversy that still rages over the so-called "Radium Deaths" I wish to submit further facts to offset several untrue statements that have been made by those who either don't know or ought to know better. The latest report is that it is not radium that has caused the deaths, but the more active element known as mesothorium, This theory was advanced by Drs. Viol and Cameron of Pittsburgh and has received wide publicity. I feel, therefore, the same publicity should be given to the honest, simple facts. I have great respect for Drs. Cameron and Viol. They are both familiar with radioactive substances and hence they both know quite well that the action of Mesothorium is identical with that of radium. Both emit the same type of alpha, beta and gamma radiation and all these rays are alike whether obtained from radium or mesothorium with very minor differences in their degrees of penetration, velocity, etc. That mesothorium is more active than radium is a fact. To be real accurate it is 250 times more active on a basis of weight, but this superiority in activity does not make it any more dangerous than radium because where & stated amount of radium is used in the paint on a watch dial 1/250th of this amount of mesothorium is used. In this wan an approximate equality in radiation is obtained, , so that whether one has mesothorium or radium in the luminous paint one ob- tains approximately the same amount of radiation. The reason for using mesothorium in place of radium has been due to the faot that it has been slightly less expensive. Drs. Cameron and Viol state that no deaths have resulted where pure radium has been used in the luminous paint but that it is different where mesothorium is used. In view of the fact that the company that employes these eminent scientists has used mesothorium for years in their luminous material it is strange that there have been no deaths in their plant.