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Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology / Re: What usually causes nucular power plant meltdowns?
« on: 08/04/2021 12:14:20 »
Plutonium is a real bugger because it is chemically active, forms compounds with pretty much anything, so can accumulate in bones instead of being excreted, and emits α particles that do massive damage in a short distance, at least 20 and possibly 200 times more biologically damaging than the same dose of γ radiation.
The practical problem with α and low-energy β radiation isn't shielding from them (a sheet of paper will stop almost all α's) but detecting them in order to prevent or locate ingestion. Never mind needles, you can have a haystack of Pu or Th and not know about it unless you have reason to suspect its presence and something a bit smarter than your average geiger counter to detect it.
The practical problem with α and low-energy β radiation isn't shielding from them (a sheet of paper will stop almost all α's) but detecting them in order to prevent or locate ingestion. Never mind needles, you can have a haystack of Pu or Th and not know about it unless you have reason to suspect its presence and something a bit smarter than your average geiger counter to detect it.
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