2008 Volume 4 Issue 2 Pages 146-153
There are lots of radioactive consumer products (RCP), which contain radioactive materials, in our living space. When the radioactive sources in RCP are natural materials, they are called NORM (naturally occurring radioactive materials). Recently many NORM are sold through the Internet. In Japan, these NORM claim hormesis effects, minus-ion effects, infrared-ray effects and so on. Makers claim these products are healthful for users. I found that their home pages (HP) are linked to one HP which presents the effects of irradiation by low energy γ(X)-ray on cells and/or small-size animals. However, the effects that people consider healthful have not been examined with the products themselves; the idea that these effects are indeed healthful is generally accepted by the public, though no actual evidence for each product exists. Almost all these products have no problems legally. However, some of them, for example, cosmetics prohibited in the EU because they contain radioactive materials, are accepted as NORM in Japan. There are no prohibitions to add radioactive materials to products in Japan. There are only density and quantity limits when adding radioactive materials to consumer products. Do these products need the addition of radioactive materials? Is there any risk to people from radiation exposure by normal use or misuse? We need to discuss the presence of these products, the risk and their justification.
