Small skillet made in Taiwan with Tank engraved on back

[Lewis Downey]

I plan to use this to make individual portions of cornbread. Should I have any concerns about using this skillet or any cookware from unknown (to me) foundries?

[Valerie Johnson]

I would do a good cleaning and then season but I would not have any reservations about using it, The Tank mark is kinda neat but I think it would near impossible to find any information about the manufacturer or the importer.

[Mark Zizzi]

I've read that there could be issues with radioactivity with some of the Asian made iron. Know anyone with a Geiger counter?  I do like that tank tho.  ;)

[Lewis Downey]

Geiger Counter.  There's an unexpected expense.

[Valerie Johnson]

I have never heard of imported cast iron being radioactive I would be interested in reading any info available on that, I have read quite a bit about Canonsburg Pottery which operated on an old uranium mill site in Canonsburg Pa and is supposed to contain trace radiation. I wonder if a Radon Detector would detect radiation from a piece of cast iron cookware

[Russell Ware]

Well, you could build your own Geiger counter.
Here's mine. Yes, it works. I installed a 1/4" jack on the side so I can run the click output through guitar effects pedals, then into a PA system. When paired up with a Theremin, you'd swear you were in a 1950's B-movie.

[Lewis Downey]

Awesome!

[Chris Stairs]

I have never heard of imported cast iron being radioactive I would be interested in reading any info available on that, I have read quite a bit about Canonsburg Pottery which operated on an old uranium mill site in Canonsburg Pa and is supposed to contain trace radiation. I wonder if a Radon Detector would detect radiation from a piece of cast iron cookware

Lodge tests for, and sometimes finds radioactively contaminated scrap metals before it ever enters the building. I wonder where all that rejected scrap goes? I wonder if they test their scrap in China?

http://www.epa.gov/radiation/source-reduction-management/scrapmetal.html

[Mark Zizzi]

Russell, you never cease to amaze me..that is truly awesome.  8-)

[Tom Neitzel]

Well, you could build your own Geiger counter.
Here's mine. Yes, it works. I installed a 1/4" jack on the side so I can run the click output through guitar effects pedals, then into a PA system. When paired up with a Theremin, you'd swear you were in a 1950's B-movie.

I love the music from a Theremin.  From my favorite inventor, Nikola Tesla.

Kinda learned how a Geiger counter worked when I was in college.  Took the cover off the detector tube and turned it on.  You know, it runs really HIGH voltage  :o.

RE:  the radioactive cast iron, there was a story years ago, maybe an urban legend, about radioactive cobalt being recycled accidentally contaminating iron and steel.  Either in Asia or Mexico.  Could happen.

Red glazed Fiesta Ware is also radioactive.  It's from the red pigment.

Tom

[Dwayne Henson]

if you want something scary check out the ideas the geniuses at the DOE want to do implement with all the radioactive scrap they have. Google DOE and radioactive scrap.  Here's one I found heck with China we better watch the DOE.

https://www.nirs.org/radwaste/recycling/doepeacommentscorr.pdf

[Cheryl Watson]

Well we had the radioactive Lazy Boy Recliners.... 1998
and there are more we never hear about in the mainstream press...

http://www.slate.com/blogs/future_tense/2013/05/29/asos_investigation_into_radioactive_belts_demonstrates_scrap_metal_problem.html

[Valerie Johnson]

Millions of homes in the US have Radon gas emission problems, many have been tested and many have not. As for cast iron being contaminated I would not be surprised if some of the early US made pieces had trace radiation in them, It was not something that was tested for