Colored Stones
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AGTA urges members to check irradiated blue topaz
July 26, 2007
Dallas—The American Gem Trade Association (AGTA) issued a statement today reminding members to do their own radiation checks if they handle deep blue topaz.
The statement was issued as AGTA President Rick Krementz meets today with officials of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and other members of the jewelry trade to discuss blue topaz and other irradiated gems.
AGTA said the NRC has recently stepped up enforcement of the stones, and several major jewelry chains and department stores are considering, or have already stopped, selling blue topaz.
Prior to 1990, the NRC introduced regulations that say that any neutron-irradiated gemstone must be imported by a licensed firm that can test for radiation. However, there are no labs currently in the jewelry industry that have the equipment or a license to test for the NRC regulations, and there are no licensed importers of blue topaz.
As the regulations stand now, they mostly affect blue topaz in the darker colors. Some light-blue topaz is LINAC (linear accelerator) treated and exempt. That said, the NRC is looking to establish new rules that will regulate LINAC-treated gems. An NRC license will be required for the importation of all blue topaz, red tourmalines, many beryls (treated blue, yellow and pink colors, but not emerald), kunzite and irradiated diamonds. AGTA said cobalt-60 (gamma ray) irradiated gems such as various quartz colors, yellow sapphires and pearls are not impacted by the pending regulations.
With estimated annual sales of more than a billion dollars for blue topaz, the expanded regulations will greatly increase the amount of business at risk.
AGTA said that to the best of the organization's knowledge there hasn't been any reports of cancer or radiation poisoning from an irradiated gem over the past few decades, and there is no reason to believe that a significant quantity of dangerous gemstones is currently in the market. AGTA said, however, that there have been a handful of sightings over that period of stones with potentially harmful radiation. With that in mind, AGTA is reminding members to do their own radiation checks.
Some topaz within NRC regulations may show some above-background radiation with a Geiger counter. Some topaz without any indications of radioactivity above-background will be in excess of NRC regulations. A Geiger result indicating significant above-background radiation is suspicious and should not be released or sold until an accurate analysis of the radioactivity is made, AGTA stated.
Some natural gems may have detectable radiation, but the NRC rules only apply to treated gems. They require documentation on the gems, so a paper trail of sources, similar to the Kimberley Process for diamond certification, must be maintained. AGTA is strongly urging members to identify their inventories by vendor and date of importation. Older stocks, which already have radioactive decay, may be easier to sell or document as safe. Mixing inventories could complicate the sales of existing stocks. All new imports and sales to manufacturers and retailers must be clearly identified by vendor and date, AGTA stated.
AGTA's goals in working with the NRC and other industry associations is to facilitate the measurement of radioactivity in inventories so current irradiated gems can be sold safely; to encourage compliance to the NRC rules and protect the integrity of the industry; assist AGTA members in dealing with regulatory issues on irradiated gems; facilitate the future legal importation of the gems; and to influence the NRC rules so they are appropriate to the industry and permit safe, cost-effective importation and sale of gems to the consumer.
While noting the organization can't make decisions for individual firms, it suggested members follow the lead of some larger chains and temporarily suspend importation of the stones until their status can be safely clarified.
Since the NRC has stated it does not intend to take enforcement actions against retailers, there is no reason for blue topaz products to be returned to vendors.
The new NRC regulations are expected to go into effect later this year or early next year.
Editor's note: For earlier developments in this story, see Industry task force, NRC to discuss irradiated gemstones.
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Richard W. Hughes, known for his adventure-laden travelogues, his writings on undisclosed gemstone treatments and as the author of Ruby and Sapphire, has won the 2010 Antonio C. Bonanno Award For Excellence in Gemology, the Accredited Gemologists Association has announced. Read More
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