Fluorescent tube Starters and Compact fluorescent economical lights radiation

[mirtias]

Hi all,
I recently bought the Gamma Scout geiger meter. Placing it on top of a fluorescent tube starter or on the bottom of a CFL bulb exactly when the light is switched on for about 1 sec I get extreme doses of Radiation more than 400μSv/h.Is this possible or has it anything to do with a malfunction of the meter?

Thanks very much.

[mirtias]

Thanks a  lot for the reply, usually the meter "reseted" in the event of a massive EMP. If I leave it next to the mobile phone it makes a noise and then resets. However in the other case it simply reads a large number and gradually lowers. So that seemed odd. Plus I know they put a very small amount of radioactive material in those starters. Thanks again for the reply. I guess I won't be doing this anymore!