After several distributors have suspended the sale of Blue Topaz due to the implied threat of radioactive Blue Topaz, the The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) says nine batches of irradiated blue topaz it surveyed last week do not pose any health threat.

“From the test we did last week in New York City, there was nothing alarming from a public health and safety issue,” NRC Public Affairs Officer David McIntyre told National Jeweler.

He said NRC staff met with representatives of the Jewelers Vigilance Committee (JVC) and three vendors to conduct the testing. Eight of the nine batches of gems, which he said averaged around 500 carats each, showed only background levels of radiation, while one registered at “twice background.”

Background levels refer to radiation that is picked up merely because a survey meter is turned on because there are already low levels of radiation present in the atmosphere. By measuring “twice background,” it implies that there are low levels, but nothing that would be considered alarming, he said.

You can read the full story at National Jeweler

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