The radiation hazard sign is one of 12 worldwide accepted signs that indicate areas with a particular threat to human life and health. Statement “Caution, Radiation!” became relevant immediately after the end of World War II.
The radiation hazard sign was invented and first used in the laboratory of the American University of California at Berkeley. Berkeley physicists played a significant role in the invention of the
atomic bomb, and then the hydrogen. The process of inventing the mark after, in 1952, was described in a letter from one of the participants - the chemist Nels Garden. A small group of researchers offered several samples of the sign, and chose the one that best visualized the threat. It was purple on a blue background. Purple in its Roman meaning was chosen because of the high cost of paint of this particular color - this eliminated thoughtless copying, writes Garden. In addition, he did not conflict with any other color popular in this field of science. The blue
background color was chosen by the same principle
.Black on yellow
The modern image - a black sign on a yellow background - appeared later, when radiation signs began to be used more often.
There are more objects carrying a radioactive hazard. Gardena, one of the inventors of the sign, does not like black on yellow signs of radiation. He believes that the frequent use of yellow in the designation of objects of any danger disavows the increased danger of radiation. In addition, the yellow sign is poorly visible against a bright blue sky. Nevertheless, a yellow background was chosen in 1948 to standardize the mark as the main one. The sign of three petals or three blades so far remained purple. The authors of the new image found that this combination of colors is clearly visible in the open air from a distance of 20 feet. Today's American Standards (ANSI), established in the late 1950s, allow the use of both black and magenta radiation signs.
Visual Sign Meaning
It is interesting that usually hazard signs in form are classic triangles with one or another image inside. According to Russian GOST, this sign is a warning. Signs of poison and radiation are depicted in 9 out of 10 cases on a square base.
The radiation sign itself is a circle that is divided into 6 sectors. Three of them are black. Two black sector petals point up, one down. What does the sign itself mean? There are two versions. The first is an inverted shamrock as a symbol of the death of nature, the second, more cynical, - the sign is similar to the fighting banner of the Japanese living in the west of the island empire. By the way, the similarity of the sign of radiation with the symbol of the Mitsubishi automobile concern is surprising. But upside down.
New radiation sign
In 2007, a new sign of radiation or ionizing hazard appeared. This radiation sign in pictures is interesting. On a red background, black depicts the traditional sign of radiation, a skull with bones - a sign of death, a running man - a call to leave the affected area.
The authors believe that this sign is more understandable. But why, it is problematic to explain, because the source of danger - the same three-petal fan, which is not quite clear to the average person, is not immediately and not universally perceived as a deadly threat! The IAEA sincerely believes that the new sign will be more understandable to less educated peoples who do not understand the first sign, which does not have an intuitive echo in the soul of a representative of a poorly educated people. For some reason, their confidence makes you think. What kind of intuitive echo should this propeller have for a Czech or a Swede? Nevertheless, the IAEA is now trying to introduce a new sign, despite its more complex visual perception. Interestingly, new radiation signs were tested for recognition in countries such as the USA, Morocco, Kenya, Thailand, India and Ukraine. The symbol has been agreed with the World Organization for Standardization in Industry ISO and is being implemented through its implementation mechanisms.
And where does Roerich?
But is there any other intuitive symbolism of this sign? Surprising is his resemblance to the banner of Roerich. Three circles in a circle, located similarly to the petals of the radiation sign. There is some esoteric version, which says that the Earth lies on a certain cosmic path, but the path was closed by distortions in the use of nuclear weapons. Therefore, the sign of radioactive danger is a sign of the Roerich path and banner turned upside down. An analogue of an inverted crucifix or pentagram. But even without the symbolism of the Way, the opposition of the symbol of the world (pax culturae) and nuclear danger is obvious.
The use of radiation hazard signs
Initially, in America, immediately after the invention of the sign, they planned to place it in shelters designed to protect against the atomic threat. Then this idea was abandoned, because the sign means danger, and not shelter from it. Now, according to GOST 17925-72, in Russia this sign designates rooms, objects, devices and devices that carry a real or potential radiation hazard. This can be nuclear power plants, vehicles in which radioactive substances are transported , physical laboratories, accelerators, and many other objects that actually carry a radioactive hazard.
In a word, where the level of radiation is really elevated. It is allowed to use the radioactive hazard sign for educational purposes, at conferences, in booklets, during training. According to GOST, the use of the radiation hazard sign for avatars in social networks and in the manufacture of jewelry, as well as for other similar purposes is not allowed. But no one is following this. And liability measures for the erratic and unauthorized use of the mark are not provided. According to GOST, by the way, the shamrock should be red, but black on a white background is also allowed.
Action area
Signs of radiation can mark not only objects, but also spaces. The area of operation of signs at the entrance to an industrial facility extends to the entire territory of the facility. The concept of “zone” arises, which, thanks to the Stalker of the Strugatsky brothers, has its own emotional coloring.
Now, somewhere on the verge between civil defense and cyberpunk, there is a campaign to search for places with radiation contamination that have been preserved since the times of the USSR, and activists are trying to mark them with such signs, even if made in the form of
graffiti on the walls of houses. But activists are not always right. The danger may be imaginary. And people, seeing the “black propeller” on a yellow background on the wall of the house on their street, begin to get nervous. Most likely, a state program is needed to search for, identify and disinfect such places, together with a campaign to dispel rumors. And if someone is engaged in such rumors, that is, disinformation, professionally, as in India, when world corporations fought against nuclear power plants? The new sign of radiation danger is too similar to visualizing the wrath of the gods and calling for the destruction of an object that has angered them. In short, the use of signs of radiation hazard requires an eye to eye contact.
Signs of radiation and the psyche of man
Obviously, the human psyche tends to exaggerate threats. The radiation danger has been frightening for a long time, it is clear that for the population of the Far East, these fears did not arise from scratch. Radiation and people are familiar, of course, from the moment of the origin of mankind, there has always been a relict radiation, but now the fear of mutations and changes in the gene code under the influence of sources of hidden radiation is greater than ever. And not only word of mouth, but also the media reinforces these rumors. It is possible that very soon we will receive data on the radiation background along with the weather forecast, and at the airports the emblems will be glued on the passengers ’luggage -“ radiation safe ”.
Underground
Interestingly, for advanced youth, these signs have become part of the club culture. Many nightlife establishments mark cocktails, private areas and even bathrooms with this sign. Everything would be fine, the psyche of the younger generation hasn’t seen such a thing. Young people are happy to modernize the sign of radiation, a photo of it in gas, oil or other fashionable styles can be seen in various design projects. But then again, remember the old joke about the boy and the wolf that attacked him ... If the sign is used many times in a safe situation, consciousness can ignore it in a dangerous situation.
I would like to hope that our hipsters and ravers will not look for atomic bomb shelters in the near future or confuse them with smoking rooms, but some kind of state control over the use of this sign for other purposes should be present.