Short answer: it does leave surface contaimination if not kept protected.
Long answer: The inks used have two give aways. First is the material used to make it, as materials in old inks and paints are VERY rarely used anymore. But in addition, when you test the medium itself, the isotopes are unable to penetrate that deeply. just dust level. So most art dealers will check medium comp. But for people who make sophisticed fakes, they test the actual isotope levels, because that cannot be faked. Due to how much of that stuff is in the world now, it's mixed into the paint regardless of what ingredients you use.
Source: Wife's old bosses dealt in art
Now this is Interesting because isotopes weren't only created on earth (bomb pulse), they are also coming from space (Miyake event & Suess effect) and have always been, since the creation of earth. (Supernovas and Sun)
Now regarding the paintings, What about micro cracks, don't they get deeper through them?
There are trace amounts, but not in the quantities seen after the 1900s. It's like the radio got turned from 1 or 2 to 10. it's actually part of radiocarbon dating. It's why they can't accurately date things near blast sites, or near other areas with high radioactivity, like coal ash dump sites.
Microcracks and such will not matter. they're testing the paint itself. they also test from several points. typically all 4 corners. if the paint is legit, a dust level of contamination can be seen. But if the paint itself is fake, it shows up easily. It's actually one of the interesting things about the Shroud of Tourin. We know for a fact that it's old based on written accounts. But when they test it, the radioactivity counts are off the charts. Some blame it on a fire it was in and survived. But based on the levels that exist, that doesn't account for what we see in it. It's very fascinating.
I ain't into painting and sheeeit, but I'll read some more about it. Thanks!
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