Ruth Ann, The man who knows most about this in the country is a retired nuclear chemist from SW Missouri State University named Ralph W. Sheets. He's written some interesting stuff on the relative hotness not only of Fiestaware, but a flock of different antique ceramics and glassware. If you are interested in any of his papers, both published and unpublished, you can get in touch with me off line.
Probably a bigger problem with antique (not modern) Fiestaware is the fact that it leaches both lead and uranium on standard leach tests. I wouldn't ever eat from the stuff or even handle it barehanded frequently.
I'm trying to find a publisher for a manuscript Ralph's written on antique glass and ceramics manufacture. It is not for general readership, but something that museums and collectors should have access to.. It's a labor of love for us.
If this person is interested, I can tell them where depleted uranium is still used as a colorant in glass and glazes. The only ban is on uranium is for enamels worn as jewelry. At the time this ban was being planned, the AEC (NRC) decided that there was no reason to ban it in glazes and glass because it wasn't being used for this purpose anymore. Nothing I could say would convince them to investigate. As a result, I find at least one uranium-containing materials at least once a year in a college ceramics, glass or jewelry department. And there is a thriving market for it in craft glass. Actually, you are legally allowed to buy 150# of depleted uranium every year if you wish. I have some uranium materials right now that I use as show and tell. I really don't care until it goes into schools where students are exposed or into products purchased by consumers who don't know it is there.
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