[ RadSafe ] [EXTERNAL] Bq/kg soil

[Brennan, Mike (DOH)]

Years ago I got a call from someone who had just learned about K40, and
wanted to know how to get rid of it, because he didn't want to be
exposed to any radiation at all.  Alas, he was not a satisfied customer,
because he didn't want to hear that (a) it couldn't be done and (b)
trying would kill him.

-----Original Message-----
From: radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu
[mailto:radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu] On Behalf Of Bill Prestwich
Sent: Tuesday, December 06, 2011 11:35 AM
To: 'The International Radiation Protection (Health Physics) Mailing
List'
Subject: Re: [ RadSafe ] [EXTERNAL] Bq/kg soil

Most people are quite surprised to learn they are themselves radioactive
and
are typically radiating some 400 gammas per second due to the K-40.

Bill

-----Original Message-----
From: radsafe-bounces at agni.phys.iit.edu
[mailto:radsafe-bounces at agni.phys.iit.edu] On Behalf Of John R Johnson
Sent: Tuesday, December 06, 2011 2:04 PM
To: The International Radiation Protection (Health Physics) MailingList
Subject: Re: [ RadSafe ] [EXTERNAL] Bq/kg soil

Mike

I usually add that K-40 is a naturally occurring isotope, and we need 
potassium to live.

John

-----Original Message----- 
From: Brennan, Mike (DOH)
Sent: Tuesday, December 06, 2011 9:34 AM
To: The International Radiation Protection (Health Physics) MailingList
Subject: Re: [ RadSafe ] [EXTERNAL] Bq/kg soil

Hi, Karen.

When I am explaining rad issues to members of the public, I usually
explain some of the basic principles, such as decay and energy and
specific activity/ half life, and then address the specific topic
(radon, fallout, depleted uranium, whatever) in broad, qualitative
terms.  At that point I pause and say, "Now, from here on out, it gets
complicated."  That usually gets a laugh.

That isn't, however, a cop-out.  A question like, "How does risk
increase with increased contamination on farm land?" has probably 100
assumptions that need to be made or clarifying questions that need to be
asked before a meaningful answer can be given (and if we parsed it out
and found it was closer to 200, I wouldn't be surprised).  Some of the
assumptions can be fairly straight forward, but some would require
gathering data in order to come up with something useful.

Without for a moment claiming I can hold a candle to Einstein, I like to
think I understand what he meant when he said, "Do not worry about your
difficulties in Mathematics. I can assure you mine are still greater."
This isn't discouragement; rather it  implies that even when you've
learned a lot about a cool subject (like rad), there is still a lot left
to learn.



-----Original Message-----
From: radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu
[mailto:radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu] On Behalf Of Karen Street
Sent: Monday, December 05, 2011 8:02 PM
To: The International Radiation Protection (Health Physics) Mailing List
Subject: Re: [ RadSafe ] [EXTERNAL] Bq/kg soil

Jim and others, much thanks for your help! Now to figure out what I want
to explain to the public.

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