SRP Member Lindsey Simcox, 27, a scientist based at Harwell with radiation safety consultants Aurora Health Physics Services, is more accustomed to tasks concerned with the up-to-date uses of radioactive materials. But last autumn she found herself in the library of the Wellcome Trust handling and testing important historical documents; a notebook and letters once owned by the eminent researcher and Nobel Prize winner Marie Curie. What Lindsey discovered won her a top prize at the Annual Conference of the Society for Radiological Protection (SRP) held recently in Eastbourne, East Sussex.  Lindsey's presentation on her work scooped the annual award for best presentation by a member of the Rising Generations Group (RGG).  She received the Certificate from SRP President, Professor Pete Cole.

Marie Curie is famous for the discovery, at the end of the nineteenth century, of the naturally radioactive elements radium and polonium. Artefacts from her work, including her furniture and her cookbook, are preserved in Paris and may only be viewed by special arrangement and with appropriate precautions. Another important item from the period is her laboratory notebook, now held in London in the Wellcome Collection.

The Trust was approached in autumn 2014 by a researcher, aware of the restrictions in place in France, who wished to view the papers. The Trust engaged Aurora Health Physics Services Ltd, a company with associate membership of the SRP, for professional advice.

Working with colleagues, Lindsey measured the amounts of radioactivity absorbed into the pages of the letters and the cover of the book. She checked that the radioactivity was firmly fixed and determined the strength of the radiation field from the volume. Analysis of the radiation confirmed that, inevitably, radioactive radium-226 was present. The levels detected were significant, but not necessarily alarming, provided certain controls are in place, such as wearing appropriate protective clothing when studying the artefacts.

“Handling any historical documents always requires great care” said Lindsey. “Wearing gloves to avoid damaging the paper is already a must, but we’ve also introduced some extra radioactive contamination control techniques for handling to safeguard anyone needing to read the notebook.”

“There is more however to radiological protection than just taking a few readings. It’s important that the rules and regulations set down by law are followed. Regulations for working with radiation require risk assessments outlining procedures for safe storage and handling. Other requirements were less clear, with historic artefacts possibly outside the scope of environmental regulations. Advice was sought from the Environment Agency, which resulted in the Trust having to apply for a permit to hold the documents.”

“This has been a fascinating and rewarding experience” says Lindsey. “It was an honour to handle such important historical documents, especially those of Marie Curie, who was at the forefront both of nuclear research and, particularly, at promoting the role of women in science.”

“But Curie’s documents won’t be the only radioactive artefacts in museums. The much collected “Vaseline” glass contains uranium, as do many geological specimens. As members of a Society dedicated to radiological protection we should do our best to help identify, preserve and educate the public about them, and most importantly, safeguard museum staff.”