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Re: [OM] Radioactive glass

Subject: Re: [OM] Radioactive glass
From: "John A. Lind" <jlind@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Thu, 07 Aug 2003 12:59:07 -0500
At 03:04 AM 8/7/03, you wrote:
In article , John A. Lind <jlind@xxxxxxxxxxxx> writes

I'm not that concerned about very low level Alpha-emitters provided
they're not emitting anything else (Beta in particular).  Alpha particles
don't get much farther than the very outer surface of the skin which is
already dead anyway.
You need to revise your radioactive hazard assessment John. Once ingested it is the short penetration length of alpha which makes then so dangerous. You don't have dead skin cells lining your lungs, for example.

You are quite correct . . . I mixed an example of ingesting a Beta emitter with non-ingestion of Alpha emitters.

One of the other hazards is isotopes (especially ones with long half-life) that readily mix into the food chain (e.g., Strontium-90) and then are ingested as part of food in which it has embedded itself . . . both Alpha and Beta. Look at a Mendeleevian Table and find what's below the common elements found in the human body (and other organic material consumed by humans) that has the same valence. Isotopes of them will generally be used readily by the body in lieu of what would normally be found.

-- John


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