[ RadSafe ] Concerning Rizzini's claim of one ug U-238

[Otto G. Raabe]

Rizzini has been quoted as saying that one microgram of U-238 can 
kill a person. An article from March 31, 2011, Rizzini once again 
claims that 1 microgram of uranium is enough to kill a person:

PLEASE CHECK MY MATH: According to ICRP-2 (page 81) a human can have 
a body burden of U-238 of 0.5 microcuries without lifetime risk.
That is 0.5 microcuries times 3.7 x 109 Bq/uCi = 1.9 x 109 Bq. One 
microgram of U-238 equals 0.012 Bq.

Hence, according to ICRP-2 a human could have an internal burden of 
about ten grams without significant radiation risk.

Am I missing something here? Please check my math.

Otto

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