[ RadSafe ] Re:Source in Twin towers

[Geo>K0FF]

Clayton, what about the possibility of hundreds of kg of DU in the 
counterweights in the airplanes. Was it serendipity that these two planes 
either had them replaced with other materials ( tungsten?) or never had it 
in the first place? Or did they. The manufacturer's claim no.

Have any large planes crashed that DID contain the DU for counterweights?

>From  a chart on DU counterweights:

DC-10 1000 kg
L-1011 680 kg
747- 850 kg


Additionally, many aircraft parts, including engines are made with thorium. 
All thorium isotopes are radioactive.

Cd-109, Am-241, Fe-55 could be present in industrial gauges had any been 
stored in any of the offices in New York.

It is unlikely that the fire protection system's smoke detectors used 
Am-241, as most modern industrial detectors use the photoelectric method, 
and other non radioactive methods. It is likely that any extra battery 
operated smoke detectors installed by the tenant DO contain Am-241. However 
if Pyrotronics industrial smoke detectors happened to have been used in a 
central system, they contain 80 uCi of Am 241 each.

Don't get me wrong, I am not a DU alarmist. I actually use DU in my work, as 
shielding and as a beta source.

Other building materials of concern are asbestos ( used to fireproof steel 
supports) and mercury ( 1 drop in every fluorescent lamp) One could surmise 
that a substantial puddle of liquid mercury existed at the lowest point in 
the rubble.

Pictures of thorium airplane parts, counterweights etc. by request. All 
taken by myself and with radiation detection equipment shown.


George Dowell
New London Nucleonics Lab