I think people are confusing contaminative radiation, such as that found in radium as opposed to background radiation from sources such as the sun. Background radiation can be harmful, but that is not the same as actual contaminative particles from actual physical radioactive materials. It's one thing to take an airplane flight or be exposed to sun radiation and an entirely different thing to actually ingest contamination that can be stockpiled in cells, continually radiating all cells around them. You can't see it, or smell it. You might not know if you have sufficiently cleaned a contaminated surface without some instrument to measure it. Don't assume if you accidentally ingest radium containing dust or breathe it that it's going to magically be expelled from your body.
I would suggest wearing disposable clothing, gloves and a face mask, laying down a disposable layer to catch any radioactive debris and a long soapy shower when done. I would clean my tools when done or dispose of them, because they are going to get "dirty". 30 years ago, I might have thought differently and just laughed off as nuts what I am now very seriously saying. I'm not claiming to be an expert, but in the 1980's I worked at operating nuclear plants and wore disposable protective clothing, sometimes double layers, and was regularly monitored for radiation exposure with both film badges and dosimeters. We were taught the difference between being exposed to a radioactive source (like a radioactive hot spot in a piece of equipment or pipe) and radioactive surface contamination. Contamination is contamination. You can shield from a hot source, limit your exposure time, but contamination is just that. It can be spread and smeared and embedded into the fibers of your clothes. It can get in your hair. It can be ingested or inhaled, and it is not benign. If you know what you are doing, then you know how to protect yourself and those around you. If you don't, I suggest researching credible sources before starting.
End of rant, and I hope I didn't beat a dead horse or offend anyone.
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