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Gamma spectrometry confirmed radium in three historical models (M.49, M.53 S1, and the small Bézard). Ambient dose equivalent rates were measured at typical handling distances during routine use and long-term storage. Results show that, under certain conditions, radiation doses can exceed recommended public safety limits, emphasizing awareness and protective protocols following the ALARA principle for collectors and the general public.",{"@graph":69,"@context":121},[70,84,104],{"@type":71,"itemListElement":72},"BreadcrumbList",[73,77,79,82],{"item":74,"name":75,"@type":76,"position":8},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",{"item":78,"name":9,"@type":76,"position":14},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/",{"item":80,"name":40,"@type":76,"position":81},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/research-report/",3,{"item":83,"name":65,"@type":76,"position":19},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/risks-of-radiation-exposure-to-old-military-compasses-with-radioluminescent-markings/444669/",{"url":83,"name":65,"@type":85,"image":86,"author":91,"headline":65,"publisher":94,"fileFormat":97,"inLanguage":63,"description":67,"dateModified":98,"datePublished":98,"encodingFormat":97,"isAccessibleForFree":99,"interactionStatistic":100},"DigitalDocument",{"url":87,"@type":88,"width":89,"height":90},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/risks-of-radiation-exposure-to-old-military-compasses-with-radioluminescent-markings/444669.png","ImageObject",300,407,{"name":92,"@type":93},"Ben ","Person",{"url":74,"name":95,"@type":96},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-09-29",true,{"@type":101,"interactionType":102,"userInteractionCount":4},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":103},"ViewAction",{"@type":105,"mainEntity":106},"FAQPage",[107,113,117],{"name":108,"@type":109,"acceptedAnswer":110},"Which compass models were tested for radium presence?","Question",{"text":111,"@type":112},"The study confirmed radium presence in three historical compass models: M.49, M.53 S1, and the small Bézard model.","Answer",{"name":114,"@type":109,"acceptedAnswer":115},"How were radium detection and dose measurements performed?",{"text":116,"@type":112},"Radium presence was assessed using a portable handheld gamma detector for gamma spectrometry with a NaI(Tl) crystal, and ambient dose equivalent rates H*(10) were measured with a digital radiation survey meter over 15 minutes.",{"name":118,"@type":109,"acceptedAnswer":119},"What did the study find about radiation exposure during handling or storage?",{"text":120,"@type":112},"Under certain conditions, radiation doses may exceed recommended safety limits for the general public, highlighting potential risks during routine handling and long-term storage.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":83,"og:type":123,"og:title":65,"og:site_name":95,"og:description":67},"article",{"robots":125,"canonical":83},"index,follow",{"doc_id":127,"site_id":62},444669,1790708843,{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":130},{"doc_id":127,"user_id":131,"nickname":92,"user_avatar":132,"doc_module":4,"category_id":39,"category_name":40,"doc_title":65,"doc_description":67,"doc_content":133,"file_id":134,"file_url":135,"file_type":136,"file_size":137,"view_count":4,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":8,"is_downloadable":8,"audit_status":8,"page_count":34,"language":138,"language_code":63,"site_id":62,"html_lang":63,"table_of_contents":139,"faqs":140,"seo_title":141,"seo_description":67,"update_tm":128,"read_time":142},2336478951081,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_276721f389ce27ea32af1340a28f341c","Miklavčić I, et al. Risks of radiation exposure to old military compasses with radioluminescent markings Arh Hig Rada Toksikol 2025;76:292–298  \n292  \nOriginal article (short communication) DOI: 10.2478/aiht-2025-76-4038   \nRisks of radiation exposure to old military compasses with radioluminescent markings  \nIgor Miklavčić, Igor Lassinger, Vanja Radolić, and Marina Poje Sovilj  \nJosip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Department of Physics, Osijek, Croatia  \n[Received in August 2025; Similarity Check in August 2025; Accepted in November 2025]  \nThis study investigates the radiological safety of handling old radioluminescent military compasses whose markings are coated with radium-based luminous paint, historically used to ensure better visibility in dim or night-time conditions until the 1960s, when its use was discontinued and eventually banned due to the mounting evidence of its harmful health effects, including the increased risk of cancer. Using gamma spectrometry, we confirmed radium presence in three historical compass models, namely M.49, M.53 S1, and the small Bézard model. We also measured ambient dose equivalent rates to assess ionising radiation exposure at the usual distances from the source during routine handling or long-term storage of these devices. Our findings indicate that, under certain conditions, radiation doses may exceed the recommended safety limits for general public and underscore the importance of raising awareness about potential radiological risks associated with antique navigation instruments. Our study points to the need for appropriate safety protocols, handling procedures, and storage conditions to minimise these risks among collectors of military memorabilia as well as the general public in line with the ALARA principle.  \nKEY WORDS: ambient dose equivalent rate; Bézard; gamma radiation; gamma spectrometry; M.49; M.53 S1; radioluminescence; radium  \nIn the early 20th century, radium was used in paint mixtures applied to the markings of watches and compasses to make them to glow in the dark without requiring an external energy source (such as a battery). This phenomenon in which materials emit light as a result of energy absorbed from radioactive decay is known as radioluminescence. The colour (wavelength of the emitted photons) and intensity of this light can vary, depending on the combination of materials used and the conditions under which radioluminescence occurs. Common applications include dials, gunpoint sights, watches, and navigational instruments to improve visibility at night or in dim light conditions (e.g., murky water, fog). Radioluminescent materials were also used in emergency exit signs in buildings, industrial facilities, and aircrafts.  \nAs radium’s harmful health effects came to light, its use was phased out and eventually banned in these applications, even though it remained in military use for quite some time.  \nIn Croatia, as in other countries of the former Yugoslavia, it is still possible to find old military radioluminescent compasses, such as the handheld M.49, M.53 S1, M.53 S99 manufactured byTeleoptik (Zemun, Serbia), and two Bézard model compasses manufactured by G. Lufft Mess-und Regeltechnik GmbH (Stuttgart, Germany) . These compasses are still in use by hikers, athletes, military and police academy trainees, and scouts. The instruction manuals for these compasses are mainly lost and do not warn about the presence of radium and the associated health risk.  \nCorresponding author: Marina Poje Sovilj; Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Department of Physics, Trg Ljudevita Gaja 6, 31000 Osijek, Croatia [E-mail: marina.poje@fizika.unios.hr](E-mail: marina.poje@fizika.unios.hr), ORCID: 0000-0003-0381-8556  \nFollowing media reports in neighbouring countries (1, 2), we investigated whether these compasses pose a health risk, either through potential radioactive contamination or exposure to ionising radiation in different usage and storage scenarios.  \n","cbCaiiGw03wooqxD","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaiiGw03wooqxD","pdf",2064097,"English","# Materials and Methods\n## Materials\n## Methods","[{\"question\":\"Which compass models were tested for radium presence?\",\"answer\":\"The study confirmed radium presence in three historical compass models: M.49, M.53 S1, and the small Bézard model.\"},{\"question\":\"How were radium detection and dose measurements performed?\",\"answer\":\"Radium presence was assessed using a portable handheld gamma detector for gamma spectrometry with a NaI(Tl) crystal, and ambient dose equivalent rates H*(10) were measured with a digital radiation survey meter over 15 minutes.\"},{\"question\":\"What did the study find about radiation exposure during handling or storage?\",\"answer\":\"Under certain conditions, radiation doses may exceed recommended safety limits for the general public, highlighting potential risks during routine handling and long-term storage.\"}]","Risks of radiation exposure to old military compasses with radioluminescent markings | PDF",18]