3 ms·
"Radium, typically the most abundant radionuclide in brine, is often measured in picocuries per liter of substance and is so dangerous it’s subject to tight res
by totalZero 7y ago
"Radium, typically the most abundant radionuclide in brine, is often measured in picocuries per liter of substance and is so dangerous it’s subject to tight restrictions even at hazardous-waste sites. The most common isotopes are radium-226 and radium-228, and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission requires industrial discharges to remain below 60 for each. Four of Peter’s samples registered combined radium levels above 3,500, and one was more than 8,500."
I wonder how many of these trucks full of radium have driven beside me on the freeway.
- acidburnNSA 7y agoNice to see some numbers. Lot's of articles leave out numbers, which really matter in thing like radiation where the detectable level is sometimes many orders of magnitude below the hazardous level. Ra-226 is mostly an alpha emitter and can't reach you through a piece of paper. Don't drink it though. Ra-228 is primarily a beta emitter which can't go through a metal tank. Also don't drink it.
- capableweb 7y ago> Ra-226 is mostly an alpha emitter and can't reach you through a piece of paper. Don't drink it though. Ra-228 is primarily a beta emitter which can't go through a metal tank. Also don't drink it. What about being in constant contact with the skin via let's say you have a bit of it your shoes? > the rest of the uniform hardly offers protection from brine. “It’s all over your hands, and inside your boots, and on the cuticles of your toes, and any cuts you have — you’re soaked,” he says.
- acidburnNSA 7y agoAlpha particles generally cannot penetrate the skin, much less clothing or shoes. Betas can get through skin but probably not shoes. There is some energy dependence. Secondary decays and energy transitions often emit gamma rays as well which can go through everything, but the majority of the energy with these nuclides are alphas and betas. These are primarily dangerous because they're water soluble and present an ingestion and inhalation hazard. Once a large amount of a strong alpha-emitter is in your intestines it can really cause damage.
- capableweb 7y ago> These are primarily dangerous because they're water soluble and present an ingestion and inhalation hazard. Once a large amount of a strong alpha-emitter is in your intestines it can really cause damage. So since the workers are getting it all over their hands and feet, which probably has sweat on it, would it pose a danger? Also, would getting it on wounds like cuts be dangerous as well?
- azernik 7y agoThe article focuses on the fact that the workers aren't given the training or opportunity to decontaminate before eating.
- Spooky23 7y agoYes. If you are appropriately protected you can work with it. If you’re paying people $16/hr to haul hazmat (that you are concealing), you’re not providing appropriate protection or procedure. Don’t listen to the apologists here. If you’ve worked in a place that handles toxic materials, you wouldn’t read about worried truck drivers keeping samples in mayonnaise jars. The driver would contact the industrial hygienist or safety officer at work.
- acidburnNSA 7y agoPrecautions are appropriate depending on dose rate. If dose rate is high, there is risk. If dose rate is very low, there is less risk. As far as I'm aware, radium does not seep through wounds and sweat but does get into water and dust which can be inhaled or ingested. Again, if high dose rates get in your body there is risk. Sounds like these people need some health physicists and probably better PPE and training. We should avoid blanket statements of danger that do not have dose rate numbers in them.
- throwawaymanbot 7y agoDid you read the article? it already mentions how its wrong to say its not harmful. You are making it sound like its harmless. Are you astroturfing?
- deleted 7y ago[deleted]