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Interesting that the two chemicals mentioned in that quote aren't radioactive. Carbon tetrachloride apparently was once used as a household spot cleaner, [1] so
by scottlamb 6y ago
Interesting that the two chemicals mentioned in that quote aren't radioactive. Carbon tetrachloride apparently was once used as a household spot cleaner, [1] so I think it's fair to say folks who dealt with nuclear waste would have been relatively unconcerned with carbon tetrachloride.
Of course, knowing what we do now, they absolutely are dangerous. It's horrible they've leaked into the aquifer. Reminds me of the trichloroethylene plumes in Silicon Valley. Also a solvent once considered pretty benign, now known to be a carcinogen. (And actually linked to quite a few cancer cases I believe, unlike many chemicals "known to the state of California to cause cancer or reproductive toxicity.")
[1] https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/phs/phs.asp?id=194&tid=35#:~:text=In%20the%20past%2C%20carbon%20tetrachloride,to%20kill%20insects%20in%20grain https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/phs/phs.asp?id=194&tid=35#:~:text=....