[ RadSafe ] Long-lived radionuclides

[Dixon, John E. (CDC/ONDIEH/NCEH)]

The half life of a free neutron is about 10.23 minutes (NuDat 2.0). I do not believe the proton's decay has ever been observed (only theorized). I don't think there is half life for the universe......

John Dixon

-----Original Message-----
From: radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu [mailto:radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu] On Behalf Of Doug Huffman
Sent: Thursday, May 26, 2011 5:46 AM
To: The International Radiation Protection (Health Physics) Mailing List
Subject: Re: [ RadSafe ] Long-lived radionuclides

The free neutron decays in 15 minute half-life.

Proton decay too, the proton has a half-life of about 10^36
years, and decays into a positron and a neutral pion that itself
immediately decays into 2 gamma ray photons!

On 5/25/2011 22:55, Jerry Cohen wrote:
> Could someone please explain why there is such inordinate concern about the 
>  long-live radionuclides such as
>  I-129, Pu-239, etc.
> It seems to me that if long-lived species are of particular concern, we should 
> be most worried about the toxic stable elements (Pb, Cd, Hg, etc) which will 
> persist forever.
> Jerry Cohen
> 
> 
> 
> 
> ________________________________
> From: Peter Miller <z3ix at kamprint.com>
> To: radsafe at health.phys.iit.edu
> Sent: Wed, May 25, 2011 11:20:58 AM
> Subject: Re: [ RadSafe ] RadSafe Digest, Vol 639, Issue 1
> 
>>
>> http://www.shef.ac.uk/mediacentre/2011/radioactive-iodine-japan-tsunami-earthquake.html
>> l
>>
>> 24 May 2011
>> Expert discovers simple method of dealing with harmful radioactive iodine
> 
> How does one separate the I-129 from seawater to heat it in a microwave oven 
> with lead so as to immobilize it as Prof Hyatt's technique prescribes?
> 
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