Re: Toxic magnetrons?

["Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>]

Original poster: Terry Fritz <teslalist-at-twfpowerelectronics-dot-com>

In general,

Intact tubes and such are extremely safe to handle.

However, one should never go breaking/grinding them up and breathing the 
dust!!  Berylium Oxides are pretty common in industrial tubes and it is 
very toxic to the lungs in dust form.  But, it is perfectly harmless as a 
solid.  Most modern equipment has a "BeO" mark these days if it contains it 
but it is just to warn those than may recycle the tube or transistor not to 
crush it up and make bad dust.  Some electrical contacts also have a 
variety of bad materials in them.

Industrial tubes may also have mercury, radioactive things,....   But just 
don't break them and there is no danger.

Cheers,

         Terry

At 01:56 PM 8/30/2003 -0600, you wrote:
>Barium may be in the filament BUT THIS IS A SMALL PROBLEM. The major problem
>is in the insulator ring in the ceramic base. This may be beryllium and the
>dust is highly toxic  in the lungs if ground while cutting.
>----- Robert   H