SilverstrikeThey probably are "technically" radioactive, I mean they "radiate" photons and heck even bananas are radioactive [1]. However, the glow pellets included with these fobs employ photoluminescence and not radioluminescence. Basically they absorb photons and then slowly re-emit them [2].
You may be thinking of tritium vials, which can be installed in these fobs with the "glow fob pellet kit" that is an option on this drop (not including the vial!). Tritium can perhaps be compared to a microwave oven: radioactive, but normally safe (particles can't penetrate skin), used everywhere (exit signs, wrist watches), and potentially dangerous if used incorrectly (try not to swallow tritium vials) [3]. I doubt TSA would care about a tritium glow fob, or even recognize it for what it is, and I hear watches containing tritium are even sold at airports [4].
[1] http://chemistry.about.com/b/2011/07/10/bananas-are-radioactive.htm
[2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phosphorescence
[3] http://www.tecaccessories.com/PDF/TA_S323_vials.pdf
[4] http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?218178-Flying-with-my-D10-and-tritium-vial
dag.odenhallAccording to massdrop support, this drop does NOT support putting a Tritium vial in it. That is the TEC-S323. Can anyone else comment on the veracity of this?
You may be thinking of tritium vials, which can be installed in these fobs with the "glow fob pellet kit" that is an option on this drop (not including the vial!). Tritium can perhaps be compared to a microwave oven: radioactive, but normally safe (particles can't penetrate skin), used everywhere (exit signs, wrist watches), and potentially dangerous if used incorrectly (try not to swallow tritium vials) [3]. I doubt TSA would care about a tritium glow fob, or even recognize it for what it is, and I hear watches containing tritium are even sold at airports [4].
[1] http://chemistry.about.com/b/2011/07/10/bananas-are-radioactive.htm [2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phosphorescence [3] http://www.tecaccessories.com/PDF/TA_S323_vials.pdf [4] http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?218178-Flying-with-my-D10-and-tritium-vial