Quote Originally Posted by alismith View Post
If they are older compasses or watches, they should be radium, I would think.

Isn't tritium of more modern usage? Radium goes back a long time....

Growing up in the 50's, I remember all our bedroom clocks had radium to make them light up after a light hit them. They had to be activated by light before they would glow and the glow didn't last very long. Tritium is its own light source, right?
I don't believe radium has to be activated.

I am not sure when Radium was phased out. I am sure for military stuff (like compasses) it lasted way longer than the commercial market. I have a surplus lensatic compass around somewhere.

Now for those who are more knowledgeable, if the emissions are mostly alpha it is only harmful if you eat it right?