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It's Radioactive!

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Gray Kitty, Apr 11, 2019.

  1. Gray Kitty

    Gray Kitty New Member

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    Okay only mildly, however I'm curious what the community does in this case. I have replaced the headlights on my Prius and The Replacements come with a warning saying that they contain thorium. trying to do the proper thing here and not chucking them into the landfill is proving to be difficult because not surprisingly nobody wants to touch this stuff. does anybody have any tips for how to properly and safely dispose of these things that won't end up costing you the same price as buying another set of these lights?
     
    #1 Gray Kitty, Apr 11, 2019
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  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    differs state to state. we have a yearly hazardous waste day. they take anything and everything. is there a recycling board in your town or state?
     
    #2 bisco, Apr 11, 2019
    Raytheeagle, Gray Kitty and davecook89t like this.
  3. Gray Kitty

    Gray Kitty New Member

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    you my friend are a genius! I had completely forgotten that my town does this. it's part of the spring cleanup program they do each year and that should be right around the corner! it's also a good time to get rid of other hazardous waste such as tires batteries and anything else you have banging around your garage from tinkering. I'm still not sure if they'll take radioactive material however if they don't this is my best chance to figure out what to do with it
     
    #3 Gray Kitty, Apr 11, 2019
    fuzzy1, Raytheeagle, bisco and 1 other person like this.
  4. jzchen

    jzchen Newbie!

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    The old ones have the same warning? Maybe they don’t contain thorium. Just the new ones do.
     
    #4 jzchen, Apr 11, 2019
  5. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    Does the label indicate how much thorium is in the item? How mobile it could be? How does it compare with typical rock and soil, which isn't all that thorium-free?

    ========
    PS. Are these HIDs?

    High-intensity discharge lamp - Wikipedia
    "Some HID lamps make use of radioactive substances such as krypton-85 and thorium. These isotopes help start the lamps and improve lamp operating characteristics.

    Krypton-85 is a gas and is found mixed in with the argon, which is in the arc tube of the lamp. The thorium, which is a solid, is used in the electrodes.

    These isotopes produce ionizing radiation of alpha and beta type. This radiation causes high ionization inside the lamp without being able to escape from the lamp. High ionisation makes arc starting via Townsend avalanche much easier. Moreover, the presence of thorium in electrodes reduces the work function which again results in easier arc starting and sustaining.

    The amount of gamma radiation produced by the isotopes that can escape from the lamp is negligible."
     
    #5 fuzzy1, Apr 11, 2019
    Last edited: Apr 12, 2019
  6. Gray Kitty

    Gray Kitty New Member

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    Yes they are HIDs. And some very interesting points have been raised. just because the new ones contain it doesn't mean the old ones do. I will need to check the label on the old ones after I get off work and I will get back to you guys
     
    #6 Gray Kitty, Apr 12, 2019
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