[ RadSafe ] Pu-239 famous chemical toxitity

[Otto G. Raabe]

September 8, 2005

A "toxin" is a poisonous protein of biological origin, so metallic 
plutonium definitely is not a "toxin".

The question should be, "Is plutonium-239 a toxicant." It might be a heavy 
metal kidney blocker like uranium, but since it is an alpha emitter with 
about  60 millicuries per gram, its potential radioactive damage to 
biological tissues far exceeds any imaginary chemical toxicity.

Otto

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Prof. Otto G. Raabe, Ph.D., CHP
Center for Health & the Environment
(Street Address: Bldg. 3792, Old Davis Road)
University of California, Davis, CA 95616
E-Mail: ograabe at ucdavis.edu
Phone: (530) 752-7754   FAX: (530) 758-6140
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