If the items are called custard glass, uranium glass, vaseline glass, canary glass, or depression glass, they are worth further investigation. The professional cannot judge these items by color alone. Just because the glass is green or milky-white doesn't mean it contains radioactive materials.
Edit: after a quick search on depression glass I found this-'' Most depression glass is not safe to eat or drink off. The US Environmental Protection Agency recommends against using these types of dishes for their original purposes due to the amount of uranium found in them.
“If the item is glass, and fluoresces neon green under a black light, it contains uranium dioxide 100 percent of the time.” Look deeper. Not all items are bright green; other colors include yellow and amber.
Health concerns. Uranium glass can register above background radiation on a sufficiently sensitive Geiger counter, although most pieces of uranium glass are considered to be harmless and only negligibly radioactive.
Real uranium glass will glow bright green under the light. The brightness of the colour will depend on the uranium content, but if glass glows under UV, it is unmistakably uranium glass. Some uranium glass will also register above background radiation on a sensitive Geiger counter, but this isn't always the case.
Perhaps the most reliable way to identify the presence of uranium in the glass is to expose it in the dark to a source of ultraviolet light (e.g., a black light). If the glass glows a rich green color, it contains uranium.
What color of Depression Glass is rare? Pink and crystal (clear) are two of the rarest colors of Depression glass.
The best practice when approaching vintage glassware is to steer clear from using it on a daily basis, and don't store things in it for a long period of time, Dr. Kosnett recommends.
Vaseline glass, or canary glass, contains a small amount of uranium. This gives the glass its yellow-green color. It also makes the glass glow bright green under a black light.
Some depression glass is uranium glass. Although of marginal quality, Depression glass has been highly collectible since the 1960s. Due to its popularity as a collectible, it is becoming more scarce on the open market. Rare pieces may sell for several hundred dollars.
Uranium glass is considered safe to wear and handle, according to the U.S. nuclear Regulatory Commission. In fact, it is considered to be safer than household electronics.
Use a UV light to see if the glass glows.
Not all depression glass will glow, but some depression glass was made with uranium, which gave it a yellow or yellow-green hue and made it glow. Because green glass was more popular at the time than yellow or yellow-green, iron oxide was added to give it a deeper green hue.
From circa 1943 until 1958, because of the events of World War II and the Cold War, U.S. officials did not allow the production of uranium glass since the government had banned uranium salts from commercial use. Only after uranium oxide was deregulated did the U.S. government allow uranium glass to be manufactured.
Depression glass: Transparent yellow or transparent yellow-green glass, glows green if uranium oxide was included. Contains other colorants to “up” the green color, like iron oxide. Less popular with collectors because it is “tainted”.
Determining Depression Glass Value. The value of Depression glass has been rising steadily in recent years, yet the cost is still quite reasonable. A cake plate could sell for as little as $13, a sugar bowl for $7, and an attractive footed tumbler for $25.
Another way to tell if your drinkware is lead-free is to hold it up to the light. Standard glassware is better at refracting light, meaning you should be able to see a prism of light breaking into a rainbow. If you struggle to make a rainbow no matter how you hold the glass, it could contain lead.
Borosilicate glass containers are more heat resistant than other forms of glass so they can be used in the freezer, microwave, and oven. The two key chemicals in borosilicate glass are boron trioxide and silica, which are reportedly safe and environmentally-friendly.
While McDonald's new collector cups are safe, previous glassware sold by the fast-food giant may pose serious health risks due to toxic materials like lead and cadmium. John Tufts reports for the Indianapolis Star. In short: McDonald's new 2024 collector cups are made of plastic, unlike earlier glass versions.
Vaseline glass is a specific type of uranium glass. It glows under black light. It got its name from its distinctive yellowish color, which looks like petroleum jelly. It is also sometimes referred to as canary glass because of its yellow color.
If it is positive for Uranium it will fluoresce (glow) from the UV exposure. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends against eating or drinking from Uranium glassware. But because the glass only contains a small amount of Uranium, many websites argue that this glass is safe to eat off of.
Some of the most collectible types & styles of antique and vintage glassware include Depression Glass, Carnival Glass, Milk Glass, Moonstone, Hobnail Glass, and Jadeite. One of the most popular styles of antique glass was a Hen on Nest, also known as Animal Dishes because of the variety of animals they come in.
ALL Glasses that say they are anti-radiation are fake. Glasses will let radiation in from the top, bottom, and sides. Goggles will stop Alpha & Beta radiation. Only distance and/or dense shielding will protect you from Gamma or Neutron radiation.
LPX-650 and LPX-700 laminated lead glass is typically used to protect against gamma and X-ray radiation. This glass is also used for our standard production of SLLGB (unbreakable) laminated lead glass blocks.
Anti-radiation glasses are a great investment for anyone who spends a lot of time in front of electronic devices. They have many advantages, including reducing eye strain, improving sleep, protecting your vision, and being stylish.