3M Orders Recall of Ionizing Guns Leaking Particles

The 3M Corp. says it is voluntarily recalling more of its static eliminators because a small number of the ionizing air guns have been found to be leaking radioactive particles.

Tiny pellets containing the radioactive element polonium have been found at 28 manufacturing plants where the static eliminator guns are used, and have been traced to failures in the devices. Regulators say they have found no evidence of product contamination at any of the plants.

The guns are used to control static electricity and remove dust from the air in high-purity industries, such as clean rooms for electronics.