🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <766@ncis.tis.llnl.gov> finfrock@ncis (Scott Finfrock) writes:
>In article <536@venice.SEDD.TRW.COM> ries writes:

>>    This report lists CO2 emissions from nuclear reactors as "negligible",
>>    but added that a typical commercial nuclear plant emits
>>    "8-9.5 curies of radioactive carbon-14 annually", environmentally
>>    on par with natural gas fuel although the risks are "dramatically
>>    different."

>What the report probably didn't mention is that this 
>is NATURALLY OCCURING carbon-14 and that if a fossil fuel plant 
>releases 100 times as much carbon (and they do) then they also 
>release 100 times as much radio-active carbon-14!


A book I read recently (sorry - can't remember the name) made some points
about this.  It said in fact that there is a significant effect of
coal burning plants which is normally never heard about.  It's that
burning coal on large scale actually relases a goodly amount of Uranium 238,
naturally in the material, which is plenty radioactive and is released as fine
dust into the air.  This is a significant danger if inhaled as it will stick
in the lungs and alpha-decay.  Alpha radiation in such direct contact is
very dangerous in any significant amount.  That's what the nasty stories about
handling plutonium are all about - inhale or swallow any bits of it or have
some stick under your skin or something, and you are screwed.  This is
the same kind of hazard as from radon gas.

According to the accounting in the book, that amount of released U 238 is
actually a lot more radiation than nuclear power plants release.

Remember when you hear stuff about radon danger that radon is a naturally
occurring element, not a toxic waste product as it is sometimes implied in
some environmental scares.  Radon is produced from indigenous uranium 238 ore
in the ground which radioactively decays, and radon is a few steps down the
decay chain. (after thorium and radium I believe) That's where the stuff comes
from.  It is not a man made hazard.

-- 
Internet: mdbomber@portia.stanford.edu                   Matt Bartley
Bitnet: mdbomber%portia@stanford.bitnet                  73, KC6JRG
	Kirk:  "Spock!  Where the hell's that power you promised?"
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