3 ms·

Plutonium is quite toxic, however, and I think by now it would be normal to have some protection when working with it. And given the consequences for playing f

Plutonium is quite toxic, however, and I think by now it would be normal to have some protection when working with it. And given the consequences for playing fast & loose in the past, it's likely we aren't as flippant now. Also, you're talking about the scientists, not the EOD grunts.

bell-cot 4y ago
> Plutonium is quite toxic... Myth. For example - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plutonium#Toxicity https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plutonium#Toxicity
- zokier 4y ago
  > so that the toxicity of plutonium is roughly equivalent with that of nerve gas Is not exactly saying that it is not toxic. I tried looking for actually credible sources for toxicity, one Los Alamos publication claims: > For example, the LD50(30) for dogs after intravenous injection of plutonium is about 0.32 milligram per kilogram of tissue. Less than nerve gases, but still I'd classify as "quite toxic"
  - bell-cot 4y ago
    > ...after intravenous injection... Nerve agents are very readily absorbed through the skin. Metallic plutonium is not. The context here is (at worst) people poking around the outside of slightly-damaged nuclear warhead. Back in the day, I directly (metal-on-skin) handled lead totalling >1000X the human lethal dose...if administered via intravenous injection. No lethal effects were observed to occur.
    - ceejayoz 4y ago
      Exactly. Don’t take a belt sander to it, or light it on fire, and you’re fine. (Also, don't let it hang out with its friends.)