While I have little understanding of metallurgy, physics, geology and chemistry I find this topic most interesting and wanted to find more on the viability of this suggestion on radioactive emissions from forged steel from radiation in the atmosphere resulting from atomic bomb testing post 1945 .
While uranium and variations are naturally occurring in nature, it does seem that certain compositions of it, such as uranite, are highly radioactive. What led me to looking further into this is recalling from many years back, the ceramic dishware from Mexico known as 'Fiesta Ware'. It seems that the red and white examples had the highest radioactive content.
While Uranite is apparently not the same exactly as the uranium oxide and dioxides which were used for coloration in ceramic glazes on these dishes, it does seem that a degree of radiation was emitted from these ceramic wares.
Testing at Oak Ridge Labratories found that persons in the same room of tests were exposed to gamma radiation; if they touched the plates, beta radiation and if they ate from the, alpha radiation.
The concerns were mostly for the case for a subject ingesting from a damaged plate where the radioactive material could be ingested and contaminate the organs from the toxicity of the minerals.
The Fiesta Ware was produced from 1936-1943 using the uranium oxide component in the ceramic glazes. then WWII projects of course precluded such use. It resumed in degree but use of uranium dioxide (yellow & black) ceased in 1960, with the uranium oxide ceasing in 1972.
Apparently German scientists were busy using uranium dioxide as well for their efforts to achieve nuclear fission, resulting in a dramatic accident and fire lasting two days, near Leipzig in 1942 (this was preparation 38).
In other cases the Curies in Poland were experimenting with radioactive minerals to create radium and polonium in 1890s-1900s, the radium used to illuminate watch faces Madame Curie died of radiation poisoning.
While it sounds as if the cases for radioactive contamination varies depending on the elemental content of the minerals involved, case in point, uranite which is noted as highly radioactive and capable of this.
The use of these uranium compounds commercially, as well as in the controversial processes of nuclear power or fission seem to suggest that the processes and reactions from radioactive emissions which existed would vary but certainly existed dynamically rather than being inert basically.
Image Leipzig, 1942
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