🚀 go-pugleaf

Peter MacDowell <malicat@gte.net> wrote:

snip 

>From the point of view of toxicity Pu is still one of the most potent 
>heavy metals - the paper barrier for alpha was a bit misleading to the 
>public I thought - if that were the case why does everyone "suit" up in 
>DOE facilities when the deal with Pu - paper suits and paper masks should 
>just work swell.
>
many of those suits are "paper" - tyvek or plasticized paper.  The
masks are standard respirators used in commercial activities - to keep
particulate inhalation to a minimum.

>And it still comes down to what actually is the cause of death with Pu 
>exposure - toxic chemistry resulting from ionization - the toxicity of 
>the Pu itself - or radiation poisoning - As I said before there is not a 
>pathologist in the world that can differentiate between these - they 
>don't want to deal with the "stuff" at any great length - even in a paper 
>suit - the cause of death woulod always be accute radiation poisoning - 
>But NORM results in the same ionizing effect - the ionization of a single 
>water molecule with resulting peroxides, hydroxides, free radicles, etc. 
>gives one pause - 

it's true that one cannot differentiate between radiation induced
carcinogenesis (especially if it's photon radiation) and chemically
induced or naturally occurring carcinogenesis.  However, if one were
to biopsy the tumor perhaps one could link the connections.  I am not
too sure how feasible this is.

As for free radicals - these are produced not only by radiation but
certain foods.  The human body, as well as all oxygen utilizing
organisms contain mechanisms for protection -  superoxide dismutase,
catalases, peroxidases, vitamin A and E derived compounds, etc.  Sure,
any chemical based system can be over-extended.  What is the point on
NORM - unless it's technological enhanced there is no known problem.
>

snip

pc