🚀 go-pugleaf

All this discussion about the "dangerously" radioactive sources found in
smoke detectors, in flourscent tubes, and in incandescent bulbs needs to
be placed in perspective.  The amount of radioactive material in each of
these is equivalent to the amount of Polonium-210 that is absorbed by the
tobacco leaves needed to make 1/4 of a cigarette.  If we're serious about
eliminating these "highly dangerous" sources of radiation in our homes, 
then we must OUTLAW TOBACCO NOW!  The activity of these sources is about
the same as six bananas (though the K-40 is mostly gamma with a little
beta compared to the mostly alpha with some beta/gamma thrown in for
the Americium-241, Pm-147, Th-232, and Po-210 that are commonly found).

We must outlaw anything that contains Carbon, too, since carbon-14 is 
radioactive.  That means that you can no longer have diamond.  In fact,
you can't have a body anymore, since it's radioactive and will kill you.

We must outlaw stainless steels, too. Some of the vanadium that is used in 
it is radioactive.  We must also outlaw the sun and the universe and all
volcanoes, too.  These are major sources of radiation and will kill our
children.


Get real!  Radiation is a fact of life.  Without these sources, I doubt
that evolution would've occured as fast as it does.  Quantum fluctuations
in the DNA will not cause changes nearly as fast as low-level background
radiation does.  If it weren't for these low sources, we'd all be pond-
scum still.

Remember, a day without sunshine is a day without radiation!

Jerry