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Radiation emitted by uranium, included in the kit, can cause tissue damage and increases the risk of cancer
- Published: 11:01, 9 Dec 2024
- Updated: 14:20, 9 Dec 2024
THE world’s most dangerous toy that contains real radioactive substances is going on sale for £3,000.
The atomic energy kit from 1950 contains actual uranium and allows kids to conduct radioactive experiments in their bedrooms.
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The toy was created at the request of the US government in order to boost youth interest in atomic energy, but production was halted after just a year due to safety concerns and government restrictions.
Only around 5,000 of the radioactive kits were ever sold, and now a rare complete example has gone up for sale at a Boston auction as part of a Fine Autographs and Artifacts event.
The Gilbert U-238 Atomic Energy Laboratory was dubbed one of the “10 most dangerous toys of all time” in 2006 by Radar Magazine.
The kits were originally sold for £39 - which is over £500 in today’s money.
The toy was first marketed as an educational science experiment, created by American inventor Alfred Carlton Gilbert who also designed the iconic erector constructor toys
The kit includes four kinds of minerals - autunite, carnotite, tobernite and uraninite - which all contain the radioactive element uranium.
Radiation emitted by the uranium as it decays can damage human tissue and DNA, and lead to an increased risk of cancer.
A Geiger-Mueller counter, used to measure radioactivity, is included along with a device to visualise the radiation on a screen.
There is a cloud chamber, which creates visible tracks to allow the kids to see the paths of the particles whizzing past at 12,000 miles per second.
The successful bidder will also claim the original “Gilbert Atomic Energy Annual”, and a comic book about a scientist called “Dagwood Splits the Atom”.
Toy Show star steals the show with hilarious segment
The Gilbert U-238 Atomic Energy Laboratory was discontinued in 1951 due to poor sales and safety concerns.
The small number of kits produced means it has been a popular collector’s item in recent decades.
This example of the kit also comes with a piece of history from the company that made it.
It includes a letter dated September 25, 1953, from the Gilbert Company that reads: “We regret exceedingly to advise you that we have discontinued manufacturing this Laboratory.
"It was very difficult to obtain some of the materials and also due to Government Restrictions.”
Despite the safety concerns that stopped production, a 2020 review in the magazine IEEE Spectrum said that the radiation risk from the toy was about the same as spending a day in the sun - as long as the samples remained in their containers.
If the substances were removed from their protective casings, the radioactive output could be much higher.
The auction is live until December 12, and the price currently sits at $3,045.
What are the effects of radiation exposure?
Patrick Harrington
Radiation is the release of energy or particles from radioactive materials.
Many naturally-occurring materials are radioactive, so we are all exposed to a certain level every day.
Exposure to high levels of radiation can cause a number of long-term health effects.
High levels of exposure may cause damage to living tissues and organs, although the effects depend on the dose.
The most risky kind of exposure is a high dose in a short period of time, which can cause "radiation sickness".
This impacts the functioning of organs, and can involve nausea, vomiting, skin redness, hair loss and radiation burns.
These symptoms are incredibly rare, and only likely to happen after an event such as a nuclear emergency.
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English (US) · 