ABC2News investigates how with a lack of federal oversight, there is no way to know the scope of the problem.
Giant piles of scrap metal get melted down to form the types of products you buy everyday, but a lengthy Scripps Howard News Service investigation found that not all those products come out shiny and new.
"It's a big concern in the industry, it is something we have to be really, really careful of."
Neal Shapiro is the owner of Cambridge Iron and Metal in Baltimore.
The concern in the scrap metal business is the recycling of metals with low level radiation.
Our investigation found that in some cases, contaminated metals like medical equipment and old industrial or aeronautical gauges make their way through some scrap yards and smelters without detection.
The end results are new products; radioactive products.
Our investigation found recycled radioactive metal was used to make cheese graters, parts of lazy boy chairs and years ago, the poles of some fast food tables.
"It's just part of the business. You have to be aware of it, keep up with the technology behind it and you have to look for it. If you're careful and do what you're supposed to do, you'll do alright for the most part."
Shapiro's yard does what it is supposed to do. They have radioactive detectors that constantly monitor truck loads as they are coming in and going out. If the detector goes off, the load is inspected and the radioactive metal properly disposed.
It is a process that involves the state. According to records Maryland has had to investigate 265 incidents of radioactive metal in recent years.
"A small piece can cost you thousands of dollars to get rid of properly but that's the way you want to handle it as opposed to contaminating a heater at a steel mill that could cost you hundreds of thousands of dollars," said Shapiro.
And the equipment to detect is no bargain either, truck scales costs upwards of 50 thousand dollars. It is a financial burden yards like Shaprio's responsibly take on, but we found that there is no federal oversight or standard requiring scrap yards to test their metals.
"As you get further down on the scale of scrap dealer you're gonna find less and less of that equipment," said Steve Steinbach with Ansam Metals.
Ansam Metals employs the expensive equipment as well that will notify them of any radioactive metals coming in or out of the yard.
But they too know not every yard can afford this system and not every yard will go through the expense.
"When it happens it is a violation of an existing regulation, but there are no regulations in place that say you have to do what we've done here."
A dangerous proposition experts say as these recycled metals turn into flatware, kitchen utensils, and just about anything else you buy.
