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Re: Toxic Trivia
I would start by referencing NCRP 45 (1975), Natural Background Radiation
in the United States. Since Po-210 is a decay product of radon (Rn-222)
environmental exposure is pretty hard to avoid. Some tables of note:
p. 84, Table 25 Variations in average concentrations of Pb-210 and Po-210
in air with altitude
p. 92, Table 32 Mean levels of daily dietary intake (pCi/d) for Uranium,
Ra-226, Ra-228, Pb-210, and Po-210
p. 94, Table 33 Pb-210 and Po-210 content of cigarettes and cigarette smoke
(pCi/pack)
p. 109, Table 45 Summary of dose equivalent rates (mrem/y) from various
radionuclides composing the natural background radioactivity in the United
States for external, airborne, and internal exposures
DJWhitfill
Opinions expressed are mine and do not reflect official policies or
positions of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.
"Andrew H Mattox"
<amattox@mbl.edu> To: Multiple recipients of list
Sent by: <radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu>
radsafe@romulus.eh cc:
s.uiuc.edu Subject: Toxic Trivia
02/09/00 08:19 AM
Please respond to
radsafe
Recently while reviewing a web reference for Material Safety Data Sheets I
visited an excellent resource, http://www.ilpi.com
The following question appears in the site's entertaining "Toxic Trivia"
test.
"2.One of the deadliest radioactive isotopes is 210Po (Polonium-210). It is
a strong alpha emitter with a half-life of 128 days. Polonium metal is also
rather
volatile, with a melting point of 255 degrees C, making it a particularly
deadly component of tobacco smoke (inhaling alpha emitters is not a very
good idea).
Fortunately, polonium is found only in minute amounts in Nature.
Polonium is so radioactive that a 0.50 gram sample will reach temperatures
greater than 500 degrees all by itself. The radiation energy is so great
that an
amount too small to see would be a lethal dose!
Let's compare polonium to hydrogen cyanide (which can kill you in a few
minutes at 300 ppm in air). How many times more toxic than hydrogen cyanide
is polonium?
100
56,000
78,950,000
1,000,000,000
250,000,000,000 "
The question rubbed me the wrong way and I contacted the site to offer some
constructive criticism. This sparked an entertaining exchange with Rob
Toreki at ILPI who has offered to host a "Radiation Misconceptions" quiz if
I do the leg work. No "anti" sentiment at work here.
Any ideas on quiz questions and answers would be welcomed.
Any comment on the heating of Po-210 or the toxicity rating?
amattox@mbl.edu
Andrew Mattox, CSP
Environmental Health and Safety Manager
Marine Biological Laboratory
7 MBL street
Woods Hole, Ma 02543
amattox@mbl.edu
508-289-7424
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