Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials: Issues For Glassmakers

The presence of trace levels of naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM) in virtually all minerals has been known for many years. Many of the mineral products used in glassmaking contain low but detectable levels of NORM. Historically, this has not been regarded as a concern, however, increased scrutiny of radioactive materials by federal, state and international regulators has brought NORM into sharper focus. Regulatory initiatives intended to limit public and worker exposures to ionising radiation may also unintentionally restrict many essential materials used in glassmaking. This paper presents an overview of NORM issues (current at the time of publication) important to glassmaking.