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Coal can have radioactive materials inside of it. There's radioactive carbon (c14) and it looks like also a bunch of more concerning materials. [] - https://w
by Verdex 6y ago
Coal can have radioactive materials inside of it. There's radioactive carbon (c14) and it looks like also a bunch of more concerning materials.
[] - https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/coal-ash-is-more-radioactive-than-nuclear-waste/#:~:text=At%20issue%20is%20coal's%20content,10%20times%20their%20original%20levels https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/coal-ash-is-more-....
- cyphar 6y agoRegarding carbon-14, there is so little of it that it makes no sense to even think about it (about 1 in 10^12 atoms). In addition, all biological matter (including you and the food you eat) has carbon-14 present in it -- that's the basic principle behind carbon dating. In fact, ash from wood burning would probably have more carbon-14 if anything. But yes, the article you linked talks about trace amounts of uranium and other materials that actually could be harmful.
- deleted 6y ago[deleted]
- spqr0a1 6y agoThe half life of C-14 is much shorter than geologic formation time for coal. Coal's radioactivity is due to primordial nuclides and their decay chains.
- shard 6y agoHow does the radioactivity from coal compare with the radioactivity from bananas?