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tryphon New user Florida, USA 51 Posts |
I hope this is the right section...
We now use very strong magnets for our tricks, often strapped to a body part. Many of these are SamariumCobalt magnets. I want to warn everyone about the radioactivity of such magnets. I have personally checked them with a Geiger counter and they emit a fairly high level of ionizing radiation. I don't know why nobody has pointed this out before: I certainly will not wear these magnets next to my body. When I hear of fellow magicians wearing them for hours I do worry about the consequences. Please believe me and/or do your own research. I have two Geiger counters and they both react strongly when near these magnets. |
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Illusion & Beyond Regular user 199 Posts |
I thought people wear magnets daily for certain healing purposes. Look at magnetic wrist bands, rings, even medical pads. Not sure what to believe now. I wear a necklace with a strong magnet so that put it right next to my heart. I know you shouldn't get close to a pacemaker but that is all the bad I've heard.
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tryphon New user Florida, USA 51 Posts |
Quote:
On 2011-09-08 12:13, Illusion & Beyond wrote: It's not the magnetism that is a problem. It is the ionizing radiation from certain rare-earth magnetic materials (for those who do not know what ionizing radiation is: the same that hit Japan after the Nuclear Plant collapse!). Samarium Cobalt is one of those and some of the strongest magnets are made with this material. |
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Illusion & Beyond Regular user 199 Posts |
Thanks for the clarification. I will investigate further.
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Dr. Van Van Mojo Special user 570 Posts |
I'm thinking about strapping a bunch on for a week or two and see if I end up with real supernatural powers.
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tryphon New user Florida, USA 51 Posts |
Quote:
On 2011-09-08 16:44, Dr. Van Van Mojo wrote: If you saw how the Geiger counter reacts to the magnets, you'd be worried.... |
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Xiqual Inner circle Upper left quadrant 4935 Posts |
I have four kids so if I strap a samarium cobalt magnet on my lower self will that keep me from having five? Please say yes!
James ps Check your cellphone on a geiger counter and then really freak out.
Still with the Chinese circus
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tryphon New user Florida, USA 51 Posts |
Quote:
On 2011-09-08 19:56, Xiqual wrote: Actually, no. A cellphone does not generate hits on a Geiger counter. A cellphone emits RF, which is non-ionizing radiation. Its negative effects are yet to be totally verified. Samarium Cobalt emits beta and gamma rays, which means that its radiation is ionizing: it will cause cancer (especially lymphoma) and leukemia. Radar S,C,X,K band will cause sterility and cataracts if exposure is prolonged, even though it is non-ionizing radiation. It causes disease of the testes and eyes by causing internal heating of the wet parts, not unlike a microwave oven. Of all these types of radiation, the one caused by radioactive materials such as radium, uranium plutonium and also many rare-earth minerals as contained in some magnets, is definitely the most damaging to a person's health. I used to teach radar courses and did quite a bit of research on various types of radiation. My Geiger counters go on overdrive when placed close to some of my most powerful magnets. |
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J-Mac Inner circle Ridley Park, PA 5338 Posts |
Most magic effects I know about use Neodymium Iron Boron magnets, common;y called neodynium magnets. However I can find no good reference material that describes any such radiation dangers as what you mentioned. Other than your own "geiger counter" experiences, what can you offer in the way of reference material that indicates such radiation danger from Samarium–cobalt magnets? Your geiger counter "going into overdrive" doesn’t really offer any useful information.
Thank you. Jim |
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J-Mac Inner circle Ridley Park, PA 5338 Posts |
Now I am curious as to what kind of geiger counter you have. You say that it is measuring "fairly high levels of ionizing radiation"? Geiger counters are halfway decent for alpha and beta radiation, not too good at gamma, and nothing else. I think you need to have your geiger counter checked/calibrated! I doubt you could be getting any reliable readings of ionizing radiation from a samarium cobalt magnet. At least no more than you would see from the soil in your back yard. Needless scare tactics. Why?
Jim |
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tryphon New user Florida, USA 51 Posts |
Quote:
On 2011-09-09 01:21, J-Mac wrote: No scare tactics at all: I have no dog in this race. I have two Geiger counters: one is a Yellow ex-US Government unit, very sensitive, the other a modern Russian pocket counter. I just posted this after being surprised at the radiation emitted by many magnets. I encourage others to do their own tests. If you have access to a Geiger counter, check your magnets and let us know what you find out. Please don't take a negative, aggressive attitude: I was just doing a service to fellow magicians. I am a member of IBM, a former associate of the Magic Circle and I have been doing magic for 40 years. End of story. Best magical regards, Giovanni |
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Woland Special user 680 Posts |
Interesting discussion. Why don't we turn to the world's greatest and most authoritative authority, the Wikipedia? Here's what I learned about samarium-cobalt magnets:
Quote:
A samarium–cobalt magnet, a type of rare earth magnet, is a strong permanent magnet made of an alloy of samarium and cobalt. They were developed in the early 1970s. They are generally the second-strongest type of magnet made, less strong than neodymium magnets, but have higher temperature ratings and higher coercivity. They are brittle, and prone to cracking and chipping. Sounds like neodymium magnets would be better for our purposes, anyway. What about radiation? No mention of it in the Wikipedia entry. So I looked up samarium itself. An interesting element: Quote:
Samarium has no significant biological role and is only slightly toxic. But: Quote:
Radioactive isotope samarium-153 is the major component of the drug samarium (153Sm) lexidronam (Quadramet) which kills cancer cells in the treatment of lung cancer, prostate cancer, breast cancer and osteosarcoma. Another isotope, samarium-149, is a strong neutron absorber and is therefore added to the control rods of nuclear reactors. Tryphon's findings are interesting, but the only mentions of radioactivity and samarium magnets that I can find, have to do with testing samarium magnets to see if they will withstand radioactive fields in space without losing their magnetic strength. Would love to learn more. |
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tryphon New user Florida, USA 51 Posts |
This on rare earth materials:
"One contaminant associated with rare earth element ores are radionuclides. Rare earth element bearing minerals such as monazite, xenotime, and bastnasite can contain low levels of primordial thorium-232, uranium-238, and their decay products. Uranium-235 is also present but in very low quantities. Thorium-232 and uranium-238 are rather benign, but some of the decay products can represent a danger to the environment due to the energetic particles and gamma rays released during radioactive decay. For example in the uranium- 238 decay chain, bismuth-214 has a very energetic gamma release and produces radon-222 that can be inhaled and decay in the lungs (Argonne National Laboratory, 2005)." |
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tommy Eternal Order Devil's Island 16544 Posts |
Americans will careful themselves out of crossing road if they are not careful.
If there is a single truth about Magic, it is that nothing on earth so efficiently evades it.
Tommy |
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TomKMagic Special user I tripped over 620 Posts |
So what happens to the Geiger counter when you measure a neodymium magnet? Are those safe or dangerous?
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tommy Eternal Order Devil's Island 16544 Posts |
Geiger counter. Never leave home without it!
If there is a single truth about Magic, it is that nothing on earth so efficiently evades it.
Tommy |
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tryphon New user Florida, USA 51 Posts |
Quote:
On 2011-09-09 08:23, TomKMagic wrote: I don't know. I just checked every magnet I have: some cause a reading, others don't. I ASSUMED the radioactive ones are the Samarium Cobalt ones, but they don't say on the magnet what they are! They could be neodymium, or perhaps both do radiate...I just don't know. That's why I hope someone will do some tests on their magnets or ask the manufacturers for assurances. I am no expert on magnets, I just saw the radiation and wanted to convey the information to fellow magicians who may have these things strapped to the body for hours, day after day. That's all. |
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balducci Loyal user Canada 227 Posts |
Quote:
On 2011-09-08 11:52, tryphon wrote: How near? Inches? How far away before the reading drops off?
Make America Great Again! - Trump in 2020 ... "We're a capitalistic society. I go into business, I don't make it, I go bankrupt. They're not going to bail me out. I've been on welfare and food stamps. Did anyone help me? No." - Craig T. Nelson, actor.
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Woland Special user 680 Posts |
Aha . . . the plot thickens . . . so we may not be talking about samarium-cobalt magnets after all . . . I'm wondering if some of your magnets were not contaminated from some other source . . . are there any other radioactive items in your home or workshop? Do you do any work with radionuclides? Why do you have 2 Geiger counters at home, anyway?
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LobowolfXXX Inner circle La Famiglia 1196 Posts |
Quote:
On 2011-09-09 09:56, Woland wrote: One is not enough...three is too many. (just a little Sleepless in Seattle reference).
"Torture doesn't work" lol
Guess they forgot to tell Bill Buckley. "...as we reason and love, we are able to hope. And hope enables us to resist those things that would enslave us." |
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